Crafting Visions, Unlocking
Opportunities, Creating Value
Demetri Baches, city planner, urban designer, code writer, and lecturer has dedicated over thirty years to the study of successful communities and the implementation of elements that make them so. His professional career has been at the forefront of the revolution in urban design, and master planning that have brought about today’s renaissance in how communities of all sizes approach planning, and developing places of enduring value
Demetri has participated alongside the world’s top designers, architects, and developers on projects ranging from high profile residential infills such as the 2000 National Home Builder’s & Urban Land Institute’s Millennium Show Home Project in downtown Atlanta, GA; to redevelopment plans for communities such as the Downtown Vision Plan for Bentonville, AR for Walton Enterprises, and the redevelopment of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, MD. Demetri also works at scale on Greenfield projects inaugurating new cities, such as the master plan of Putrajaya, Malaysia’s new Administrative Capitol City; and the Higher Ground Initiative, a nation-wide strategic & redevelopment plan for the island Nation of Nauru. These, and the many other projects he has been involved in throughout his career, have provided Demetri the skills and tools needed to teach government agencies, developers, and private trusts how to recognize and unlock the untapped potential of their neighborhoods, downtowns and land holdings; a journey of learning that began with his first job as the first planning director for the City of Belmont, NC in 1992.
Since then Demetri has worked on over 170 projects in the US and abroad, first as a director of the internationally renowned planning and architecture firm of DPZ & Company in Miami, FL, then as Founding Partner of DPZ Pacific based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and currently as Owner of Metrocology and AGN, both based in Savannah, GA.
With a client base ranging from developing nations, small and medium sized towns and cities, to regional and national developers, and the real estate offices of legacy family trusts, Demetri continues to revise ordinances, create master plans, and develop long-term strategies for projects large and small that support resilient growth and value adding practices. His work has been recognized with numerous awards from the American Planning Association, the Congress for New Urbanism, and the Urban Land Institute.
Full Spectrum City Building
Expertise
Lectures & Media
Experience
Demetri is the founder and Managing Principal of Metrocology Inc., a United States based consultancy, dedicated to resilient, adaptive urban planning, Zoning, and design.
- Created the Office of Civic Investment to enable a municipal structure capable of engaging in a city wide, multi-year Civic Master Planning & Capital Improvements Effort for Beaufort, SC. Organized Consultant Team, and City Redevelopment Authority to execute and oversee projects. Director in charge of “on-the-ground” operations for the City, in partnership with co-lead, The Lawrence Group.
- Teamed with Urban3 to develop modeling that examines public infrastructure allocation in relation to environmental costs & benefits from mixed use zoning in order to optimize multi-modal corridor planning.
- Retained by Walton Enterprises to assess the impacts of pedestrianizing street corridors in downtown Bentonville, AR. Prepared Master Plan for “North A Street” to illustrate application of best practices within the context of Bentonville and surrounding metropolitan area.
- Retained by SixRock Group, Rockefeller Family Office, to assess development and/or repurposing opportunities for economically & environmentally underperforming golf course properties in the States and abroad.
- Retained by Hughs Development to write code and planning documents and negotiate with City of Columbia, SC to approve plan application for Bull Street, the City’s largest ever private development Project.
- Lead Master Planner for Weiti, a mixed use precinct in north Auckland, NZ, and continues to participate and make modifications to each new phase of development assessed against transportation investments, residential market performance and climate change in conjunction with Boffa Miskell, and Woods & Partners.
- Retained to review and improve the “Key Activity Centre planning” process of Christchurch, NZ, to establish criteria for the selection of regional and sub regional centers based on transportation access and transit planning, as part of a proposed mixed use development submission in Halswell.
- Retained by Oppenheim Architects and Port Miami, to lead the development of a master plan for the new World Trade Center and surrounding mixed use urban district at the port of Miami, FL.
- Established the need for and secured approvals to conduct a multi-jurisdictional transportation corridor master plan for Belmont, Cramerton, and Mt Holly, NC, in advance of North Carolina Department of Transportation improvements to an adjoining Interstate, and the City of Charlotte’s proposed light rail extension into the Gaston County.
- Lead Master Planner for the NC-7 Corridor Study and Master Plan for the City of Gastonia, NC. Metrocology approached the task by conducting a study of Transportation Connectivity, Street Improvements, and Market Dynamics, in order to document for the City a full spectrum analysis of recommendations implementation steps.
