Lambda Alpha International’s 75th Diamond Anniversary Weekend Experience

Register Now!  Special Rate of $219 per night at Hotel Sofitel until September 20.

Program Highlights

Wednesday evening October 19

President’s Reception Early Bird Party (from 6 pm to 8 pm) hosted by former International President Eugene Stunard at 155 Harbor Drive over looking Millennium Park and Chicago Skyline. RSVP separately from Weekend.

Thursday evening October 20

35th Biennial LAI Awards Dinner (6 pm) at the Signature Room at the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Center.

Ronald L. Thomas, Executive Director, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission

Friday, October 21

Mobile “Look-See” tour 8:15 am to 1:30 pm featuring:
- Historic Pullman
- University Commons
- Roosevelt Square
- Lunch at Costa’s with presentation by Bill Little, Managing Director for Development, Chicago Housing Authority

Afternoon free

Friday evening:

Open House and reception (5:30 to 7:30) at the Chicago Architecture Foundation in Daniel Burnham’s Santa Fe Building featuring:
- Dr. Eugene Lowe on the "Influence of Richard T. Ely on America Society."
- Open House: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM),; Lohan Caprile Goettsch; and VOA.

Dinner on own

Midnight Madness after dinner (10:30 pm) come back to Hotel Sofitel to watch the video featuring the “Trial of Richard T. Ely” along with dessert and drinks.
Saturday morning, October 22

Saturday, October 22

Mobile “Look-See” tour featuring (8 am to 1 pm):
- Lakeshore East
- 111 South Wacker Drive
- Museum Campus/Central Station
- Lunch on own

Saturday Evening:

75th Anniversary Gala on the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Pavilion Stage at Millennium Park (6:30 pm – Black tie preferred for men and cocktail attire for women)
- Neal R. Peirce, Washington Post Writers Group, KeyNote Speaker

Read More for Program Details

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Business Meetings

The Weekend Experiences also serve as an opportunity for Chapter Presidents to meet as well as the Executive Committee.

Friday October 21 at 2 PM

The Board of Governors, which includes Chapter Presidents, incoming Chapter Presidents and the Executive Committee, will have a training session Friday afternoon from 2 PM until 4 PM in the Hotel Sofitel.  Russell Salzman, CEO of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), will hold this leadership training session.  Russ’s workshop will help current and incoming Chapter presidents learn the newest techniques in non-profit leadership.

Saturday, October 22 at 2 PM

The Executive Committee will meet at the Hotel Sofitel from 2 PM until 4:30 PM

Sunday, October 23 at 8:30 AM

Presidents Round Table:  Chapter Presidents and incoming Chapter presidents will meet from 8:30 am to 10:00 am to have a roundtable discussion on Chapter issues.  The Executive Committee under the leadership of the International President will facilitate a discussion that will cover issues such as programs, dues, membership, and other areas of Chapter Presidents interest.

Board of Governors Meeting:  This formal Board meeting will occur from 10 am until Noon where new By-laws and other issues will be discussed and voted upon.  Chapter Presidents and the Executive Committee are voting members of the Board of Governors.

Land Economics Foundation Board will also meet as part of the Board of Governors Meeting.  During the 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM period, the Foundation Board can meet to discuss future issues.  Voting issues will be part of the Board of Governors Meeting that follows.

75th Anniversary Exclusive Corporate Sponsors

We still have a few exclusive Major Sponsor opportunities left for the 75th Diamond Anniversary Celebration.  If you would like to be one of the Major Sponsors or a Contributor, please give Larry Lund, International President a call at 312-751-1250 and find out more about how your company can support this historic event.

Major Sponsors ($2,500) include:

International Awards Banquet: LR Development www.lrrealty.com
Chicago Architecture Foundation Reception: Lohan Caprile Goettsch Architects www.Lohan.com
Millennium Park Reception: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill – SOM www.som.com
Millennium Park Pritzker Pavilion Gala: U.S. Equities Realty www.usequities.com
President’s Reception : Appraisal Research Counselors. www.appraisalresearch.com

Contributors ($500) include:

URS Corporation
Thompson Dyke & Associates
The Terrapin Group
Central Federal Savings
VOA
Real Estate Planning Group
Freeborn and Peters
S. B. Friedman & Company
Camiros
Jones Lang LaSalle

If you would like to be added to the list of Major Sponsors or Contributors please call 312-751-1250. Thank you for your continued support.

