Chapter Corner

Aloha Chapter:

Please note:
The American Planning Association's meeting in Minneapolis April 25-29 (about half our LAI Aloha Chapter executive committee belongs to the APA and generally attends the annual conference, particularly now that our AICP annual certification depends upon quite a few hours of CE which are most easily attained at said conference).

Professor David Callies, FAIC, Aloha Chapter Scribe

Baltimore Chapter:

Dear Executive Committee, LAI Media and East Region Chapter Presidents

Baltimore Chapter
Lambda Alpha International Meeting

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 4:00 - 7:30pm

Boat Tour of Baltimore Harbor Waterfront

Enjoy a guided waterside view of Baltimore's industrial and redeveloped residential and commercial shoreline.

Capacity is limited to 28. Reservations are open to Lambda Alpha members only until June 15. Please make your reservation with Judy Bushong. Any available spaces after June 15 may be reserved for guests. The tour price of $40 covers expenses of the Living Classrooms Boat and a donation to the Living Classrooms Foundation. Drinks and light refreshments will be served. Tour fee will be collected at the boat. Reservations are non-refundable unless cancelled by July 21. Information about meeting place and parking will follow.

Ackneil Muldrow, Baltimore Chapter Past President

Ely Chapter:

The Ely Chapter will publish a book in 2009 as part of the celebration of the Burnham Chicago Plan Centennial. The Centennial will be a time for the region’s communities and institutions to look back for inspiration, and an opportunity to make and implement plans for the 21st Century that build on success of the 1909 Burnham Plan.

The book will cover the influences, impacts and implications of the Burnham plan and will address the question how can citizens, city builders and policymakers gain insightful knowledge and guidance from the lessons of the Burnham Plan? Our committee has discussed all submitted abstracts and recently sent letters to the selected authors giving them direction on content and format. To assist the chapter, we have retained the services of an experienced editor, James Krohe, Jr., who is familiar with the Burnham Plan as he authored a 1993 feature length article for a local publication.

We are working to secure releases for the original Jules Guerin drawings and other maps from the original Plan. In addition, Ely Chapter is collaborating with the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Fairchild Challenge in an immersive learning process designed to convey to high school students the essential messages of the Burnham Chicago Plan Centennial. The experience includes a photo essay contest to explore the impacts of the 1909 Chicago Plan and current issues relating to the future of the Chicago region. The chapter will select several entries for inclusion in the book to enhance the articles.

We are grateful for the generous support of the LAI Land Economics Foundation and look forward to publishing a book which will interest all members of LAI.

Laurie Marston, Ely Chapter Scribe

London Chapter:

Healthcare Development and The Challenges Ahead

We were addressed at our Lunch on 12th June 2008 by Ken Steven, a consultant on healthcare provision. At the heart of his deeply-felt words was a personal anguish that there are tectonic strains within the whole of the healthcare area, but neither politicians nor practitioners seem able or willing to promote an open discussion about the principles under which the challenges should be met. The causes of the strains are obvious: an aging population with increasing demands, and an ‘industry’ with a high capacity for producing remedies that either generate huge costs or bring radical new opportunities. As an example, many procedures that once required a 10 day hospital stay can now be dealt in a day or little more; he quoted an example of a heart by-pass being performed as day-surgery. These radical changes involve quite different forms of hospital management, and perhaps quite different approaches to hospital real estate. In Ken’s view, the NHS is simply too large and too bureaucratic to be able to keep pace. Despite the best efforts of many of its staff, it is hugely wasteful, and often inefficient. As a consequence, and largely by default private sector patches are and will continue to be added, but within an entirely unconsidered framework.

Underlying this grim picture, Ken sees a curious public attitude that is being betrayed by government ineptitude. The Man-in-the-street is being told that he is being given choice, but is given no information on which he can make his choice. Perhaps as a consequence, people view the consultants they meet as miracle-workers, until something goes wrong when they sue them. Like all professionals, medical consultants vary in their skills, but there is no means of getting at knowledge of this.

