Jim Fawcett

For those of you who missed our recent Weekend Experience in Washington, DC, I want to report that the event was an unqualified success. Particular thanks go to our George Washington Chapter led by Lou Slade, Chapter President, and his able committee. Deep appreciation also to Jim Ellison, past president of the chapter, JoAnn Neuhaus and Lew Bolan.

As promised, we went “under the skin” of Washington, DC. Starting with the reception at the only LEED building in the District, the new National Association of Realtors® office; a fascinating building with its unique floor plate and amenities. The Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, sponsored by the District of Columbia is bringing new life to the southeast portion of the City. We were guided through that project via a room-sized model of the area in which new development is already appearing including housing, offices and the very first construction of a new baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals.

In the theme of models of the city, we were treated to a visit to the National Building Museum, a pre-Civil War building that now houses among other things a model of the Capitol Mall from the early 19th Century showing that the Mall is really a 20th Century development. In fact, in the early 1900’s, a railroad station and multiple tracks ran north and south across the Mall at about the location of what is now the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art and the Air and Space Museum. Who knew? And, as if that model weren’t enough, we visited the National Capital Planning Commission and viewed their room-sized model of the City. A fascinating day!

WWII memorial

Since Washington is such a walkable city, we walked. One of our walks took us by the Newseum, a new museum dedicated to the news and how we get our information about what’s happening in the nation’s capital as well as throughout the world. Our guides were the aforementioned members of the George Washington Chapter joined by other colleagues from the Chapter and District.

For many, the highlight of our visit was a hard-hat tour of the new Capitol Visitor Center, a 562,000 square foot center on the east side of the Capitol and built entirely underground. We began our tour on a gorgeous Saturday morning by stepping onto the east steps of the capitol. Between the columns, the Architect of the Capitol, Alan M. Hantman, FAIA, brought out display boards of the new visitor center. He was ably assisted by Harold Adams, Chairman emeritus of the firm of RTKL Architects, the visitor center’s designer. We chatted about the project, asked questions and then donned hard hats to venture into the construction. The tour was an extremely rare treat and previously only members of Congress had been allowed to visit the site so thoroughly. We were indeed impressed by its scope and design. Once construction is completed this coming fall, the center will be given a few months of testing and will begin service in the spring of 2007. We completed our tour by venturing back into the Capitol for a reception in the Lyndon B. Johnson room of the U.S. Senate.

Our hosts made sure that we were well fed with lovely dinners on both Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, Anthony Downs, a legend land use professional, treated us to his observations of the housing market and in particular, the dilemmas of providing adequate low- and moderate-income housing throughout the country. His wealth of knowledge and keen wit made the evening a treat for all of our members.

Your Board of Governors and Land Economics Foundation found time to meet and conduct LAI’s business as well during a busy weekend.

I’m pleased to report that plans are firming up for our fall meeting, which will be in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa. Mark your calendars; we’ll be in Ottawa from the 12th through the 15th of October and we hope to see you there.

James A. Fawcett
International President
fawcett@usc.edu

Editor’s Column

Helen Sause

At the April Board of Governors meeting, there was agreement to implement a reorganization of the LAI structure from one where the Board acts as a Committee of the Whole, to one with committees chaired by members of the Board. This positive organizational action will enable us to spend focused time on specific aspects and with in-depth work, engage more viewpoints and bring recommendations to the Board for its consideration and action.

There will be a great deal more news of/from these committees in the next months as they develop their strategies to achieve the overall 2006-07 Programmatic Objectives of President Fawcett.

Of immediate interest to this scribe is the International Publications/Public Relations Committee! This group is made up of the presidents of Boston, Sacramento, Minnesota, Vancouver, and San Diego chapters. I feel fortunate to get to work with this great group of leaders. Stay tuned as we develop strategies to make the KeyNotes an increasingly strong resource for the chapters and to take the “light” of the real estate economics professionals’ out from under its basket! :)

It is the chapter members who are modeling the best practices and the professional actions necessary to be good stewards of the Society and carry out our role as the strong voice for responsible land use and management. So the main work of our Committee will be with you and for us to tell your stories and publish your successes. This will be a great opportunity to move LAI to a new level of effectiveness.

Helen Sause
International Editor
helensause@alamedanet.net

Chapter Corner

Baltimore Chapter:

At the invitation of Joe Nathanson and his wife Sharon, Larry Lund and his wife Mary visited the Baltimore Chapter before the Washington Weekend Experience. In April 2000, the Baltimore Chapter inaugurated the Weekend Experience, which formerly were events just for Board members. The Baltimore Weekend Experience was such a success that it continues today as a major benefit of LAI membership.

