About

The Development Studio, LLC (DS) is a Memphis-based professional consulting firm offering services in Strategic Community Planning and Engagement, Comprehensive Planning, Historic Preservation, and Revitalization Planning, Infrastructure Development, Pre-Project Planning, and Feasibility Studies. The Development Studio works with public, quasi-public, and private entities in renewing and expanding community visions to establish implementation policy and regulation. Consistent among our urban visioning is our proven ability to lead clients through planning and design processes to develop solutions to complex issues, and to create the tools and strategies necessary to guide redevelopment that build value overtime. 

The Development Studio offer decades of experience in assisting clients in taking their projects to the next level, where livability, heritage and quality of life are paramount. We have customized city-wide, district, or neighborhood improvement plans utilizing financial incentives and regulatory tools to attract and improve businesses while accelerating investment in targeted areas. These programs utilize: Historic Investment Tax Credits (HITC); Tax Increment Financing (TIFs); and Public Revenue Bond Financing; along with Payment In-lieu Of Taxes (PILOT); Tenant Improvement Grants; Forgivable Loans and Façade Grants for small business. These local incentive tools compatibly work with federal incentive programs such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC); Transportation Enhancement; and Brownfield Grants to help level the playing field for complex urban development projects. 

 Andy Kitsinger, AIA-AICP is first and foremost a community builder. His thirty-year career as an architect, city planner, urban designer,  and teacher has focused on creating authentic places that are strongly influenced by their historic context and have a positive impact on their community. 

Teaching has always been important to Kitsinger. He teaches and services as the Director at the University of Memphis Design Collaborative in the Departments of Architecture and City & Regional Planning.   Kitsinger served as the Sr. Vice President of Planning & Development for the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC) where he continued the momentum of downtown planning and development while working to improve the livability and the quality of life in the city. 

He continues those same objectives in multiple cities since 2013 as Principal-Owner of The Development Studio, a firm focused on helping clients implement their vision more effectively. 

We work to customize team talent that is most appropriate for each project. 

Frequent Associate Team Members

Judith Johnson, Architectural Historian and Preservation Planner

Dexter Muller, Economic & Development Planner

Kelsey Lamkin, Historic Preservationist & Anthropologist 

Jimmie Tucker, FAIA NOMA - Architect

Sharon Younger, Economic Market Projections

Scott Blake, Museum Exhibit Design

George W. Burns, CPBD Certified     Professional Building Designer

Ruut Patel, Architectural Designer, CADD

 Let's work to together today 

Contact us to see if we can work together to make your vision a reality.