ABOUT TWC
Over 35 Years of Professional Experience In Both Public & Private Sectors
The Walker Collaborative (TWC) is the planning practice of Philip L. Walker, FAICP. This practice is founded upon the belief that rarely is any one firm uniquely qualified for any single planning project. Rather than using a firm-based approach, TWC employs a person-based approach.
TWC initiates each project by first understanding the project needs, next determining the necessary areas of expertise, and then identifying the best individuals to form the optimal project team. Team members are determined by balancing professional expertise and experience with considerations of geography, professional relationships, personalities, and planning philosophies. Only by employing this person-based approach can the most qualified project team be tailored for any given project.
TWC is involved with a wide range of planning projects, including community visioning, comprehensive planning, historic preservation, downtown and neighborhood revitalization, waterfront planning, new town centers, zoning and design guidelines. Most of the urban design work exhibited on this website was performed by Common Ground Urban Design + Planning (Franklin, TN), and most of the real estate economics was performed by Randall Gross / Development Economics (Nashville, TN & Washington, DC). Both firms are frequent collaborators with The Walker Collaborative.
PHILIP L. WALKER, FAICP
Principal
- Principal: The Walker Collaborative – Nashville, Tennessee (2002-present)
- Part-Time Interim Director: – City Planning Department – Natchez, Mississippi (2022) – Downtown Natchez Alliance (DNA) – Natchez, Mississippi (2019-2022) – Two Rivers Company (TRC) – Clarksville, Tennessee (2011-2014)
- Director of Planning – Nashville Office: LRK Architects – Nashville, Tennessee (1998-2002)
- Principal: Community Planning & Research, Inc. – Nashville, Tennessee (1994-1998)
- Associate: Christopher Chadbourne & Associates – Cambridge, Massachusetts (1993-1994)
- Director of City Planning: City of Natchez – Natchez, Mississippi (1991-1993)
- Associate: Hintz/Nelessen Associates – Princeton, New Jersey (1988-1991)
- Executive Director: Downtown Improvement Board – Pensacola, Florida (1986-1988)
- Harvard University:
Master of Design Studies – Real Estate Development (1994) - University of Florida:
Master of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning (1986) - Middle Tennessee State University:
Bachelor of Science – Historic Preservation (1984)
- American Institute of Certified Planners – College of Fellows (FAICP)
- Professional Planner – State of New Jersey (inactive)
- National Charrette Institute (NCI) – Charrette Manager
- Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) Site Visitor
- American Planning Association: Pilot Program Reviewer – Comprehensive Plan Standards
- American Planning Association: Committee Member – Community Assistance Planning Services (CAP)
- International Association for Public Participation
- Preservation Action – Board of Directors (past)
- National Trust for Historic Preservation
- National Main Street Network
- Tennessee Preservation Trust – Board of Directors (past)
- Nashville Urban Design Forum – Board of Directors (past)
Awards
Phil Walker led the creation of numerous award-winning plans prior to establishing The Walker Collaborative (TWC) in 2002, including the Downtown Bryan Master Plan, which won the 2002 “Project Planning Award” from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association. Below are awards for projects led by TWC.
Outstanding Comprehensive Plan: Small Jursidiction 2021
Pikesville Comprehensive Plan: Pikesville, KY
Kentucky Chapter of the American Planning Association
Best Project • Outstanding Project Award 2018
Downtown Natchez Master Plan: Natchez, MS
Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association
Achievement in Urban Development • Urban Design 2012
Downtown Russellville Master Plan: Russellville, AR
Arkansas Chapter of the American Planning Association
Plan Implementation Award 2010
Downtown Gallatin Master Plan: Gallatin, TN
Tennessee Chapter of the American Planning Association
Community Development Award 2009
Washington Drive District Plan: High Point, NC
North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association
Best Plan Of The Year 2008
Northport Riverfront & Downtown Plan: Northpoint, AL
Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association
Comprehensive Plan For A Large Community Award 2007
High Point Core City Plan: High Point, NC
North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association
Award Of Excellence 2006
Downtown Gallatin Master Plan: Gallatin, TN
Greater Nashville Regional Council
“You and your team did a fantastic job with this comprehensive plan.
It clearly reflects a high level of care on your part.
We feel like the City of Midway really got its money’s worth.”
“Phil’s charrette process exceeded our expectations… Phil and his team demonstrated an outstanding ability to work with anxious developers, interested property owners, and concerned neighbors. The caliber of Walker’s work was proven when the resulting Downtown and Riverfront Master Plan was awarded the 2009 Outstanding Planning Award from the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association.”
“Mr. Walker assembled a talented team…that have dramatically changed the neighborhood for the better.
The plan has since been used as a model strategy for the revitalization
of other similar neighborhoods in Tupelo.”
“… the City hired The Walker Collaborative (TWC) to craft a detailed revitalization strategy in 2013… Issues addressed included uses and development along the Coosa River … Although budgets are tight, we have used the plan to make steady progress in revitalizing the district… The City of Wetumpka was quite pleased with the services and end product provided by The Walker Collaborative.”
“The reason the City continuously hires The Walker Collaborative, even over the course of multiple political administrations, is because they do a good job. Phil is good at listening to his clients and the public in general, and he takes the time to understand the various existing conditions in a thorough manner. His solutions for our community always seem to be the most technically sound and pragmatic path to take, so we value his recommendations.”
“From all accounts, The Walker Collaborative knows what it’s doing when the aim is downtown revitalization… What we like most about this process is the strong desire this organization has to get public input…
The Walker Collaborative seemed to truly care about getting local buy-in.”
“The Walker Collaborative did a tremendous job of helping to forge the initial vision for our heritage area. The economic study prepared by Phil Walker and persuasively presented by him in five communities throughout the region was instrumental in confirming the potential of our proposed heritage area and solidifying widespread political and public support.”
“Philip and his team are sincerely nice people with no pretense –
a delight to be around and interact with.
I am looking forward to helping implement all the great ideas and images they created for our City.”
“I enjoyed your session. Your presentation was streamlined so it was easy to follow and grasp concepts,
entertaining with your natural injection of humor, and you had excellent presence.
You really connected with your audience.”
