Who We Are:
"What we can imagine is possible.
What we imagine as a community cannot be stopped."
- John L. Knott, Jr.
THE CITYCRAFT MINDSET
We believe in a local economy, in the power of our people,
and in deep roots.
We believe in healing the long term economic, social &
environmental fabric of our cities.
We believe in community ownership, ensuring that the value
we create today is a gift we leave for the generations of tomorrow.
CityCraft Foundation's Story:
For more than 20 years, CityCraft has championed sustainable development and regenerative communities. Founded in 2004 with a vision to build healthier, more resilient places, the Foundation has grown from a local initiative into a national force for change.
Today, CityCraft sets a standard for advancing sustainable cultures and strengthening the long-term health of the economy, environment, and social fabric of every community it serves.
CityCraft Leadership:
WE BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY
Our emphasis on the triple bottom line guides us as we address the long term environmental, economic and social challenges of our communities.
This vision is based on a balance of people, planet, and prosperity – embodying the belief that sustainable cities must be equally responsive to social needs, environmental responsibility, and economic vitality.
Founder & Board Chair
John L. Knott, Jr.
John Knott is an internationally recognized leader in urban regeneration and sustainability.
He is the creator of the CityCraft process, which restores the economic, environmental and social health of cities.
Mr. Knott is a recognized thought leader and keynote speaker on sustainable community development and regenerative economies.
John is also a Founder Director of the Lansing Growth Fund.
Regenerative System Scale Strategist
Melissa M. Hall
Melissa M. Hall is a systems and operations strategist with more than 30 years of operational leadership at General Motors.
Having lived in Southwest Lansing, Melissa brings both professional expertise and a personal commitment to the community’s long-term success. Drawing on her background in systems thinking, continuous improvement, and team alignment, she helps advance initiatives that restore existing housing, support local ownership, and create pathways for long-term community stability.
Melissa is also a Founder Director of the Lansing Growth Fund.
Regenerative Governance Pioneer
Andy Gowder
W. Andrew (Andy) Gowder, Jr. is a co-founder and partner in the Charleston, S.C. law firm, Austen & Gowder, LLC. His practice is focused on land use, land conservation and historic preservation, state and local government law, regenerative governance, and representation of nonprofit corporations. Mr. Gowder is a co-editor and author of books on legal topics relating to property, land use, sustainability, and the environment and speaks frequently on those topics.
Board Member
Molly McCabe
Molly McCabe is the CEO of HaydenTanner, a development and investor advisory firm accelerating impact and sustainability in the built environment.
A veteran of commercial real estate finance and capital markets, she serves as a bridge between risk and return, visionary development and the bottom-line, to create financially and environmentally resilient buildings and vibrant, sustainable cities.
Board Member
Michael Ibarra
Mike Ibarra has 30 years of real estate and financial management experience working with labor-affiliated institutions and clients.
Ibarra is an experienced allocator of debt and equity financial resources for low-income, affordable and workforce housing as well as decades of leadership as an impact investment executive with exclusive focus on Restoring the Long-Term Economic, Social, & Environmental Health of our Cities.
Board Member
Brent Forsberg
Brent Forsberg is a Michigan-based development leader with over 25 years of experience in real estate investment and community revitalization.
His work focuses on advancing regenerative, place-based development that strengthens local economies, connects neighborhoods, and supports resilient communities across the Greater Lansing region.
The CityCraft Foundation:
Many cities in North America are dealing with similar challenges that do not respond
to a piecemeal, surface-level approach to development.
Enter CityCraft, with a proven process of transforming deeply distressed urban communities
into vibrant, showpiece neighborhoods with environmental, social, and
economic sustainability and resiliency.
We help restore the long-term economic, social, and environmental health of our cities.
Instead of traditional models that bring in short-term outside solutions that ultimately
displace existing residents, the CityCraft approach begins with a detailed investigation into the
inherent strengths within the community, from community organizations to school infrastructure.
These local resources and active engagement with residents is harnessed to
create a plan entirely tailored to that community.