Zachary & Associates specializes in all phases of economic development with specific expertise in market research, historic preservation, commercial revitalization, public/private liaison, community planning, green design, sustainable planning, project feasibility and financial packaging. 

Diane Van Buren Zachary integrates urban redevelopment with historic preservation and sustainable development principles to maximize community resources and energy efficiency of the built environment. In practice for more than 25 years, she has made the redevelopment of Detroit a primary focus of Zachary & Associates. Her planning principles have been most active with the Sugar Hill Development 71 Garfield project, that incorporated alternative energy and green building principles included the use of solar and geothermal technologies in the adaptive reuse of a historic 1922 building.

She was instrumental in creating a new 24-hour mixed-use green development in the Sugar Hill community of Midtown Detroit. The two-block district adjacent to the Detroit Medical Center held a valuable history and opportunity to demonstrate how a sustainable community could be a plan for a renewable energy district while retaining its historic integrity. In addition to developing the green energy plan for the highly acclaimed 71 Garfield building, she has opened Sugar Hill Clay and SocraTea within the building to demonstrate sustainable business practices and bring valuable arts programming to the district.

She is engaged with development workforce strategies for green jobs in Detroit, including expanding alternative energy and deconstruction opportunities.

She was previously Rebuild Michigan Detroit Director at the WARM Training Center (2007-09), and Nonprofit Facilities Center Director at the Nonprofit Financial Fund (2001-07).

Diane Van Buren Zachary holds a Masters of Science in historic preservation from Eastern Michigan University.

She has served on the National American Institute of Architects (AIA) board and the Visitors Board for Wayne State University Honors College.

Diane Van Buren Zachary was a mobile workshop expert at the 5th International Holcim Forum for Sustainable Construction dedicated to “Infrastructure Space” held April 7-9, 2016 in Detroit, USA.