Jim Fawcett

As we mark the centenary of the San Francisco earthquake and our friends and families in New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama are still cleaning up eight months after Hurricane Katrina, as well as the annual destruction from tornadoes in the Midwest, it occurred to me how we often rely on acts of nature to permit us to do large-scale redevelopment. Not that we seek out the opportunity but rather that land ownership and uses become so embedded into long-standing patterns, that often the only way to readjust those patterns on anything approaching a comprehensive scale is to act in the aftermath of a disaster.

One of my seaport colleagues was commenting the other day that the only way he could effectively change the manner in which one of his container terminals was utilized was to wait for the next scheduled rent negotiation on the long-term lease. If he really wanted to make a change in the way the terminal is used, he told me, he’d just have to wait for the lease to expire: all that in the face of an urgent need to upgrade facilities to reduce air pollution in this non-attainment air basin.

Well, our cities work in a similar way, don’t they? I don’t know about you, but my house was built in 1927 and I don’t see any reason, nor do my neighbors, to change land uses on our street. But, then again, that’s not really what we’re talking about. Rather, we’re talking about those places—residential and commercial, but often industrial—where an effective use has long ago vanished.

When land use patterns become dysfunctional, we either adapt old uses or wait. Often we have to wait for elected officials with political courage or a visionary developer for things to really change. The recent Kelo vs. City of New London case before the U.S. Supreme Court found that the city acted within its proper purview in condemning 90 acres of land including 115 residential and commercial lots to promote economic development adjacent to a large pharmaceutical plant. Fifteen landowners disagreed and now the Supreme Court has ruled that the city was acting within its proper role in condemning the land. But in the aftermath of that case, we hear claims that, short of blight, there should be strict limits to the right to hold private property inviolate.

Hurricane Katrina made redevelopment easy in New Orleans. Well, maybe the clearance of the land but now what? Do we have adequate contingency plans for redevelopment in the aftermath of disasters like Katrina? Should we? What would that kind of planning be like? Would “disaster planning” be interpreted as inverse condemnation? We see what happens when there is no contingency planning in the fate of our fellow citizens in New Orleans, but what will we take away from their misfortune? Will we take their example as inspiration to do some disaster/redevelopment planning in our own cities? It seems to me that it’s a question that Lambda Alpha is uniquely suited to tackle.

James A. Fawcett
International President
fawcett@usc.edu

ARE YOU ON YOUR WAY? Washington D.C. Weekend Experience Friday, April 28 through Saturday, April 29 Hosted by the George Washington Chapter Museum of the American Indian Read More about the weekend Program Schedule [Click Here] for a downloadable version of the schedule [Click Here] to register for the Washington D.C. Weekend Experience Online or [Click Here] to register by mail

Editor’s Column

Helen Sause

Memo: Board of Governors of
Lambda Alpha International Scribe
April Editorial and
Six Month’s Reflection

This last six months as LAI’s Scribe has been quite an eye-opener! As a LAI chapter president, I focused on our local real estate community, members and organizing (with a lot of help) monthly lunches. Does that sound familiar to any other presidents? And truth be told, LAI was far off and seldom entered my consciousness. These last six months working with President Jim Fawcett and the LAI staff have impressed on me the resources that LAI and the KeyNotes offer!

Jim has outlined his goals very clearly: Expanding our membership; Challenge all chapters to increase the numbers of women initiated into the Society; Challenge all chapters to increase their membership to a stable base of 100 members; and Resuscitate weak chapters. These proposed goals and the planning and strategies to accomplish them are published in detail elsewhere. You might ask why this is important to your Chapter and it seems to me that these objectives would allow your chapter to reach an even larger audience and be more effective in concentrating on modeling best practices for the profession.

In looking at these objectives, it is pretty apparent that almost every one of them comes back to the chapter level. So here’s where the learning I have done comes in….KeyNotes can be a “new ideas central” where the techniques of chapters achieving these goals can be reported as models to try in our own communities. We may want post a special Goal Model and Achievement column where those that have successes in a goal area can be listed and provide “how tos”. One seldom does things so well that we can’t learn from others, circumstances are rarely the same so one size doesn’t fit all but ideas being carried out in other chapters can be adapted to fit your unique circumstances.

For example New Mexico is undertaking a major effort to build its membership to a stable level….Ireland is reaching out to real estate professionals to access the interest in starting a new chapter. In each case there are very special circumstances but it would seem that some of your chapter building techniques could be offered as ideas for them and perhaps their efforts could bolster our memberships or inspire starting the new chapter Jim talks about.