- Participated in the five year approvals process of Pacific View Estates, the largest mixed use development on the Gold Coast of Australia.
- Retained by WRS to master plan the redevelopment of Lakeforest Mall, a failed retail centre in Gaithersburg, MD.
- Established the need for and secured approvals to conduct a multi-year re-write of the City of Gastonia’s Urban Development Ordinances. The re-write includes a series of small area plans to illustrate the impacts the new ordinance will have on commercial, industrial, and housing development, paying particular attention to housing affordability and equity as they relate to building types and transportation access.
- Retained by TAK & Associates and China Horse Club as lead master planner for Pearl of The Caribbean Integrated Business, Resort, and Equine Center in Saint Lucia. The Project represents a US$2 Billion investment to propel Saint Lucia into the top tier of Caribbean resort and business destinations. Stages one and two consist of development of the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club, Master Plan for the Home Port for Royal Caribbean, and expansion of the Country’s International Airport.
- Retained by Cairns Regional Council to develop an Architecture and Urban Design Manual for the development of Mount Peters in Queensland, Australia, describing the principles and techniques necessary to develop sustainable, mixed use, urban places in tropical climates.
- Project Director and Lead Planner of The Higher Ground Initiative (HGI) for the nation of Nauru. Working with an interdisciplinary team spanning four countries, a Strategic Redevelopment Plan was established for the entire nation, focused on housing designs and a delivery process for developing new communities on lands requiring environmental rehabilitation on the Island’s interior, called TopSide, to mitigate decades of Phosphate Mining. An Island-wide master plan phased environmental improvements, and an agricultural plan was prepared to provide 15–20% of the caloric needs of the population. A site-specific pilot master plan for the inaugural community on “TopSide” was prepared to initiate investor outreach.
- Retained by WRS Development to lead the Master Planning process and design for the redevelopment of Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, MD — demolition of an existing 1.2 million square foot mall and construction of a mixed use town center encompassing up to 600,000 sq ft retail/commercial, 800,000 sq ft office, 50,000 sq ft civic uses, and over 1,600 residential units.
- Hired by the City of Gastonia, NC to initiate a multi-year small area planning, Zoning Ordinance upgrade, and Comprehensive Plan revision to promote walkable, mixed use development within the City. Over five years, seven small area plans were developed on strategically selected sites within each Council District, establishing a framework for the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Previously, he was the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of DPZPacific, the first affiliate office of DPZ & Company, based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Won first place in international Design Competition for the new city extension of Daijeon, South Korea.
- In partnership with RobertsDay and TAK & Associates, prepared the Master Plan for the new City of Madinat al Arab, for UAE Vice President, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
- Led the multi-year master planning and development of South of Litchfield, an urban redevelopment project in downtown Christchurch, NZ, for Property Ventures — renovating heritage buildings and constructing infill to create an entertainment and residential district.
- Convinced Waterstone Capital to redevelop rather than demolish the historic Chronicle Mill in downtown Belmont, NC. Managed the consultant team and led the master planning of the Mill property and surrounding neighborhoods.
- Together with RobertsDay, developed the downtown Master Plan for Ipswich, Australia, proposing new development sites coordinated with improved transportation and open space infrastructure.
- Led a multi-disciplinary team for EAGA Corp. to prepare the regional master plan for the Van Don Economic Zone in northern Vietnam, working with the Vietnam Institute of Architecture and Quang Ninh Provincial Government to balance preservation and development of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Retained by Oppenheim Architecture to master plan the urban extension of Abu Dhabi onto existing Hudayriat Island through land reclamation and bay replenishment.
- Lead Master Planner for Pacific View Estates in Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia — the largest expansion of the Council’s urban growth boundary.
- Lead Master Planner for Central City South, in Christchurch, New Zealand, centered on the southeast quadrant of downtown Christchurch, home to the largest concentration of Heritage listed buildings in the City.
Prior to that, Demetri was Director of Projects with Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, responsible for sourcing new work and leading the Firm's initiatives around the world.
- Project Managed the development, promotion and distribution of the SmartCode, led by Andres Duany in partnership with Municode.
- Project Managed updates to the Lexicon of New Urbanism, led by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk.
- Project Managed the master planning of the Diplomatic Neighborhood and regional centre for Putrajaya, the new administrative capital of Malaysia, in collaboration with TAK & Associates.
- Directed the ULI’s Millennium Project, in 2000, in collaboration with Beazer Homes and HGTV, locating and developing three infill Live/Work units designed by Andres Duany in the Castleberry Hill neighborhood of Atlanta, GA.
