OUR TEAM
IAN RASMUSSEN, ESQ, AICP
Ian Rasmussen is the founder and principal of Urban Cartographics. He brings more than 20 years of experience in urban planning, zoning law, graphic design and the development approval process. Ian launched Urban Cartographics to solve a problem he encountered as a practicing zoning attorney: how to make complex land use arguments clear, visual and compelling.
Since then, he and his team have played an integral role in more than 4,000 real estate and land use projects across New York City. Today, Ian advises clients on assignments ranging from targeted zoning questions and discretionary approvals to development strategy, site potential and project positioning. Before dedicating himself to Urban Cartographics full-time, Ian practiced zoning law in New York City. He holds a B.B.A. in Economics from Baruch College and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Ian serves on the New York City Bar Association’s Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee and is an adjunct professor at Baruch College, where he teaches land use regulation and development.
AUSTIN COURY, AICP
Austin Coury joined Urban Cartographics in 2017 and serves as Senior Director of Zoning and Land Use. He leads work across zoning analysis, land-use research, graphic design and agency filings, while helping oversee the timing and management of projects across the firm.
Before joining Urban Cartographics, Austin worked with the New York City Department of Transportation’s Office of Strategic Communications as a content creator and administrative aide.
Austin is a dean’s list graduate of New York University, where he earned a B.A. in Urban Design and Architecture and Spanish.
ALONSO ESPINOZA
Alonso Espinoza is the Director of Client Services and Project Management at Urban Cartographics. Since joining the firm in 2019, Alonso has grown from entry-level fieldwork into a central leadership role, overseeing the studio side of the firm's operations — from project intake and production management to agency filings, referral mailings, and public hearing logistics. He specializes in the procedural and administrative dimensions of New York City's discretionary approval process, with particular expertise in Board of Standards and Appeals and Department of City Planning application workflows. Alonso also serves as the office manager for the firm's Midtown Manhattan office and as a mentor to newer members of the team. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from Hunter College.
MICHAEL LOEW
AUGUST NASTASI
JACOB SHAVZIN
JANE HUTTON
SYDNEY GERSHON
Michael has worked with Urban Cartographics since 2014 as a cartographer and designer. He has an undergraduate architecture degree, with a minor in urban planning, from the University of Virginia, and he is also a graduate of the Green Worker Cooperatives business management course. He is a board member of the Lefferts Community Food Cooperative, and often collaborates with collectives like MayDay Space and Third Root Community Health Center to build commons-based approaches to community needs.
August Nastasi joined Urban Cartographics in 2024 as a planner and cartographer. His work combines zoning research, spatial analysis, and architectural visualization in support of the firm's land use applications across New York City. Prior to joining the team, August worked on residential projects throughout the New York area with his family's architectural practice. He holds a B.A. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he concentrated in cartography and GIS, and a Master of Science in Urban Planning from Columbia GSAPP. August is also an Associate at GSAPP, where he co-instructs the Geographic Information Systems course in the MS Urban Planning program.
Jacob joined Urban Cartographics in 2024 as a photographer and graphic designer. His roles include photographing sites, creating compelling maps and graphics for land use applications, and historical research. Jacob graduated summa cum laude from Pace University with a bachelor in Economics and a minor in Marketing.
Jane joined Urban Cartographics in 2025 as a designer, cartographer, and photographer. She comes to the team with several years of experience at the intersection of real estate and urban planning doing program management at the Urban Land Institute as well as real estate market research.
Jane graduated from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation with an M.S. in Urban Planning where she was a Dean’s Scholarship recipient and received the American Planning Association Outstanding Student Award. She earned a B.S. in Foreign Service from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.
Sydney joined Urban Cartographics in 2024 as Bookkeeper and Administrative Assistant. She oversees the organization’s bookkeeping, ensuring accurate financial records and supporting day-to-day financial operations, while also assisting with administrative responsibilities. She graduated magna cum laude from Millikin University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and a minor in Music.