The ability of the NHS to respond to the capacities of the private and charitable sectors is weak, partly by political conviction but also due to bureaucratic inertia. He was also concerned by a probable inability to meet changes in the legal environment of healthcare.

If the NHS faces challenges, so too does the private sector. The organisation of the medical profession does not make it easy to formulate the long-term relationships that high hardware costs necessitate. Consultants, quite naturally, wish to migrate to whatever place offers the latest and best for their clients. Solutions are possible, but they need to be openly thrashed out. The absence of the debate has left the private sector in limbo. As a consequence, much of its management expertise and its finance now comes from overseas. In response to a question, Ken argued that, whilst a limited number of attempts are being made, it was unlikely that private finance could be found for solutions similar to those for student accommodation. Whilst mechanisms are quite feasible, they require agreement on the ground rules, an agreement that is not even being properly discussed. The PFI solution has been, in his view, no more than a deferment of the problems it was supposed to meet. Who is thinking about what will happen when PFI projects mature – and some are now 25% through their life-span?

This sombre view of the management, political and administrative, Ken sharply contrasted with the high skills and unselfish devotion of many practitioners. He left the question in the air – why can’t we formulate the debate?

Changing times and attitudes at Ann Summers
At our Lunch on 17th April 2008 Ian Wallis gave us a fascinating insight into the development of a niche retail market: sex-related products. He charted for us the progress in business terms from a purchase in bankruptcy in the 1960s to a trans-UK and increasingly international presence today. In product terms, the progress has been from “men in macintoshes” to “a neighbour of Marks and Spencer’s”. This progress reflects, of course, the acumen of the Company’s owners, but also the transformation in mores during that time, a transformation in which Ann Summers played a significant part.

The business has had three strands. In the early days, it was very dependent upon ‘party retailing’; in a close analogy with Tuppaware, the products were sold at female-only parties. Items not sold at parties were then passed to a small number of shops. In the 1990s the shop side was increased, to around 153 today. To achieve this was a considerable battle against entrenched attitudes by most large property owners but, Mr Wallis assured us, this has largely gone now – and no doubt the market troubles today will accelerate this growing ‘enlightenment’. Finally, in recent years, internet selling has also become, not surprisingly, a major line for the business.

Part of the transformation in attitudes has been delivered by prudent management of product lines. This was given a boost by the purchase in 2001 of the Knickerbox chain. There is also an emphasis on developing well-known and trusted brands. Store layout and size has also been a key ingredient. Stores are now in the region of 1400 – 2000 sqft, with the latest, in Cardiff, being 4000 sqft. Layout design is intended to ameliorate the ‘embarrassment factor’, which is still a feature for many shoppers, but to retain a degree of ‘theatre’ in the customer experience.

Some forays into fringe activities, such as vending machines and Ann Summers mobile phone ring-tones are being attempted. Franchising is not presently under consideration because there is considerable evidence of ‘cannibalisation’ when new stores are opened. This suggests to the writer that, despite the novelty of the products, demand is rather inelastic, if you will excuse the allusion. Ann Summers also appears to have been able to see off direct competition. Whilst a number of attempts have been made at the frilly underwear part of the range, there is no High Street competition in sex toys. Perhaps this points towards a business tension between creating more socially acceptable products, which might attract competition, and sticking with the less acceptable that may frighten off competition.See the company profile.

All-in-all, Ann Summers seems to be textbook example of business creation and evolution in a ‘virgin’ area of activity – if you see what I mean. Ian Wallis gave us some very valid and enlivening insights.

Michael Mallinson, London Chapter Scribe

Orange County Chapter:

The Southern California Orange County Chapter had a member of the Federal Reserve lined up for today’s June Meeting. Unfortunately, they had to cancel for emergency meetings to discuss interest rates and inflation. Not that we are feeling any of the effects of inflation in Southern California….But I digress…..One of our outstanding members, Mr. Joseph Brady graciously volunteered to step in and present at Monday's meeting. Joe’s topics was on: The glass is still half full and now we need to rethink “how we measure the glass”. We are in a global recession, and there is a new set of rules. Joseph W. Brady CCIM SIOR, Sr. Vice President and Director of Colliers International and Bradco, and member of Lambda Alpha International, helped to guide us through the process and what we can expect through out the recovery and provide estimates on the length to recovery in the high desert and San Bernardino County real estate markets.

