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Remembrance of LAI Member Laurie Feinberg

April 10, 2026

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Susannah Bergmann

President

Baltimore Chapter

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Laurie Ruth Feinberg, 68, Assistant Director of the Department of Planning for the City of Baltimore (retired), died peacefully of ovarian cancer at her home on April 10, 2026. Laurie, wife of the late Mark Chello, was born in Philadelphia on June 23, 1957. She is survived by her mother, her beloved sons, Ben Chello (Carlene Buccino) and Harry Chello of Baltimore, her devoted sisters, Elizabeth Feinberg of White River Junction, VT & Jenifer Trachtman of Philadelphia, PA.

Professionally, Laurie had an enormous impact on the City of Baltimore through her 34-year career at the Department of Planning. A highlight of her work was managing Transform Baltimore, the overhaul of the zoning code for the first time in 40 years, making it more predictable and easier to use, while also more flexible.

Trained as an architect at Cornell University, Laurie nimbly moved between technical work, creative design, and community engagement. Upon her retirement, Planning Director Chris Ryer noted, “Laurie’s retirement leaves a gigantic hole in the institutional knowledge of the Department. It will take a team of at least five people pulled together to provide the knowledge and expertise that was in Laurie’s head.” The Department recently dedicated the Laurie Feinberg Design Studio.

At its Nov 15, 2017 Annual Meeting, the Baltimore Lambda Alpha Chapter presented a Special Award to Laurie & then Planning Director, Tom Stosur, in recognition of their leadership & dedication in completing Transform Baltimore.  The new City Zoning Code was adopted on Dec 5, 2016. Laurie joined LAI Baltimore in 2018, though has not been recently active.

Laurie prioritized equity, inclusion, and community engagement in her career and personal life. She brought urban planning into Baltimore City schools, elevated the work of minority and women designers and architects, taught graduate students at Morgan State University, hosted international exchange students, mentored generations of planners, and tirelessly worked to engage young people in shaping the city’s future. She will be deeply missed by family, friends, and colleagues.

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