Gregory Heller

GREGORY L. HELLER

215-514-6606, heller.greg@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation, Managing Director for Economic Growth & Community Revitalization (September 2009-present)

Managing Director of the community economic development affiliate of The Enterprise Center, a tax-exempt business development organization. Programs focus on real-estate, economic development, business development, job creation, food access, and community empowerment.
Project Manager of Center for Culinary Enterprises, a $5.5+ million, 13,000 SF community development project, with responsibilities including assembling financing, serving as point of contact for banks and other funders, developing business plan, working with design team to produce construction documents, bidding the project and selecting a general contractor, securing lease tenants, developing marketing strategy, and other tasks related to readying the project for construction and operations.
Spearheading other physical development projects including Walnut Hill Community Farm—12,000 SF youth-run urban agriculture project—and Targeted Housing Preservation Program—City-funded initiative to provide home repairs to neighborhood residents.

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Planning and Design Analyst (January 2006-August 2009)

Promoting Civic Design Excellence in Philadelphia: Lead author on major initiative funded by the William Penn Foundation, resulting in a 90-page policy agenda for Philadelphia’s Mayor Michal Nutter and City Council on strategies for improving the City’s quality of planning, design, and development. The report was praised by the Editorial Board of the Philadelphia Inquirer and received wide local and national attention. A one-year assessment of the report showed that about a quarter of the policy recommendations had been implemented.
Centennial District Economic Development Plan: Managed grant to the City of Philadelphia through DVRPC’s Transportation and Community Development Initiatives program, to carry out a market analysis and economic development plan for the Centennial District, in West Philadelphia. Worked closely with the City and consultants on recommendations dealing with residential, commercial, and transportation issues.
40th and Market Streetscaping Initiative: Managed grant to University City District through DVRPC’s Transportation and Community Development Initiatives program for planning of streetscape, pedestrian, and traffic improvements around 40th and Market Streets, and served on project steering committee.
Take Me to the River: Member of project team to design guidelines for $1 M re-grant program funded by the William Penn Foundation for projects to re-connect Philadelphia's communities and its riverfronts. Member of grant selection committee, and administrator for several of the awarded grants.
Municipal Implementation Tool on Inclusionary Zoning: Produced a guide for municipal governmental agencies explaining the issues behind drafting an ordinance for an affordable housing set-aside program.
Innovations in Zoning for Smart Growth: Researched and wrote policy guide to assist governmental agencies in understanding and implementing a set of zoning and land-use regulation tools to promote smart growth. Made several presentations on report recommendations to organizations like the Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission.

Parkside Historic Preservation Corporation, Director of Planning (September 2004-December 2005)

Commercial Corridor Revitalization Project: Wrote and produced a commercial corridor inventory and assessment, redevelopment plans and recommendations for an eight-block corridor of Girard Avenue.
Reunion Square: Worked with the Executive Director on site planning, design, financing, and drafting of development proposals in support of this major historic property rehab, to create 30+ units of affordable housing.
Grant Management: Managed the organization’s existing grants, including a major grant from HUD. Wrote grant applications, and successfully raised funds for the organization’s projects.
Community Education Committee: Chaired monthly committee of local and city stakeholders to discuss strategies for building connections between the community and its schools. The committee included community stakeholders, civic leaders, representatives from the School District, educators, parents, and institutional partners.
Neighborhood liaison: Represented the organization and marketed its programs to public and private partners, community groups, and local institutions. Produced all of the organization’s PR and marketing materials. Represented the organization before members of City Council and the Parkside Coalition.

Assistant to Edmund N. Bacon, EFAIA (September 2002-September 2003)

Worked full-time for Philadelphia’s former City Planning Director.
Worked with Bacon to write, design, and produce a published account of Bacon’s experiences as Philadelphia’s City Planning Director.
Other responsibilities included organizing and indexing archives, accompanying Bacon to meetings, and conducting taped interviews.

AFFILIATIONS

Flying Kite Media, Editorial Board (August 2010-Present)
Center for Architecture, Ed Bacon Program Advisory Committee, Chairman (October 2010-Present)
Philadelphia Committee on City Policy, Vice President (May 2009-Present)
Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia, Chairman of Resource Development Committee, Member of Program and Business Development Committee, Board of Managers (June 2008-Present)
Design Advocacy Group of Philadelphia, Steering Committee (2006-October 2010)
USA250, Board of Directors (April 2009-Present)
Mayor's Sustainability Advisory Board, Alternate (February 2010-Present)
Washington Square West Civic Association, Governmental Affairs Committee (February 2008-June 2009)
Mayor Michael Nutter’s Policy/Transition Team (Fall 2007), Chairman of Historical Commission Policy Committee, Member of City Planning Commission Transition Committee, Member of two hiring committees
Franklin’s Paine Advisory Board, Member of Development Committee (August 2007-Present)
Centennial District Steering Committee, Member (2005)
The Ed Bacon Foundation, Co-founder, President and Chairman (November 2004-October 2010)