Joe’s talk was candid and very informative. Joe discussed changes in demographics of homeowners due to price depression as well as a loss of jobs within the High Desert region.

On another note, our Programs Chair has secures an I.O.U. from the Federal Reserve and they will send out another speaker for our 2009 program.

Steve Figgins, Orange County Chapter President

Ed. The LAI chapter membership is always so impressive in the depth of knowledge they come up with great recovery Steve!

Philadelphia Chapter:


The Philadelphia Chapter hosted a panel discussion for a discussion of “Three New Council People: the First Six Months – Did their Expectations Match the Reality of Being on City Council?” The Philadelphia Enquirer covered this event and devoted several inches of space to the discussion. At the discussion, Chapter President, David Grasso, chief executive officer of Grasso Holdings, made the point that “development is hampered by the city’s high construction costs that are compounded by low incomes from commercial properties.” This apparently opened up the opportunity for developers to have a dialogue with Mayor Nutter and the City Council on this matter of critical importance.

Ed. Lambda Alpha International congratulates the Philadelphia Chapter for this outstanding program, and hope that other Chapters take advantage of similar opportunities to provide forums to discuss important issues that face their cities.

Phoenix Chapter:

It’s hard to believe it’s already mid-June and 108 degrees, and the Land Economics Weekend is behind us. We are back to our regular schedule of meetings for the remainder of 2008. For more information, sponsorship opportunities, and to RSVP, go to our website at www.lai-phx.org

We are always looking for new meeting topics/speakers. If you are interested in joining this program committee or you have a project you would like to be considered, please call me at 602-229-5974 or email me at steven.gragg@cushwake.com

Steven R. Gragg, MAI, MRICS, Phoenix Chapter President

Vancouver Chapter:

"Planes, Trains, Automobiles and Boats" was the theme for LAI Vancouver's dinner meeting on May 21, 2008. The session brought together senior representatives of the region's major transportation agencies to discuss their role in the development and use of real estate.

Phil Christie is the newly appointed Vice President, Real Estate for TransLink, the recently reorganized semi-autonomous agency providing transit services, development of the major roads network and the transportation demand management programs. With a new governance structure involving a board of professionals that replaced the previous board of local government electeds, TransLink has a mandate to acquire land adjacent to its transportation infrastructure and to facilitate redevelopment with a financial return to the transportation agency. In discussion, Phil made it clear that TransLink intends to work in partnership with private developers and in concert with local government.

Mark Griggs is the Manager of Planning for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, a new entity resulting from the merger of the region's three port authorities. He described the immense potential for the new entity to attract a significant share of the trade between the Asia Pacific and North America. Key challenges in this growth are the need to ensure that the region's limited industrial land supply is preserved and if possible enhanced in the face of urban encroachment, and the need to ensure that the region's land transportation arteries are able to function efficiently for port-related goods movement and not overwhelmed by commuter traffic.

The final speaker was Michael O'Brien, Vice President, Strategic Services for the Vancouver International Airport Authority (YVR). O'Brien stressed the interdependence between the city and the airport, with YVR serving as an early advocate for the Canada Line rapid transit from downtown to the airport now nearing completion. The continued growth of the cruise ship business depends upon the ability to move passengers and their baggage seamlessly between the airport and the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority cruise ship terminals, including the necessity of completing border formalities in each direction. Installation of airport check-in kiosks in downtown hotels is a further example of the intertwining of the airport and the city.

