Planning

Our planning services help communities achieve a greater degree of livability, sustainability, and economic vitality through an approach that carefully balances the social, economic, and environmental aspects of community change. Our in-house team can also provide the expertise required to assess relevant market conditions, as well as the various fiscal implications of any project. Any plan is only as good as its outcomes; our work is focused on helping communities take action to bring their vision into reality.

See our PORTFOLIO to browse our planning projects.

Choice Neighborhoods Initiative

Camiros is experienced in helping communities secure funding through the Choice Neighborhoods application process and developing award-winning planning and outreach strategies as a planning coordinator for Choice Neighborhoods Grantees. Our approach is closely aligned with the goals of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative program, and is designed to ensure meaningful community participation through tested and effective planning techniques, including “doing while planning.” Camiros is currently serving as Planning Coordinator for the Housing Authority of Cook County, IL (2017 grantee) and Housing Authority of Huntington, WV (2017 grantee).

Visit our CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS page for more information.

Zoning

Development regulations establish the procedural framework within which a community’s vision takes shape. Through the creation of rules, standards, and procedures, development regulation provides concrete guidance to protect and enhance each community’s sense of place. In other words, zoning is where the planning “rubber” hits the implementation “road”. We have extensive experience in the creation of both development regulations and the plans that they serve to implement, giving us a unique and comprehensive understanding of this complex relationship.

See our PORTFOLIO to browse our zoning projects.

Economic Development

At Camiros, we believe that successful implementation is largely predicated on the economic viability of the places we design. Our in-house team provides the expertise required to assess relevant market conditions, as well as the various fiscal implications of any project. We utilize this knowledge in the formulation of our plans and recommendations, resulting in products that are rooted in a comprehensive understanding of economic and financial feasibility.

See our PORTFOLIO to browse our planning projects.

Urban Design

Our urban design work acknowledges that creating and maintaining a sense of place is a three-dimensional effort that must pay careful consideration to the location, form, and character of development – past, present, and future. Our place-based approach respects the qualities that make each community unique, and strives to incorporate those same qualities into future development at all scales: from site, to streetscape, to district. This is achieved through extensive community engagement, the development of thoughtful design expression, and clear, consistent guidance.

See our PORTFOLIO to browse our planning projects.

Grant Writing

Camiros has provided clients with a wide range of grant writing services throughout the firm’s history. The grant applications that we have written have generally been in support of various community planning and infrastructure projects. Awarded funds have come primarily from governmental sources(most notably HUD), but foundations have also been approached to fund community improvement projects on behalf of our clients. Camiros is currently providing on-going grant writing services to the Housing Authority of Cook County (“HACC”). Assignments for HACC have involved social service as well as community revitalization programs.In recent years, Camiros has assisted housing authorities and their partner communities across the country in preparing applications under HUD’s highly competitive Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. Five of our Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant application clients have received Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant awards:

- Rockford Housing Authority ($250,000 FY2011 grant),
- Austin, TX ($250,000FY2012 grant),
- Mobile, AL ($350,000 FY2014 grant),
- Brownsville, TX ($500,000 FY2015 grant) and
- The Housing Authority of Cook County/Chicago Heights, IL ($350,000 FY2017).

Each Planning Grant application emphasized community engagement and the development of strong implementation strategies. Preparation of these planning grant applications and subsequent development of the revitalization plans involved managing grant deadlines and preparing quarterly progress reports to HUD. Camiros also prepared a Choice Neighborhoods grant application that secured $1M for “action activities” for Shreveport, LA.

SERVICES

Planning

Choice Neighborhoods Initiative

Zoning

Economic Development

Urban Design

Grant Writing