Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos G. Espinoza.
Hi Carlos, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My name is Carlos G. Espinoza, and I am a land planner & urban designer based in Texas. I am immigrant to this country; I came here when I was 13 years old. When I was in college at Texas A&M University, I dreamed about owning my own planning firm business. That is where the dream of CGEA Planning+Design LLC was formed in class. I still keep the original logo design since 2008. It is extremely funny and quite feel like I am living someone else’s life that I am running the business. I am also part of the Latino and LGBTQ+ community, and I feel the business reflects this as we do community engagement without the award-winning City of Houston Sidewalks Plan (2023 American Planning Association Award Winner).
I feel very proud to be where I am; of course, there are hiccups, but when you dream as a college student, ideas that seem impossible, you never stop fighting. Especially when our work helps communities in Houston, Dallas, or Austin here in Texas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been smooth road; there ave been struggles. Struggles included learning the financial system in America. Also starting businesses and renaming/changing the direction I started with. Mainly learning to navigate to be outgoing is a struggle. I am a very shy person, and doing the business pushed me to be someone else. I am also doing free marketing promoting Dallas or Houston neighborhoods through Instagram stories. This way, I help economic development with that business and also help grow my network.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about CGEA Planning+Design LLC?
CGEA|Planning+Design is a boutique, experienced planning consulting firm based out of Texas. Our services include platting, reports, public hearings, variances, zoning, development plats, land use planning, community development, urban design, and community engagement.
Our number one priority pushing the envelope with tactical urbanism in Texas and helping Texans become homeowners. We help influence housing developers create designs that are affordable, cool, and meet Texas’ cities development codes.
We offer a one-on-one experience in land planning; we have grown in both the Dallas and Houston market.
What matters most to you?
The main thing that matters to us is connecting Texans to the development community. Many times, especially being an immigrant and Latino-owned planning firm, municipalities in Texas forget half of the population is Latino and a great majority of Spanish Speakers.
We believe the new Texan majority has, is, and will continue to buy housing. Connecting the State’s largest population to great housing is ideal for us, this what drives us.
Pricing:
- $9,000-$10,000 average typical replat/zoning pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cgeaplanning.com
- Instagram: cgeaplanning
- Facebook: cgeaplanning
- Linkedin: cgeaplanning
- Twitter: cgeaplanning
- Youtube: cgeaplanning
Image Credits
Carlos G. Espinoza