The lively discussion that followed was moderated by Jim Cox, Chief Executive Officer of Vancity Enterprises, the real estate development arm of British Columbia's largest credit union. A key point raised here was the daunting constraints on Greater Vancouver's land base as a result of the mountains to the north, the US border to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Fraser River and other water bodies within the region. Add to this the fact that governments have set aside agricultural other lands in the Green Zone, and you have a very small land base for which transportation functions have to compete with urban development needs. There were several current or retired senior planning officials in the audience who stressed that local government expects to continue to extract for community benefit a significant proportion of the increment in value that results from redevelopment and they may not be too receptive to the entry of TransLink and its expectations into this equation.

The evening was a graphic demonstration of Lambda Alpha's unique value in providing a forum for candid discussion and debate at a senior level concerning key issues that affect the future of our region and its land resource.

View of UniverCity with SFU in the immediate background and Vancouver, B.C. in the distance.        

APA 2008 National Planning Excellence Award for Innovation in Green Community Planning
UniverCity has won the APA 2008 National Planning Excellence Award for Innovation in Green Community Planning. The project was begun under the guidance of Michael Geller, LAI and past President & CEO of SFU Community Trust and followed by Gordon Harris, LAI and current President & CEO of SFU Community Trust.

Norm Hotson, LAI, of Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes, led the planning team for the project. The firm is the coordinating architect and is continuing with the planning of future phases.
Sam Lowry’s article for APA ‘Taking Green Higher’ describes the project further; UniverCity deserves special recognition among the many excellent projects joining the growing revolution in green planning and architecture.

“I would like to think we were chosen because we set out to build a model green community, “ says Gordon Harris, president and CEO of Simon Fraser University’s SFU Community Trust, which created the project in concert with the city of Burnaby (pop. 202,799), part of the greater Vancouver area. “We are constantly challenging ourselves to do the best job. We are mindful of the UniverCity’s purpose.
When Completed UniverCity will number 4,500 units and 10,000 residents on a mere 170 acres atop Burnaby Mountain.

The development adjoins Simon Frasier University, which serves as its cultural hub, and is surrounded by 1,400 acres of open space. University is partially complete, with about 2,000 residents moved in, two sites under construction, and one fifth of the planned 200,000 square feet of commercial space built.
“This is not just another suburb,” Harris says. It is a community that minimizes the need to get in the car. That is what makes it possible to have 10,000 people on 170 acres of land.”

The LAI members and their significant others on the bow of the Fairweather’s Boat

Again this summer, members along with their significant other boarded the boat at the Bayshore Marina for our annual dinner cruise of the Vancouver harbour. It was a beautiful evening and the meal was truly local with grilled salmon and an array of vegetables. We left the dock with Stanley Park to the west and Coal Harbour with its recently constructed residential towers and 50 acre waterfront park to the east. Soon, our starboard side ,we passed new convention centre, which is now nearing completion with the largest green roof in Canada. Adjacent to this is Canada Place, the cruise ship facility at the heart of the city’s waterfront. Further along and still on our starboard side we passed Centerm, Canada’s west coast 73 acre container terminal. On the port side Lynnterm the port’s forest product terminal with its 7 berths was a little quiet with only 2 ships being loaded. On the North Shore Mountains the last of the snow was still visible on the ski slopes. Further up the harbour Vancouver’s three oil refineries came into view. The boat lingered for a while at the base of Burnaby Mountain crowned by Simon Frasier University rising above the trees before we returned back to the dock. As the boat picked up speed on its way back, I put on my jacket and went to the bow where I enjoyed the wind in my face as I watched the sun setting beyond the Lions Gate Bridge.

Don Vaughan, Vancouver Chapter Scribe

ED. For those with water at their disposal a great tradition to start!

Zia Chapter:

Zia Chapter members Richard Czoski and Jenny Parks Burnett were our presenters at our May lunch. They brought us up to date on the status of the Santa Fe Railyard project. The Railyard is owned by the City of Santa Fe and managed by a private corporation for the city. This 30 acre property in the heart of Santa Fe is being developed in accordance with a community plan and will contain a new urban park, a transit hub for the New Mexico Rail Runner passenger rail from Albuquerque, and a mix of commercial and residential development.

