Hank Dittmar

Hank Dittmar
Name	Hank Dittmar
Birth date	1957
Birth place	San Francisco, California, U.S.
Death date	April 3, 2018
Death place	London, England, U.K.
Alma mater	University of California, Berkeley
Occupation	Urban planner, writer, advocate
Known for	Leadership at The Prince's Foundation, advocacy for New Urbanism

Hank Dittmar was an influential American-born urban planner, writer, and advocate known for his leadership in promoting sustainable and community-focused development. He served as the Chief Executive of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment and was a prominent voice in the international New Urbanism movement. Dittmar's career bridged academia, non-profit leadership, and practical advocacy, emphasizing the importance of placemaking, transit-oriented development, and vernacular architecture.

Early life and education

Hank Dittmar was born in 1957 in San Francisco, a city whose unique urban fabric and historic neighborhoods would later influence his professional outlook. He pursued his higher education at the University of California, Berkeley, a leading institution for environmental design and urban studies. At Berkeley, he earned a degree in City and Regional Planning, immersing himself in the intellectual currents that questioned conventional post-war suburban sprawl and automobile dependency.

Career

Dittmar's early career included significant roles in transportation and land-use policy within the United States. He served as the Executive Director of the Surface Transportation Policy Project in Washington, D.C., a coalition advocating for balanced transportation investment. He later became a senior advisor to the Secretary of Transportation under the Clinton administration, focusing on intermodal transportation and livable communities. Dittmar also co-founded and led the Great American Station Foundation, dedicated to revitalizing historic railroad stations as community hubs.

Leadership at the Prince's Foundation

In 2005, Dittmar relocated to the United Kingdom to become the Chief Executive of The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, an educational charity established by The Prince of Wales. Under his leadership, the Foundation became a globally recognized center for promoting traditional architecture, sustainable urbanism, and community-led planning. He oversaw projects such as the development of Poundbury in Dorset and the regeneration of Newquay in Cornwall, which embodied principles of human-scale design and environmental stewardship.

Advocacy and urban planning philosophy

Hank Dittmar was a leading advocate for the New Urbanism movement and a critic of conventional zoning and car-centric planning. His philosophy emphasized creating compact, walkable, and mixed-use neighborhoods that fostered social interaction and reduced carbon emissions. He frequently wrote and lectured on the importance of learning from historic patterns of development, championing concepts like the transect in planning. Dittmar served as the Chairman of the Congress for the New Urbanism and was a board member of organizations like the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Transit Center in New York City.

Personal life and death

Dittmar was married to environmentalist and writer Katherine B. Dittmar. He maintained a transatlantic life, deeply engaged with planning communities in both North America and Europe. Hank Dittmar died of cancer on April 3, 2018, at his home in London. His passing was noted by prominent figures in architecture and planning, including The Prince of Wales, who praised his visionary commitment to creating harmonious and enduring places.

Legacy and awards

Hank Dittmar's legacy endures through the continued work of the organizations he led and the principles he espoused. He received numerous accolades, including the Beatrice S. and John G. Aston Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism for his lifetime contributions. His writings, such as the book The New Transit Town co-authored with Shelley Poticha, remain key texts in planning literature. The annual Hank Dittmar Award was established by The Prince's Foundation to honor individuals demonstrating outstanding leadership in community-focused urban design.

Category:American urban planners Category:1957 births Category:2018 deaths