Patti Clare, AICP
Title: Senior Planner
Organization: Neel-Schaffer
Location: Louisville, KY
Patti Clare has over 30 years’ experience in the fields of urban planning, downtown and corridor revitalization, and economic development. Ms. Clare joined Neel-Schaffer in 2015 as a Senior Planner in the firm’s Louisville office with a work portfolio that focuses on complete-communities planning. Neel-Schaffer is a 500-person, full-service engineering and planning firm with offices throughout the southeastern United States. Prior to joining Neel-Schaffer, Ms. Clare spent over 27 years in the public and non-profit sectors, most recently serving as Deputy Director for Louisville Metro Government’s Office of Advanced Planning. While with the Office of Advanced Planning, Ms. Clare led the transportation policy and planning efforts for Louisville Metro and co-authored the Move Louisville Plan.
Prior to her position at the Office of Advanced Planning, Ms. Clare served as Deputy Director of the Louisville Downtown Development Corporation (LDDC), a non-profit organization focused on the economic vitality and development of downtown Louisville. In her role at the LDDC, Ms. Clare served as public sector manager of major streetscape and redevelopment projects, including Louisville Slugger Field, Fourth Street Live and the Louisville Downtown Marriott.
Ms. Clare was awarded the 2016 William Bowdy Award for “Outstanding Life-Time Achievement as a Kentucky Planner” by the American Planning Association’s Kentucky Chapter and the 2012 Kentucky Society of Architects John Russell Groves Jr. Citizen Laureate Award. Ms. Clare served on the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Building Healthy Corridors Initiative Working Group, was a 2013 fellow of ULI’s Rose Center for Public Leadership, was co-chair of ULI Kentucky’s 2018/2019 Women’s Leadership Initiative and is co-chair of ULI Kentucky’s Program Committee. She received her Master’s in Arts from the Center for Urban Programs at Saint Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bellarmine University. Ms. Clare is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the Urban Land Institute. She is a local volunteer and community advocate.