EDUCATION

LEADERSHIP Philadelphia, Core Program, Class of 2012
Wesleyan University, B.A. with High Honors (American Studies/German), Middletown, CT (May 2004)
University of Pennsylvania, Audited Courses, Department of City and Regional Planning (2002-2003)
Wesleyan University Program in Germany, University of Regensburg (January-July, 2001)

AWARDS AND HONORS

Philadelphia Area’s 101 Emerging Connectors, Leadership Philadelphia (2008)
Member of the Year Award, Young Involved Philadelphia (2005)
Marni Goldstein White Prize, Wesleyan American Studies Program (2004)
Prentice Prize, Wesleyan German Studies Department (2004)
Blankenagel Prize, Wesleyan German Studies Department (2000, 2002)
Student Leadership Award, Pennsylvania Rotary Club (1999)

SELECTED WRITINGS

The City as an Act of Will: Edmund Bacon and the Planning of Modern Philadelphia,” to be published by University of Pennsylvania Press, expected Fall 2012.
"Salesman of Ideas: The Life Experiences that Shaped Edmund Bacon," Chapter in Imagining Philadelphia: Edmund Bacon and the Future of the City, University of Pennsylvania Press, October 2009.
“Tax Break for Affordability.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. Opinion. April 29, 2009.
“City Design Comes to Philly.” The Philadelphia Daily News. Opinion. February 11, 2009.
“Clear steps to better planning.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. Op-ed. February 5, 2008.
Untitled opinion piece on neighborhood reinvestment. University City Review. April 25, 2007.
“The Challenge of Vitality.” The Philadelphia Daily News. Opinion. February 12, 2007.
“Smart Money Is on Neighborhoods.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. Op-ed. January 15, 2007.
“How to Tackle the Riverfront.” Op-ed. Philadelphia Daily News. May 31, 2006.
“In Memoriam: Edmund N. Bacon.” Society of Architectural Historians Newsletter. February, 2006.
“We’re History.” Philadelphia City Paper. May 19-25, 2005.
“Bus Fuss: SEPTA Needs to Help Philly Reach Its Potential.” Philadelphia City Paper. October 28-Nov. 4, 2004.
“A Few Suggestions to Make Skatepark a Good Neighbor.” The Philadelphia Inquirer. Op-ed. June 11, 2004.
“We Want a Victory for Philadelphia! Capturing the Potential of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative.” The Next American City. Vol. 5. May 2004.
“The Power of an Idea: Edmund Bacon’s Planning Method, Inspiring Consensus and Creating a Connection to the Future.” Wesleyan University thesis, awarded high honors. (2003-2004).

SELECTED SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

National Trust for Historic Preservation, speaker at National Main Streets Conference., April 3, 2012 (Baltimore, MD).
Philadelphia City Planning Commission, Instructor for Citizens Planning Institute (Philadelphia, PA), April 25, 2011; November 4, 2010. One of 10 instructors for the three week course.
Penn Institute for Urban Research, book talk on Imagining Philadelphia: Edmund Bacon and the Future of the City (Philadelphia, PA), February 17, 2010.
American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia Chapter, panelist at Design on the Delaware conference (Philadelphia, PA), October 28, 2009.
National Association of Regional Councils, Annual Conference (Denver, CO), June 1, 2009. Invited presenter on DVRPC’s green infrastructure initiatives.
University of Pennsylvania Law School, Advanced Seminar in Local Government Law (Philadelphia, PA), February 17, 2009. Invited lecturer on planning and zoning topics.
American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia Chapter, Design on the Delaware (Philadelphia, PA), November 6, 2008. Speaker at annual conference with Alan Greenberger, Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.
8th Annual Southwestern Pennsylvania Smart Growth Conference (Pittsburgh, PA) May 16, 2008. Featured speaker invited to address conference on “Implementing Smart Growth Through Innovations in Zoning.”
Young Involved Philadelphia Forum (Philadelphia) April 30, 2008. Invited moderator of panel on urban design issues, including local leaders in development, architecture, and planning.
Community Associations Institute, Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter (Philadelphia, PA) April 24, 2008. Invited speaker to condo owners association on “Trends and Perspectives on the Direction of our City.”
Transportation Engineering and Safety Conference (State College, PA). December 2007. Panel presenter on context-sensitive solutions.
Congress for the New Urbanism National Conference (Philadelphia). May 2007. Led a guided walking tour of Society Hill.
American Planning Association National Conference (Philadelphia). April 2007. Presented a Walking Tour of Ed Bacon’s Philadelphia, and moderated the Ed Bacon Film Festival.
WHYY, the Next Mayor Issues Forum, Spring 2007, one of 3 invited panelists to discuss issues relating to planning. Session was filmed and aired on WHYY as part of a series.

OTHER INFORMATION

Skilled in graphic design, internet design, page layout, and photography. Experienced working with Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark. Proficient in AutoCAD, SketchUp, InDesign. Proficient in German language.

heller.greg@gmail.com