2005 Lambda Alpha International Award Recipients

One of the goals of Lambda Alpha International is to recognize and honor men and women in all parts of the world whose achievements have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the advancement of the science of land economics, to a better understanding of the principles of land economics, or to the practical application of such principles in the preservation, development or better utilization of the world’s land resources. To this purpose Lambda Alpha International at its Biennial Congress acknowledges individuals and projects with special awards.

In today's hectic, frenetic world, it is important to pause, to acknowledge and to honor those people who “get it right.”  Catching people in the act of making a significant contribution, improving our profession or achieving excellence in their field of endeavor is the goal and objective of Lambda Alpha International Awards.

The Awards honor the men and the women who have advanced the principles of land economics through their achievements in service to their profession, their community and the affairs of their chapter.

International Public Official Award
Presented to a public official who through his or her efforts has contributed significantly to the local level of improving the quality of urban living.

DANIEL M. TANGHERLINI
District of Columbia Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
For rebuilding Washington, D.C.’s transportationinfrastructure to the enormous benefit of all DCand regional residents. 

International Urban Affairs Award
Presented to a person who has made outstanding contributions to urban affairs and to the local level of improving the quality of urban living.

KERRY HARRINGTON MORRISON
Hollywood Business Improvement District, Hollywood, California
For shepherding the Hollywood BID’s remarkable renaissance of the entertainment oriented community through redevelopment of key properties, streetscape beautification and security enhancements.

Richard T. Ely Distinguished Educator Award
Presented to individuals who have achieved excellence within the academic world in the field of land economics.

STANLEY HAMILTON
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C.
For his extensive teaching and research experience and for his superb teaching ability and commitment to his students and to the discipline of real estate.

ROBERT FOUNTAIN
Sacramento Regional Research Institute, Sacramento, California
For solid regional economic land development research, critical to intelligent land planning and sustainable economic growth.

Journalism Award
Presented to a journalist whose efforts have contributed to a greater understanding of the principles, practices and greater awareness of land economics.

NEAL R. PEIRCE
Washington Post Writers Group, Washington, D.C.
For breaking fresh grounds in identifying vital new trends and the dynamics of federal /state/local relations.

Gerald D. Hines International Humanitarian Award
Presented to a person with a vision of the future, and an ability to identify the means to achieve the vision and to its implementation.

ROBERT E. SIMON
Reston New Town, Reston Virginia
For his creativity in the development of plans for the new community of Reston, Virginia, development of the community and his return to Reston to live and to oversee its completion.

International Fellow Award
Presented to individuals for their contribution to the advancement of Lambda Alpha International’s goals, through esteemed leadership and foresight.

ROGER G. KALLMAN
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, London, England
For his efforts in establishing the London Chapter and his leadership in providing new vitality to the organization as its International President.

CHARLES H. ATHERTON
Secretary, US Commission on Fine Arts, Retired, Washington, D.C.
For his leadership in the United States Commission of Fine Arts and its advice to the Congress and the President in matters affecting the design of structures, memorials and statues in monumental areas of the Capital City.


Edward L. Johnson Member of the Year Award
Presented to a person who has demonstrated commitment to Lambda Alpha and professional achievement in the private or public sectors, research or education.

KAREN A. SIERACKI
KASPAR Associates, Limited, London, England
For her dedication to Lambda Alpha as a member of the executive committee and as treasurer of the London Chapter, and for providing creative analysis of the property investment markets in Europe and the United States.

Skyline Award
To recognize noteworthy and commendable instances of the practical application of the principles of land economics in the preservation, development or utilization of our land resources.

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
Los Angeles, California
For a highly creative architectural design and acoustically superb engineering of a 2,265 seat concert hall, with a positive impact on its environs through encouragement of the Grand Avenue urban rejuvenation project.

The 35th Biennial Award Recipients will be honored at a dinner Thursday evening October 20 in the Signature Room at the 95th in the John Hancock Center during the 75th Anniversary Weekend Experience.  The awards banquet is included as part of the 75th Anniversary events.

The 2005 Awards Committee

Fereydoon Ghaffari, Chair
David Glancey
Josef Nathanson
Les Pollock
David Callies

Letter from the President

The 75th Anniversary Weekend Program keeps getting better! Among the many distinguished International Award winners attending Thursday night’s dinner, we are honored to also have Robert E. Simon, Jr. the developer of Reston, Virginia. Our KeyNote speaker Saturday night is the nationally known Washington Post columnists and urban affairs writer Neal R. Peirce.