Joe Nathanson

While Sharon was busy working on the campaign of John Sarbanes for Congress, Joe Nathanson took time from his business to show us the new developments in Baltimore. Among the many exciting projects we visited, was our visit to Tide Point, a project that we visited during our Baltimore Weekend Experience. Back in April 2000, after our water taxi ride across the Baltimore Harbor, developer Bill Struever walked us through vacant buildings telling us how he was going to redevelop these historic buildings of Procter & Gambles soap factory into an office complex. Some of our members expressed skepticism at that time, but today Tide Point is one of the most successful rehabilitation projects in the country. This 15-acre, 400,000 square foot development is fully-leased and features a 22,000 square foot daycare center, a health club, waterfront park, and one of Baltimore's top restaurants -- Harvest Table.

Wednesday evening, Sharon and Joe hosted a reception at their home for Baltimore Chapter members to meet Larry and Mary. Accepting the Nathanson's invitation to visit them, was a wonderful opportunity for us to reconnect to old friends, make new ones, and see the continuing evolution of the Chapter and Baltimore -- one of the great cities of America. –

Larry E. Lund
Immediate Past International President.

Ely Chapter:

John Marshall Law School Student Chapter

An induction ceremony was held during the April 19, 2006 luncheon, recognizing 23 new initiates to the John Marshall Law School Student Chapter of LAI.   Membership certificates and pins were presented to the students as over 80 Ely Chapter members looked on.

New initiates to the John Marshall Law School are:

Ely Chapter Spring Chautuaqua

The Ely Chapter Spring Chautauqua “Transit Planning and Financing” was held      May 17 at the Chicago Athletic Club. Plenary speakers Steve Schlickman, Executive Director, Chicago Regional Transportation Authority, and Linda Bohlinger, VP, Director of Management Consulting, HNTB, Oakland CA described the issues and needs facing the Chicago region and precedents in transit funding and finance nationally. 

Following cocktails and dinner, a panel discussion explored the ideas, tools and techniques regarding transit programming, funding and finance.  The lively discussion was moderated by Linda Bohlinger, and panelists Dennis Harder, VP, Joseph Freed and Associates, Peter Skosey, VP, External Relations, Metropolitan Planning Council and Steve Schlickman provided insights into the challenges facing public transit.

George Washington Chapter:

Over 61 LAI guests and several GW Chapter members attended the Weekend Experience in Washington, DC over the last weekend in April. Entitled “Unexpected Washington”, the host chapter sought to show Washington places and developments not usually encountered by visitors to the Nation’s Capitol. Participants visited a range of venues from the miraculously rehabilitated Daniel Burnham designed Union Station and nearby historic residential Capitol Hill, to the redevelopment of the Anacostia Waterfront and the adjacent U.S. Department of Transportation currently under construction. One of the many highlights was a rare ‘during’ tour of the nearly 580,000-square-foot Capitol Visitor Center, led by Alan Hantman, Architect of the Capitol and LAIGW member. As Washington experiences a true boom in redevelopment, construction from Georgetown to the Golden Triangle offers a rich new set of sights and experience

(Undaunted by the efforts that made the Weekend Experience in Washington such a success, the chapter meets the third week of May, carrying on the focus on good design. The author will talk about his book " Creating a Vibrant City Center -- Urban Design and Regeneration Principles." A very fitting cap to the entire “Experience”! Ed.)

Los Angeles Chapter:

In preparation for our hosting the Fall Business Meetings in 2007, the Los Angeles Chapter has formed a committee and is busy laying the groundwork for a great program. In September, we are planning a joint meeting with the Orange County Chapter in addition we are looking into doing a “regional” meeting with the San Diego and Orange County Chapters.

(Great to have regional meetings and compare issues, solutions and the how-to ideas! Ed.)

Orange County Chapter:

Chapter President, Patricia W. Neal, attended the Washington, DC weekend April 27-30. This event was excellent, the DC Chapter is to be commended for the smooth flowing, packed agenda. One highlight that will be long remembered is the tour of the Capitol with the Architect of the Capitol. The tour was of the construction site under the Capitol. The project will add about one third more square footage to the Capitol, including for the first time a Visitors Center.

State of the art security surveillance, communication, audio-visual, committee rooms, interactive theatres and a food court are included. One item of particular note for developers is that all the construction crews have to pass security and background checks.

Construction is also limited to the times that Congress is not in session, which means weekends and nights.This project is an enormous project that is long overdue.

The April speaker for the Orange County Chapter meeting was Steve Ernst, Chief Deputy of the California State Alcohol Beverage Control department. This department is within the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.With the increasing popularity of Mixed Use Development and Transportation Oriented Development, developers need to involve ABC in the planning process early. Many projects will count on food and alcohol sales to make the development pencil; ABC plays a pivotal role in the approval process.

ABC personnel are sworn law enforcement officers. Mr. Ernst outlined ABC’s responsibilities, as well as, recounting instances of violations that the Department encounters. He also provided the members with an insight into some of the more egregious violations. The officers work undercover and coordinate with other law enforcement agencies.