- Project Managed the master plan for Atlantic Station in Atlanta, GA, one of the largest brownfield reclamation and infill developments in the country’s history. Public-Private Partnership between the City of Atlanta and Jacoby Development/AIG; project won the EPA’s 2004 Phoenix Award for best Brownfield Redevelopment.
- Project Managed the El Toro Marine Base conversion and Master Plan in collaboration with the Planning Center, in Orange County, CA.
- Directed the development of an Affordable Housing Prototype, designed by Andres Duany, for migrant farmer workers in Wimauma, Florida.
- Project Director for Legacy Town Center, in Plano, TX, the first suburban retrofit in Metropolitan Dallas — redevelopment of underutilized EDS corporate property into a walkable, transit-ready, mixed use town center; worked with the EDS team including Ross Perot, the company’s founder.
- Project Managed Habersham, in Beaufort, SC, a mixed use new town of over 400 acres and 1,000 units — winner of the National Home Builders Association’s “Best in Living” Platinum Award.
- Project Managed I’On, in Charleston, SC, which since its development has achieved per-acre tax valuations equal to those of downtown Charleston.
- Project Managed Belle Chase, in New Orleans, LA, a development in partnership with the US Navy’s national effort to provide new and redeveloped on-base housing for service members.
- Directed the Firm’s negotiations with the City of Miami to develop the Purpose & Need, Scope & Budget for Miami21, the City’s Form Based Code Project.
And before that, Demetri was the Planning Director for the City of Belmont, NC.
- Inaugurated the City’s first Planning Department.
- Prepared and implemented the City’s Form Based Code to replace its Zoning Ordinance — the first such code for an existing municipality in the United States.
- Planned and directed the City’s Downtown Main Street Improvement Project: (1) replacement and extension of aging infrastructure to encourage building redevelopment, and (2) streetscape improvements including wider sidewalks, street trees, and decorative lighting and signage.
- Led the effort to include Belmont in the North Carolina Main Street Program, revitalizing the City’s struggling Downtown.
- Participated in the Catawba River Corridor Study, led by the Centralina Council of Governments, to plan for regional growth along Belmont’s Catawba River frontage.
- Managed the Belmont Peninsula Study, led by Michael Gallis & Associates, identifying strengths and challenges to the City’s future growth and transportation needs.
- Led the City’s efforts to preserve existing Mill Neighborhoods in collaboration with Pharr Yarns Inc.; first successful project was the redevelopment of the Adams Bluff Mill Neighborhood for workforce housing.
2. PUBLICATIONS, PRESS, INTERVIEWS, LECTURES
In addition to countless project-specific booklets and publications, Demetri has lectured, presented, been interviewed, quoted, and awarded often over the course of his career by the media, at conferences, and in professional publications. A sampling:
- 2025: Shaping Charlotte Podcast: “Designing Transit to Move & Shape Cities,” Sept. 2025
- 2024: Congress for the New Urbanism: Charter Award – “The Higher Ground Initiative”
- 2021: The Power of Design Podcast #55, Ossa Studio: “Designing the Perfect City”
- 2018: WBT Radio: “Charlotte Scene,” Development in Gaston County and Belmont, April 2018
- 2017: NPR Interview: WABE Radio, Closer Look with Rose Scott, “Underground Atlanta,” Sept 7 2017
- 2016: Congress for the New Urbanism: Charter Award – “Beaufort Civic Master Plan”
- 2015: NCAPA “Build a Better Boulevard” Marvin Collins Outstanding Planning Award
- 2014: SCAPA “Beaufort Downtown Master Plan” Outstanding Planning Project Award
- 2011: Urban Land Institute, TAP Member, CARTA Intermodal Transportation Analysis, Charleston SC
- 2010: Affordable Housing & The Transect, Planning Institute of Australia, Brisbane, Australia
- 2010: Urban Land Institute, Form Based Coding in Real Estate Development, Webinar, USA
- 2010: Crisis and Beyond: The Path to a Post-Carbon Human Habitat, Gold Coast City Council, Australia
- 2007: Auckland Regional Council Planning Conference, Speaker, Auckland, New Zealand
- 2006: Radio New Zealand, Ideas Segment, “Urban Cool” Interview, Auckland
- 2005: Daijeon New City Master Plan, Competition Winner, South Korea
- 2004: New Zealand Cubes Magazine, Interview, “Thinking Outside the Box,” Issue 004, New Zealand
- 2004: Gold Coast Transportation Planning Address, Gold Coast Council, Surfer’s Paradise, Australia
- 2003: Planning and New Urbanism Forum, Keynote, Christchurch, New Zealand
- 2002: New Urban News, National Radiocast, SmartCode, USA
- 2002: HGTV Interview, Live/Work Housing, televised segment, Atlanta GA
- 2002: Rolling Stone Magazine, Interview, Asbury Park Master Plan Redevelopment, New York NY
- 2001: Congress for Asian New Urbanism, Presenter/Panelist, Manila, The Philippines
- 2001: Urban Land Institute Development and Transportation Summit, Presenter and Panelist, Miami FL
- 1997: Architectural Record Magazine, “The New Urbanists: The Second Generation,” USA
- 1996: Asian Development Conference, Presenter/Panelist, Harvard GSD, Cambridge MA
By the numbers: 1,248 Presentations Attended · 894 of those Delivered
Demetri grounds all his work around a single belief: urban planning, architecture and the built environment have a profound and lasting effect on people's lives and memories.