In July our luncheon speaker will be a representative of Sun Cal/Westland Development to discuss the status of planning and development of the 45,000 acres it owns to the west of Albuquerque, NM, which it acquired from the heirs of the Atrisco Land Grant. Compliments to our VP-Programs, Ken Hughes, for his good work. Also in July our membership will vote on 2008 nominees for membership in the Zia Chapter. It looks like we will add at least 15 new members. Thanks to Suby Bowden, our VP-Membership, for her fine and persistent efforts leading this year's membership drive.

Tom Mills, Zia Chapter President

Announcements

Save the Date ! ! !
 
Toronto, Canada, Fall Land Economics Weekend
October 23 - 25, 2008
Park Hyatt Toronto
4 Avenus Road
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2E6 CANADA
http://www.parkhyatttoronto.com/
Reservations
Rates: $259.00 CAN Net, + taxes Single/Double
1-416-925-1234 or 1-800-233-1234
Registration Form and Agenda coming soon!

Vancouver, Canada, Spring Land Economics Weekend
May 7- 9, 2009
More information coming soon!

Tentative Schedule for Future Land Economics Weekends

2009
Fall: Chicago, Ely Chapter

2010
Spring: Minneapolis, Minnesota Chapter
Fall: Zia Chapter, New Mexico

2011
Spring: Scotland
Fall: ?

New Members

Ely Chapter
Lawrence Adelson, Adelson Holdings, LLC
Lorraine Apiecionek, L.M. Apiecionek & Associates
Gia Biagi, Chicago Park District
Tim Bleuher, Village of Hinsdale
Alan Bombick, AIA, LEED AP, Legat Architects, Inc.
Fred Brandstrader, AIA, Pyramid Project Management, LLC
Thomas F. Brett, II, Ungaretti & Harris
Todd J. Cabanban, Zifkin Realty & Development, LLC
Todd Fagen, Land Strategies, Inc.
Paul Fitzpatrick, Joseph Freed and Associates
Daniel T. Gardner, Houseal Lavigne Associates, LLC
Scott Goldstein, Teska Associates
David J. Hall, Tillyard Inc.
John R. Hedrick, Scenic Illinois
Michael Hoadley, CCIM, Spinnaker Real Estate Ventures, LLC
John A. Houseal, Houseal Lavigne Associates
Brian S. Israel, Future State Consulting
Bonnie Jacobson, Village of Morton Grove
Katherine S. Janega, Village of Winnetka
Sherman L. Jenkins, Aurora Economic Development Commission
Terrence M. Jenkins, Business Districts, Inc.
E. James Keledjian, Pathway Senior Living LLC
Peter Kindel, Topografis
Ruth Eckdish Knack, ACIP, American Planning Association
Ronald E. Lanz, Land Vision, Inc.
Charmain Later, Johnson Research Group
Janet Hahn Lougee, Wight & Company
John Lyons, Lyons Realty Advisors
John H. Mays, Gould & Ratner LLP
John F. McCarron, Northwestern University
David A. McGowan, Inland Real Estate School, Inc.
Peggy McTigue, CB Richard Ellis
Meredith O’Connor, Jones Lang LaSalle
James E. Peters, Landmarks Illinois
A. Andy Prodanovic, MAI, Applied Real Estate Analysis, Inc.
Alice Sinkevitch
Heather Smith, Congress for New Urbanism
Jill Y. Steen
John A. Swanson, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Comm.
Yolanda S. Valle, U.S. Equities Realty, LLC
Terry Steven Wendt, RTKL Associates, Inc.
Thomas Wolf, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Curtis A. Wiley, Urban Land Institute - Chicago
Stephen Yas, AIA, RIBA, Yas Architecture, LLC

Orange County
Peter J. Carpenter, Paragon Partners Ltd.
Paul J. Weinberg, Paul J. Weinberg, Attorney at Law