He was in charge of the San Diego office when the idea for re-vitalizing the Gas Lamp neighborhood of the City was proposed by the redevelopment agency. This project was an example of the problems to overcome in creating a live-work/ entertainment/restaurant area. It had been a notorious skid row populated by criminal elements that included drug, alcohol, and prostitution violators. Combining residential providing live entertainment, along with restaurants serving alcohol was quite a challenge. How to keep the noise levels down so that residents are not disturbed was a major issue, dependant on all parties devising a satisfactory compromise. Luckily, for the developers and the City, all participants were involved in pre-planning and throughout the process, with ABC taking a leading role.

This program was part of LAI-OC’s strategic plan of providing the members with speakers, contacts and ideas that will help them in their business. Having regulators, government officials, economists and prominent developers participate will help move the Chapter to the forefront in the County as an important source for land use information and action.

The May program will feature Jeff Davi, California Commissioner of Real Estate, and Chief Deputy, John Liberator. Commissioner Davi will talk about changes in the Department, the status of the Sub-division sector, and the impact of the housing boom , which has resulted in a more than doubling the licensee population in the past 2 years.

(These speakers bring the practical information needed up front to inform development proposals. Knowing who to contact and making those contacts early will often save a lot of pain and delay later. Good job in bringing this kind of information to your members! Ed.)

Philadelphia Chapter:

LAI chapter member, Richard L. Lombardo, most recently Executive Director Secretary for Strategic Planning for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, has joined the Philadelphia office of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP as Project Executive. His primary focus will be to work with clients and Ballard lawyers to drive development projects from planning through construction to occupancy. Lombardo will draw upon 35 years of planning and development experience, and his intimate knowledge of the city's zoning code. “Rich Lombardo has been an essential part of Philadelphia’s economic revival. We are delighted that he has chosen to join us at Ballard Spahr,” said Michael Sklaroff, chair of the nationally-prominent Real Estate Department at Ballard. "Rich has spent his career getting things done in Philadelphia. As a public official he has been integral to virtually every major development project in recent memory, from the transformation of Center City that began in 1988 to the renewal of Manayunk to the rebirth of the Delaware riverfront. Clients will benefit from his unparalleled ability to see projects through from conceptualization to completion."

What makes Mr. Lombardo so special is his “can do” role at the Planning Commission where he fulfilled the role of a consultant than a regulator. A true public servant, he's been a voice of “how we can” in a chorus of reasons “why we can’t.”For more information on the firm, visit their website www.ballardspahr.com .

(This can be an interesting analysis of how Mr. Lombardo uses his skills to achieve positive development outcomes using the law in the creative way he has done as a regulator. Maybe he would let us know if his approaches have changed. Ed.)

Phoenix Chapter:

The LAI Phoenix Chapter has awarded three scholarships in the amount of $2,000.00 each. The recipients, Brian Yazzie, Constance Brawders, and Alicia Moser are all students of the Arizona State University College of Design Housing and Urban Development. Each recipient also received a Phoenix Chapter student membership. The College of Design is an environment of learning dedicated to a range of closely related design disciplines. These professional disciplines include visual communication design, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture, architecture, and planning. These disciplines represent a commitment to design at the scale of small objects, printed pages, forms and patterns of the city, the environmental design of regions, and the interface design of media and the virtual world. If you have questions the contact person for the Committee, Sheila Hamilton at sheila@lai-phx.org, can direct you.

(This is a great way for chapters to raise awareness of the linkages between
development, social needs and sustainable environments! Bravo! Ed.)

Note: The Chapter is having its September 14, 2006 Fall Real Estate Seminar in conjunction with the Urban Land Institute and Valley Partnership.

(Another excellent idea, partnering to share common interests. Ed.)

Vancouver Chapter:

The World Urban Forum will be held from June 19 – 23, 2006 in Vancouver and is expected to attract over 6,000 delegates from over 150 countries including representatives from least developed countries.

Three of our members are involved in an advisory role for the United Nations, World Urban Forum on behalf of the Canadian government. The Honourable Michael Harcourt, former British Columbia Premier, is the Chair of the Canadian Advisory Committee, Ken Cameron, Past Chapter President is representing the Province of British Columbia and Dr. Nola-Kate Seymoar is from the International Centre for Sustainable Cities.

The World Urban Forum in 2006 will also mark the 30th Anniversary of the first UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat I) which was held in Vancouver in 1976. Habitat I raised international awareness of the importance of human settlement development and sustainability and led to the creation of the Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) by the United Nations General Assembly. UN-HABITAT is devoted to promoting socially and environmentally sustainable cities and communities, with a goal of providing adequate shelter for all.

For further information, please contact:
Grace Thrasher
CMHC
(613) 748-2375

Announcements

New Members

Memphis Chapter
Michael M. Caldwell, Weston Companies
Randy Engel, 1st Trust Bank
Steven L. Guinn, Highwoods Properties, Inc.
William P. Hunter, Jr., Wills & Wills
Charles G. Pinkowski, Pinkowski & Company
Frank Ricks, Looney Ricks Kiss Architects