Collaborators
Testimonials
“Demetri’s ability to lay out master plans and development principles in a clear and compelling way that capture the imagination of citizens as well as planners is incredibly valuable in driving change.”
Hon Rachel Nolan MP, Minister of Finance, Natural Resources and the Arts, Queensland, Australia
“Demetri was pivotal in his role as principal advisor of a multi-disciplinary team, mentor to decision makers, landowners, and community participants, and lead designer for the largest master planned new town in Australia.”
Warren Harris, State Manager Amex Corp, Queensland Australia
“Demetri’s greatest strength is his willingness to listen — he treats every stakeholder’s input as an essential piece of the puzzle of every project. Across urban renewal projects, large-scale developments, and extensive master planning efforts, he’s been more than a consultant, he’s been a true partner.”
Steve Howe, Head of Real Estate Walton Enterprises, Bentonville AR
“Demetri has always been one of the persons I have gone to when I want an idea or project implemented”
Andres Duany, Owner / Principal, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co.
“Demetri brings a rare combination of professional expertise, design insight, and strategic judgement that makes him an invaluable partner on complex projects. He engages thoughtfully with decision makers, technical teams, and communicates ideas in a clear and inclusive way. His calm, solutions focused manner gives me a high degree of confidence in any work he undertakes.”
Reagan Moses, Permanent Secretary for Climate Change & National Resilience, Republic of Naoero
“Demetri’s quiet and unassuming energy to confront difficult planning tasks allow him to work through challenges with a smile and motivate those around him until a solution is found”.
Leon Krier
“Demetri’s impressive combination of communication, planning and design skills culminate in memorable and successful developments. He would be an asset to any Project that utilizes his many talents.”
Cindy Harris, Vice President of Development, Lang Partners
“Demetri was a valued and trusted member of the Belmont team that I relied on heavily for advice and direction. His work ethic and drive to succeed are only surpassed by his personality and ability to get along with others.”
Mitchell B. Moore, City Manager, Belmont NC
“Demetri’s leadership has been invaluable in allowing sustainable design outcomes to be achieved for the Ripley Valley Master Plan.”
Mike Day, Managing Partner, RobertsDay, Australia
“Not only does Demetri bring considerable technical and aesthetic skills to each project he engages in, but he also possesses that rare professional blend of flexibility, appreciation of commercial dynamics, and salesmanship.”
Dave Henderson, President RFD Investments Limited
“I’ve hired Demetri to work on various master planning projects in my capacity as City Manager in two different municipalities over my career. His professionalism and expertise in urban planning, coding and design, along with his ability to effectively communicate with political leaders and citizens are impressive.”
Michael Peoples, City Manager, Gastonia NC
“Demetri has helped change the image of Belmont from a “mill town to escape from” to a vibrant, up and coming “town to move to.”
John Church, Owner, Centra Properties, Belmont NC
Reach Out
Demetri Baches travels internationally to direct and collaborate on projects with leading edge practitioners and forward thinking clients. Invite Demetri to work on your project.
Demetri was an absolute pleasure to work with on our SkyRidge project – one of the largest remaining greenfield developments along the Gold Coast. Professional and incredibly talented, Demetri delivered world-class urban design that exceeded every expectation.
Chris Alston, Managing Director CRA Group, Queensland Australia.