Mr. Simon, who is now 91, will share a few words to us at this event.  It is his initial’s, RES that form the name of the town of Reston, Virginia.  Reston’s first phase opened in 1965 and pioneered the resurgence of new town efforts in America.  Mr. Simon follows in the footsteps of George Pullman who, on the south side of Chicago, created his model town that we will visit during Friday’s tour.

During our mobile tour Friday, Robert E. Simon will be joining us on our tour of Pullman where we will also see a special presentation by architect, Mike Shymanski, who serves as both the President of the Chicago Ely Chapter of LAI and as the volunteer President of the Historic Pullman Foundation.  Mike is an authority on the history of the Town of Pullman.

What I find always wonderful about Lambda Alpha is continually finding the interconnectivity of our members with the some of the important milestones in the history of American planning. Richard T. Ely, who influenced the founding of Lambda Alpha, wrote in 1884 the seminal critique of Pullman. Ely later applies what he observed in Pullman to Radburn, New Jersey, where in 1929, he helps to establish a more demographic town administration. Ely was on the board with Clarence Stein, Henry Wright, and Alexander Bing who developed Radburn. Ely later moved to Radburn after departing from Northwestern University in 1933 and lived in Radburn until 1938. What reconnects these events is that Robert E. Simon, Jr.’s father also served on the board of the City Housing Corporation that developed Radburn.

In addition to touring Pullman, we will be visiting, what some might classify as another generation of new towns, or model communities in Roosevelt Square, Lakeshore East, and Central Station.

The winner of this year’s LAI Journalism Award, Neal R. Peirce of the Washington Post Writers Group will be our KeyNote speaker at the Gala Saturday night.  Neal is a foremost writer, among American journalists, on metropolitan regions, their political and economic dynamics, and their emerging national and global roles.  His writing career began in 1975 and he is now dean of the Washington Post Writers Group.  He has authored ten books on America’s states and regions.  His more recent books include Citistates: How Urban America Can Prosper in a Competitive World, and Breakthroughs: Recreating the American City.  He lectures on regional, urban, federal systems and community development issues and has appeared on Meet the Press, the Today Show, National Public Radio and local media across the country.  Neal Peirce will deliver a KeyNote talk at our 75th Gala dinner on the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Pavilion Stage at Millennium Park.

We have also added another event to the program.  Friday Midnight Madness event will be at the Hotel Sofitel beginning at 10:30 pm.  Earlier Friday evening, we will hear Dr. Eugene Lowe talk about the influence of Richard T. Ely on American culture, and later that night, after dinner on your own, the Chicago Ely Chapter will host Midnight Madness where we will show the 1964 television program, the “Trial of Richard T. Ely” along with after-dinner drinks and dessert.

The television program was part of the Profiles in Courage series that was inspired by President Kennedy’s book Profiles in Courage.  It stars Dan O'Herlihy, Edward Asner, and Leonard Nimoy (Yes, Dr. Spock!).  In 1894, Richard T. Ely was suspected of advocating subversive doctrines because he insisted that his students evaluate all ideas.  His acquittal by the regents is now seen as a landmark of American academic freedom.

Larry E. Lund, International President by Ely plaque at Bascom Hall, University of Wisconsin

The famous quote -- associated with the Ely trial – “Whatever may be the limitations which trammel inquiry elsewhere, we believe that the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which along the truth can be found” is proudly displayed on the walls of the University’s Bascom Hall and serves as a guiding principle of Lambda Alpha International.

Larry Lund

International President
LarryLund@LAI.org
312-751-1250

Editor's Column

From reading my editorials over the past year or so, you have come to recognize me as an optimist. I’m a glass half full type of guy. Maybe a little pollyanish, but not irrationally.

In this article, I want to add yet another touch of optimism: this time talking about the long-term future of the United States.

The internal economic strength of industrialized countries (first world countries) inevitably relates to a growing population base. Two thirds of the economies of industrialized countries relates to consumer spending. Therefore, one primary key to economic growth is population expansion. That is our secret weapon.

By way of definition, industrialized countries, also known as first world countries, are those in which most of the population is educated and which are capitalistic. I’ll describe educated as having a high school degree.

