Carlton Brown is focused on developing strategies to bring capital markets to disinvested communities to create sustainable restorative human settlements. Mr Brown sees investment in sustainable human settlement as the most important strategy for stemming climate change, adapting to climate change, and creating resilient and equitable communities. This strategy of sustainable restorative development provides human, social, economic, and cultural capital investments while preserving environmental resources for future generations and returning a market rate of return for investors. Where many believe these are contradictory objectives, Mr. Brown’s work has continuously pointed the way forward. Before there was a US Green Building Council with a focus on green housing, Carlton was exploring these strategies in the development of low carbon footprint affordable housing in economically devastated communities of Brooklyn NY and developing mixed income green condominiums in Harlem that were heated and cooled by geothermal extraction and injection. Doing well while doing good is not simply a tag line, but a core business principle that is reflected in DI’s 9 principles for creating restorative human settlements.

DI under Carlton’s leadership is developing a new generation of 1.5o C Buildings that are adapted to climate conditions projected in the IPCC Sixth Assessment. These Passive House Developments, while addressing Climate, will provide the “opportunity structure ecosystem” required to restore human community in disinvested neighborhoods and share the growth in value with long term stakeholders. Mr Brown is currently leading DI’s development of affordable Passive House condominiums in Minneapolis and a 14-acre mixed use mixed Income Diamond Hill development in Atlanta’s Vine City Neighborhood. The Atlanta project is targeting PHIUS, Water Neutrality, and full decarbonization of all on site heating, cooling, cooking and hot water.