The potential power of the KeyNotes to strengthen our organization seems to offer great possibilities. I hope that the discussion of the potential power of the newsletter to achieve the President’s goals will occur at the Board of Governors meeting during the Weekend Experience in Washington, D.C. April 28-29. Chapter and Regional presidents will be gathered, they are will be the KeyNote reporters who could make this happen. I hope that they will consider joining in this effort to encourage achievement of President Fawcett’s goals.

Helen Sause
International Editor
helensause@alamedanet.net

Chapter Corner

Boston Chapter:

The Boston chapter has attracted some prominent public officials to the organization. This is a trend that we plan build on. Our speaker series continues to be the mainstay of the group. Every other month we have guest speakers to a round-table forum hosted by a member of the board with a catered buffet lunch. It's a great informal networking opportunity, a good lunch, and most importantly, an opportunity to hear a guest speaker(s) talk about a relevant real estate matter. We hear from government officials, leaders from academic institutions, architects and real estate developers.

In May, our guest speakers will be Janet-Marie Smith of the Boston Red Sox, discussing the ongoing developments the Red Sox have undertaken to improve the oldest and smallest park in the majors and the ways in which the ownership is integrating the park into the surrounding neighborhood. Joining Janet will be Randi Lathrop of the Boston Redevelopment Authority to discuss the City's Master Plan for the area surrounding the park. This will be a well attended event with lots of lively questions and answers following the presentation. Go Red Sox!

Note: The attraction of “prominent public officials” (how’d they do that?!) and linkage of topics involving different development entities and certainly a role model to encourage women to participate. Go Boston! Ed.

Ely Chapter:

On May 2, at 5:30 pm, there will be an opportunity to understand the root of historical development patterns in Chicago as the Ely Chapter and the Cliff Dwellers Club in Chicago co-sponsor an evening program at the Cliff Dwellers Club 200 S Michigan Avenue 22nd floor. The discussion will focus on a new book by Ely member, Professor Joseph P. Schwieterman, on "The Politics of Place, A History of Zoning in Chicago." Cost is $30 including dinner. A copy of the book may be purchased online at www.LAI.org, click on “store”. Reservations call the Club at 312-922-8080.

The Spring Chautauqua will be held May 17, 2006 featuring an in-depth look at Regional Transit Planning and Finance. Plenary speakers will discuss the RTA Strategic Plan Progress under development, framing the issue facing northeastern Illinois in system funding and development, and also discuss national precedents and trends in transit agency organization, finance and public/private relationships.

Industry panelists will also discuss major infrastructure and development finance trends, Federal funding trends and offer insights from the developer’s perspective.

New Members! Plans are underway for the Ely Chapter’s Initiation Ceremony to be held June 21 at the Peninsula Hotel in downtown Chicago. The Ely Class of 2006 will have approximately 30 members, representing many aspects of the field of land economics and its related fields.

The venue for this black-tie optional affair is the elegant Peninsula Hotel located on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. This world-class facility is host to celebrities from around the world (one Ely member chatted with a famous actress in the lobby as he was finalizing the banquet plans).

Note: 30 new Members! How did they do it? Might call the chapter president and ask their secret! Ed.

Golden Gate Chapter:

The Chapter hosted the Planning Directors of San Francisco and Oakland to share their perspectives of the development on both sides of San Francisco Bay. Both emphasized the challenges in recruiting qualified planners and in training managers. They also talked about the challenges of planning for housing in areas that were formerly light industrial uses. SF is seeking to set aside specific areas for production, distribution and repair that housing developments must provide for. Oakland is trying to reconcile with the loss of industrial jobs in a “flat world” and the Planning Director’s view is to embrace change and build housing. Another theme was the failure of the region to address transportation planning.

The Chapter is also co-sponsoring a program on eminent domain in economic development and redevelopment after the Supreme Court decision in Kelo. The program is intended to provide information on the issue, information that is sorely lacking from the political discourse surrounding legislation to limit eminent domain. A major focus is expected to be on the Anderson initiative, a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban eminent domain for economic development and require compensation for zoning that reduces property development and require compensation for zoning that reduces property values.

John F. Shirey, Executive Director, California Redevelopment Association and Michael M. Berger, Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, foremost land use and condemnation lawyer will discuss this critical topic.