When you explore the long-term future of most other industrialized countries, it is apparent that they are in for a long-term decline in their economies because they do not have population growth.

Most of the world’s industrialized countries stopped producing the required two children per household during World War II. And they never resumed the practice.

The median age of the population tells a lot about the future of an industrialized nation. Japan is perhaps the most poignant example of an economy that is in a difficult fix. Their birth rate has fallen well below the two children level that is needed to sustain a nation. In addition, they are xenophobic so will rarely permit immigration. As a result they have a median age of 45 compared to the U.S. level of 37.

The implications of this demographic time bomb are numerous:

First, the costs inherent in health care for the aging are obvious. In Japan, 19.0% of the population is over age 65. In Italy it’s 19.1% and in Germany 18.3%. In the United States, its 12.4%. Those aging nations’ healthcare bills are growing exponentially.

Second, as populations age, the demand for consumer goods diminishes. Aging folks are no longer accumulating material goods as they did when they were in a family formation or in peak earning years.

Third, sales of the consumer goods that drive industrialized economies cannot be sustained; therefore the economies of a nation stagnate. Therefore, if Japan did not have an aggressive export program, its economy would have stagnated long ago.

And that brings me back home to the United States. Among all major industrialized nations, only the U.S. has a growing population. Generally speaking, we add 2,000,000 people a year as a result of 4,000,000 being born and 2,000,000 dying. In addition, we have 800,000 people immigrating here each year, mostly from Latin America. That total population gain of 2,800,000 allows us to continually sustain a growing U.S. economy and, with a Lambda Alpha bent, has a mighty demand for housing and commercial real estate.

Typically, we know that the economy generates 15-20 square feet of demand for office, retail and industrial space for every 1,000 new persons.  And with an average household size of 2.7 persons, we create a demand for as many as 2,000,000 new housing units each year.

From a California perspective, our 34 million-person state accounts for as many as 1/3rd of all the immigrants to the U.S. We know that within one generation, the immigrants become a vital part of the workforce and, by and large, become totally Americanized. The key, of course, is that the Hispanic and the Asian workforce that constitutes more than 90% of immigrants, is well accepted by the California economy, becomes rapidly assimilated and wants to be part of the economy.

There is little doubt that the Hispanic population is driving the California economy and particularly its housing markets.

On balance, growth has its costs, but it is truly a blessing for nations that are intent on long-term economic expansion.

In Memoriam: Alan Perry

Alan R. Perry, a founding member of the San Diego Chapter since 1979, recipient of LAI’s International Fellows Award in 1993, and  in 2000, the San Diego Chapter’s Crystal Globe Award died August 18 at age 83 from complications from a staph infection.

Mr. Perry, practiced law in San Diego with Musick, Peeler & Garrett for more than 50 years.  He represented such high-profile clients as the San Diego Port District and the San Diego Unified School District; Mr. Perry provided pro bono work for the past 25 years to the YMCA of San Diego County.  He received the YMCA's Golden Circle Award for his efforts, which included serving on the board of directors as a general counsel and assistant secretary.  However, his favorite area of interest was San Diego’s historic pueblo lands.  Alan was listed repeatedly in "The Best Lawyers in America," and in 1995, he was inducted into the Building Industry Association of San Diego's Hall of Fame. In 2004, he received the Bernard E. Witkin Award from the San Diego Law Library Justice Foundation for excellence in the teaching and practice of law.

Mr. Perry served as adjunct professor at California Western School of Law and wrote two textbooks, California Cases and Materials on Secured Land Financing and Introduction to Drafting California Legal Instruments.  In 2001, he published a pamphlet, San Diego’s Great Hispanic Heritage: The Pueblo Lands.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Judy; daughters, Meredith Perry of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Margaret Perry of Washington, D.C.; son, Craig Perry of El Cajon; sister, Patricia Ramsay of Escondido; and three granddaughters.

A private celebration of life is planned.

Chapter Corner

Ely Chapter member Judith Paine McBrien of Archimedia Workshop has received a television program grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a documentary about noted Chicago architect Daniel Hudson Burnham. The $10,000 grant supports will significantly enhance the exploration of Daniel Burnham’s contributions in architecture, planning and civic involvement in America.” In 2001, McBrien wrote Daniel Burnham: the Power of Dreams, for Channel 11/WTTW’s Chicago Story series. In addition to Judith, Howard Decker, FAIA, Project Director at Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn and formerly Chief Curator of the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. who is a Lambda Alpha member from the George Washington Chapter will serve as a consultant on this project.

