Diane Van Buren Zachary

Diane Van Buren Zachary has long been a champion for community organizations and economic development in Detroit has generated numerous bodies of work to support redevelopment and new models for historic preservation in the city, including the use of renewable energy to support sustainability goals for building adaptive reuse and development. Having experienced the change in financial models for energy self reliability, her goal in recent years has been to now change the models for solar ownership to encourage greater participation in this form of community economic independence. Here are some of the relevant roles Ms. Van Buren has performed over time:

●       Teacher - beginning in the 1970’s as an elementary school teacher in Detroit Public Schools, to current role of teaching sustainability at Wayne State University;

●       Developer - renovation of historic properties in Detroit;

●       Community advocate - over 30 years active in neighborhood and community development planning, and solar advisory subcommittee to City Council;

●       Market analyst - Zachary and Associates lead analysis in adaptive reuse and market feasibility for prime properties in Detroit including the Inn at Ferry Street and the Lofts at Garfield;

●       Advisor/lecturer - More than 300 guest lectures on topics of urban redevelopment and sustainability across the country and the world. She is serves on the Board of Visitors for Wayne State University, and is a board member of both Architectural Salvage Warehouse Detroit and the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association. 

●       Business owner - co-owner of SocraTea at 71 Garfield, Sugar Hill Clay, D2 Solar;

●       Planner – As the principal planner for the Bellevue Block redevelopment plan, she is leading an international team of visionaries, architects, and community members to envision the future of a formerly abandonded industrial block as a thriving community utilizing all resources on site to incoporate a circular economy model of renewable energy, reclaimed materials and water, and economic development as a model for hundreds of other blocks in Detroit.