San Diego Chapter:

San Diego at a Crossroads in Planning

May 2. As the City of San Diego faces the challenges of a tight budget, aging urban infrastructure, and a citizenry with reluctance toward density and a distrust of City government, the City also faces the challenge of being without a Planning Director. At LAI’s meeting, architect Mark Steele, Planning Commissioner Carolyn Chase and developer Fred Maas will explore:

• Important issues to be included in the City’s planning agenda
  
• Qualities that are needed in a new Planning Director, and
  
• What the new Director’s agenda should include:
  

Janice Weinrick
Vice President, LAI San Diego

Note: Discussion between LAI members and local planning directors will help foster win-win solutions. Bravo and Good Luck! Ed.

Student Chapter

The John Marshall Law School

We are honored to have an introductory article by a member of one of LAI’s Student Chapters. It is a pleasure to have Daniel Padernacht share some initial comments on his Student Chapter at The John Marshall Law School. We look forward to featuring more information in future KeyNote editions. Heads up! Students of law, real estate and economics are a significant way to introduce young people into the development profession.

LAISA Chapters: Taking a Proactive Role
By Daniel Padernacht

Students are major players in the academic world. A student’s primary job is to learn, discuss and debate subject matter in a variety of arts and sciences. Students must, in addition, produce various mediums in their specific fields of study. These range from scholarly articles to creative models. The inclusion of students in Lambda Alpha International is a natural step considering its mission of "fostering a closer association with academia and professionals involved with land economics and related fields."

The John Marshall Law School is one of four schools that have Lambda Alpha International Student Associations (LAISA). As an LAISA charter school, student members at John Marshall hold a temporary key to access the educational, social and networking opportunities of LAI.

John Marshall hosts different events where students interact with LAI members in an approachable atmosphere. These events supplement the monthly luncheons which may be, at times, intimidating for some students. LAISA members receive insight and practical perspective to a myriad of disciplines related to land economics. The interrelation, further, exposes career interest, establishes personal relationships and stimulates academic thought among students and professionals interested in related fields. Each LAISA advances the mission of LAI. A proactive role should be taken to create more student associations.

The task of creating a student chapter is not as daunting as one may think. The specific criteria for approval of a student chapter can be located on the LAI website. The fundamental provisions, however, state that a student chapter of LAISA may be chartered by the LAISA Executive Council at any college or university that is (i) accredited by an approved agency of LAI or (ii) approved by the LAISA Executive Council. The most difficult step is the decision to charter a school.

Local chapters can begin with its members seeking interest in schools they are closely related. A more aggressive approach can be the extension of an invitation to institutions with programs specializing in land economic fields. Whatever the decision may be, each chapter should discuss the formation of a local LAISA.

The board of John Marshall’s student association is planning to contact other LAISA chapters next semester. It is our goal to emulate the parent chapter’s mission of bringing together those interested in related disciplines.

Announcements

New Members

The John Marshall Law School, Students
Chris Barton
Stephen Bennett
Teuta Bitici
Jeffrey Brown
Dan Concannon
John Doychich
Dennis Foldenauer
Nicholar Ftikas
Jennifer Harding
Logan Hollobaugh
Jeffrey Kazlo
Amy Keller
Edward Little
Anne Littlejohn
Rita McDade
Matthew McLean
Todd Marciniak
Tan Nguyen
Marques Rice
Yolanda Scannicchio
Christi Seitz
Lauren Tobiason
Amir Ziton

In Memoriam

Vancouver Chapter: Graeme Stamp

Graeme Stamp, a past chairman of the Vancouver Board of Trade, has died. Stamp, a prominent Vancouver businessman and vice-president of Fairmont Developments, was elected Board of Trade chairman in 2004. He served on the board for two years. There was no indication that he was ill, he passed away in his sleep April 7, 2006 at age 62.

Stamp, who had more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry in Canada and the US, also sat on the University of B.C.’s advisory boards for the Sauder School of Business and the Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate. Stamp was a professional member of the Real Estate Institute of B.C., a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute of Canada and a member of Lambda Alpha International, an honorary land economics society. Stamp also serve on various advisory boards including the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Capital Campaign, St. Vincent’s Hospital Foundation, C.H.I.L.D. Foundation, Stanley Theatre Society, B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame and the Vancouver Civic Theatres Board. He was also a Vancouver Junior Board of Trade Business Leader or the Year winner, and was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal in 2003. Stamp and his wife had two children, Shannon 27, and David 24.