The Ely Chapter under the leadership of Susan Aaron and Christine Williams have taken a lead role to organize the centennial celebration of Burnham’s Plan. Lambda Alpha International will also be looking to coordinate celebration plans with other chapters who have experienced Burnham’s planning efforts like San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

On Friday, July 15 International President, Larry Lund from the Chicago Ely Chapter and First Vice President, James Fawcett from Los Angeles held an informational meeting with prospective new members at the Marriott Pyramid North Hotel in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The leadership of the potential new chapter is coming from former Ely member Michael Maremont, who is now a broker/consultant affiliated with Phase One Realty, a prominent New Mexico real estate developer and brokerage firm, and from former Phoenix member Robert Schluntz, Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning at University of New Mexico.

They have established a pro tempore board that includes, Michael Maremont, president; Tom Mills, Vice President - Membership; Anita Miller, Secretary; Robert Schluntz, Treasurer; and Lora Lucero, Vice President – Programs.

Michael Maremont is submitting nominations for LAI membership to the LAI Board and they are planning to initiate new members-at-large on Wednesday, September 28 at the Marriott Pyramid North Hotel in Albuquerque with LAI First Vice President, James Fawcett conducting the ceremony.

The goal is to have the Zia Chapter incorporated and their Chapter Charter presented at the LAI 75th Gala Dinner on the Pritzker Stage of Millennium Park in Chicago, October 22. If you would like to contact Michael Maremont, please email him at ZiaChapter@LAI.org

The George Washington Chapter is the third oldest, after Ely and Knickerbocker, dating from the late ‘50’s. According to an early member, the chapter was founded by Ely members because one of its stalwarts, Homer Hoyt, the “father of land economics,” moved to Washington from Chicago and wanted to continue the Lambda Alpha tradition in the nation’s capital.  A roster of presidents of the chapter, including the first, Fred Babcock (1957-58), as well as Max Wehrly, executive director of the Urban Land Institute, and Homer Hoyt, demonstrates the Chicago connection.

The chapter initially started with 8-10 members, most of them with an academic and research orientation and recognized as luminaries in the land economics field.  Indeed, a prerequisite for being an officer in early years was the production and presentation of a publishable paper.  Today, many of the papers of original members are in the LAI Archives at Cornell University.

From the beginning, the chapter held monthly luncheon meetings at a local restaurant, with discussion centering on a land development topic of interest.  The first meetings were held at a seafood restaurant (O’Donnell’s) on Pennsylvania Avenue near the historic Willard Hotel.  Today, after many migrations, including periods at the Touchdown Club and George Washington University Club, the monthly meeting place has come full circle and is at the Occidental Restaurant, next to the Willard Hotel.

The chapter currently has 220 members, making it the third largest. It has a varied membership and active committees in architecture/engineering, economic development /real estate, land development, public administration, law, finance/economics/appraisal, teaching/research, urban and regional planning, historic preservation, and environment/land conservation.

A unique advantage of the George Washington chapter has been access to Federal officials, often members involved in making and carrying out national urban policy. Therefore, monthly presentations have focused on national, as well as local and regional, topics. A related benefit has been the use of one-of-a-kind venues, such as the National Press Club, Cosmos Club and U. S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, for yearly investiture banquets, always well attended.  The chapter has from time to time also taken advantage of proximity to Baltimore and held joint meetings with that chapter, which it helped found.

The George Washington chapter was an initiator of the Land Economics Foundation.  Its members have been leaders of LAI (including Presidents Homer Hoyt, Oliver H. Jones, Walter Mess, John Hysom and Frank H. Spink), as well as the foundation, and the chapter has tried strongly to promote student involvement in its activities.  It has occasionally made $1,000 scholarships available to students in planning, economics and geography.  The chapter has hosted two Biennial Congresses and will host the Weekend Experience in the spring of 2006.  Finally, it is proud of having had many of its members receive awards of distinction from LAI.

New Members

Orange County Chapter

Orange County Chapter Scott F. Calder, Pacific SouthWest Realty Services (PSRS)
David Conley, Irvine Community Development Co., a subsidiary of The Irvine Company