Jonas Maciunas, AICP
PRINCIPAL
Jonas is a change-agent with cross-disciplinary experience in the public and private sectors who generates transformative yet pragmatic initiatives by shaping civic discourse and empowering the experts and communities he engages. His work has been recognized by awards from the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism, New Jersey Future, and grants from the US Department of Transportation’s TIGER program and the National Endowment for the Arts. He started JVM Studio to help cities, towns, and neighborhoods shape and benefit from change.
Education and Professional Association
Yale University, Bachelor of Political Science
University of Connecticut, Graduate Fellow, Center for Transportation + Urban Planning
American Institute of Certified Planners
Previous Professional Experience
NV5/RBA, Senior Planner. At this multi-disciplinary engineering and urban design firm, Jonas connected development, policy, infrastructure, and civic discourse. He played leadership roles in preparing proposals, writing planning documents, managing collaborative disciplines, and developing creative approaches to civic engagement.
City of Hartford, CT, Complete Streets Coordinator and Special Projects Manager to the Development Director and Chief Operating Officer. Connecticut’s capital city is in the midst of dramatic change, where Jonas played a unique role in city government. He led a newly formed Complete Streets Partnership between the Departments of Development Services and Public Works, staffed a task force to restore the city’s park system, represented the City on state and federal multi-modal transportation projects, and frequently facilitated collaboration with and advised the Office Marketing, Events, and Cultural Affairs. Jonas served as point person in the iQuilt Plan, an award-winning culture-based public/private partnership to improve downtown walkability.
Robert Orr & Associates, Architecture and Urbanism, Urban Development Associate. ROA has been on the forefront of New Urbanism since its inception. While with the firm, Jonas calibrated the regulating plan for implementation of Connecticut’s first form-based zoning code, and developed site plans, models, and programs for several human-scale, mixed-use infill development projects.
Civic Activities
Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance, Board of Directors
Design Advocacy Group (Philadelphia), Complete Streets and Transit Committee
Lithuanian Music Hall (Port Richmond, Philadelphia), Board of Directors
Bushnell Park Foundation (Hartford,CT), Board of Directors (previous)
1000 Friends of Connecticut, Fundraising Committee (previous)
Select Writing + Presentations
"Uber and Lyft changed how Philly gets around. What does that mean for the city?" – the Philadelphia Inquirer asked Jonas and experts from the University of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission to respond to a study released by University of California-Davis about the impact of ride-hailing services. 24 November 2017.
"Reinvigorating Cities, Redeveloping Parking Craters" – As part of this day-long symposium hosted by the University of Connecticut, Jonas has been invited participate in a panel discussion about best practices with Streetsblog, the City of Hartford, and the University of Wisconsin's State Smart Transportation Initiative. 20 October 2017.
"Streets for People in the Age of Democratized Design" – Presentation at WTS International's Annual Transportation Miniseries, invited by CT chapter of the Institute of Traffic Engineers. 6 October 2016.
"East Market Street Requires Redesign" – This opinion published by PlanPhilly recommends re-thinking Philadelphia’s “main street” in the context of dangerous pedestrian conditions and the hospitality aspirations of hundreds of millions of dollars of ongoing mixed-use development. 16 March 2016.
"Maximizing Transit in Smaller Cities" – Presentation at the 22nd Congress for the New Urbanism in Buffalo, NY. 7 June 2014.
"Think Tank’s Urban Jobs Agenda Misguided" – This opinion in the Hartford Business Journal, co-authored with David Panagore, outlines recommendations for how to create jobs ecosystems by fixing tax and permitting incentives, investing in infrastructure and public space, and empowering local governments. 12 May 2014.
"Poor Design Will Hinder Hartford’s Transit" – Opinion in the Hartford Courant, critiquing design details of forthcoming transit projects that would improve passenger experience and ridership. 30 April 2014.
"Next Step: Trains from Hartford to Boston" – Opinion in the Hartford Courant describes how to build on ongoing infrastructure investments to transform central New England from the periphery of the metropolitan area to its center. 5 September 2013
"The Modern City" – Podcast hosted by Deft Collective, featuring a discussion of urbanism, history, and innovation. 10 March 2013
"Can Creative Capital Save New England and Its Small Industrial Towns?" – Moderator of a panel discussion hosted by the Congress for the New Urbanism, New England Chapter. Lowell, MA. 17 October 2011.
"Form-Based Zoning in Hamden, CT" – Presentation to the Land Use Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association. February 2008.
"Rebuilding Mississippi’s Gulf Coast" – Presentation at Construct Canada at the Toronto Convention Center on rebuilding traditional neighborhoods in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. November 2007.