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Featured Stories
Land Economics Weekend—May 13-15, 2010
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Two Cities—One River
LAI Minnesota rolled out the red carpet and blue skies for LEW May 13-15, 2010. LAI members from Spain, UK, Ireland, Canada and the US joined us for an invigorating mobile workshop embracing the history, land use success stories and challenges of the Twin Cities Region.
A distinguished panel on regional governance at the Guthrie Theater. From left to right, Curtis Johnson, Past-Chair of the Metropolitan Council, Peter Bell, Chair of the Metropolitan Council, Jay Lindgren, Immediate Past President of LAI Minnesota Chapter, James Hovland Mayor of the City of Edina, and Ted Mondale Immediate Past Chair of the Metropolitan Council.
The weekend began with a welcoming reception at Windows on Minnesota, 50 stories above Minneapolis in the landmark IDS Center. The first session on Friday was hosted at the new world-famous Guthrie Theater and began with a brief history of the region by Dr. David Lanegran. His presentation provided the segue for a distinguished panel moderated by attorney Jay Lindgren, former Chief Administrative Officer of the Metropolitan Council. Panelists included Curtis Johnson, who chaired the council in the mid-1990s, immediate past chair Ted Mondale, and current chair Peter Bell. Edina Mayor Jim Hovland gave an overview of building regional cooperation on jobs, transportation and housing. To wrap things up at the Nouvelle-designed Guthrie, John Pfeifer of McGough explained some of the unique features of the building and the highlights of the construction.
Ann Calvert and Linda Mack, led the group bus tour of the Minneapolis riverfront, from the Stone Arch Bridge to Nicollet Island. Our guests were surprised and pleased by the historic preservation and natural public spaces in close proximity to the bustling downtown.
A member's photo of Target Field, the beautiful new ballpark for the Minnesota Twins.
Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, which opened in April, hosted a luncheon in the Metropolitan Club. Chuck Ballentine of the Hennepin County Ballpark Authority explained the funding, planning and construction of the “greenest “ ballpark in the major leagues. Barbara Sporlein, Minneapolis Planning Director, talked about the opportunities and challenges facing Minneapolis today. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman joined in for a welcome and overview of Saint Paul. The ballpark visit was concluded with a “behind-the-scenes” tour that included the rare opportunity to step on to the field itself.
On Friday evening, the tour moved toward St. Paul, beginning with a bus ride from Minneapolis along the Central Corridor LRT, which will link the downtowns of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Saint Paul Planning Director Donna Drummond and Principal Planner Lucy Thompson provided information on the corridor’s construction and the anticipated benefits and challenges of launching the line. The tour continued into downtown Saint Paul with Patrick Seeb, Executive Director of the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation joining Lucy to describe historic sites and recent redevelopment successes.
Saint Paul is famous for its connection to the Mississippi River. Therefore, a dinner cruise on the river seemed the appropriate venue to learn more about the city, its past and its future. The beautiful 70 degree evening proved both inspiring and relaxing as guests marveled at the panoramic view of the Saint Paul skyline, wrapped in the natural beauty of a National Wildlife area and a magnificent sunset, with commentary from Patrick.
LAI International President Dr. Karen Sieracki (far left) and First Vice President Ian Lord (far right) honor Larry Lund (second from left) and Ferrydoon Ghaffari (second from right) as LAI's first International Fellows. This is the highest membership distinction that LAI bestows.
The final day of LEW included a tour of the Minneapolis parkway system, given by our in-house historian, Charlene Roise, Minneapolis Planning Commissioner Ted Tucker, and Barb Sporlein. Edina Mayor Hovland, Planning Commission Chair Mike Fischer, Planning Director Cary Teague, and Arijs Pakalns of URS showcased the vibrant 50th and France redevelopment, and the award winning Centennial Lakes and Edinborough Park, both mixed use projects centered on a former gravel pit in this first ring suburb.
Mary Bujold of Maxfield Research and Peter Moe, Director of Operations for the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, welcomed the group for a relaxing luncheon at the arboretum where Peter explained the history and purpose of the institution, highlighting the most recent success of the Honey Crisp Apple and the cold hardy grape breeding project. Lunch was followed by informal tours of the vibrant spring gardens.Before returning to Minneapolis, Kevin Locke and Meg McMonigal of Saint Louis Park hosted a visit to Excelsior and Grand, the award-winning vertical mixed-use redevelopment project, referred to as the “granddaddy of New Urbanism in the Twin Cities.” Developers Stuart Ackerberg and Thatcher Imboden of the Ackerberg Group shared their vision for a project in the heart of Uptown along the Midtown Greenway. Rick Collins, Vice President of Development of Ryan Companies, and Charlene Roise led a walking tour of the Midtown Exchange/Global Market, formerly the Sears Building, a 1 million square foot behemoth structure renovated for mixed use.
LEW wound down with a reception at Bank in the Westin in Minneapolis. The Westin was the home base for the event. LAI MN members were honored to showcase our region. We thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of our congenial guests and thank them for visiting!
Charlene Roise, Chapter Scribe
Letter from the President
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Dr. Karen Sieracki
LAI President
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NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
AS BACKBONE OF LAI
Come and be part of it
May 2010
The Board of Governors’ meeting in Minneapolis on 13 May voted to adopt the ten Committee structure to be the backbone of Lambda Alpha International. Each Committee has objectives, deliverables and a timeline to engage all members. The Committees are:
- International Archives Committee chaired by David Greenwood to collect and preserve all LAI, Chapter and LEW work
- International Awards Committee chaired by Larry Lund to implement the Biennial Awards and assess type of award and publicity
- International Congress Committee chaired by Dr James Fawcett to plan and supervise the Biennial International Congress
- International ByLaws Committee chaired by Laurie Madigan to assess where changes need to be made as LAI grows and becomes more international
- International Finance Committee chaired by David Lachoff to assess money inflows and outflows to meet the needs of LAI
- International New Chapter Development Committee chaired by Tim Youmans to identify new possible chapters and provide guidance, starter packs and methodology guide
- International Nominating Development Committee chaired by Les Pollock to nominate officers for the new two year slate
- International Publications Committee chaired by Louis Slade to provide he modus operandi for informing members and the world about the activities of all Chapters and LAI
- International Public Relations Committee chaired by Cassandra Jansen Francis to provide a clear and coherent message of what LAI is all about through various mediums
- International Chapter Services Committee chaired by Ian Lord to provide outreach and support to all chapters
So please come and join the party to make a difference to LAI. If you would like to be on one of the Committees, please contact either the Committee chair or Shane Weinand at the LAI office. We need you.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Karen.Sieracki
LAI President
Karen.Sieracki@kasparassociates.co.uk
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Featured Stories
Minneapolis Land Economics Weekend
Letter from the
President
Editor's Column
Special Plea to Chapter Officers
Chapter Corner
Atlanta Chapter
Baltimore Chapter
Boston Chapter
London Chapter
Phoenix Chapter
Vancouver Chapter
Land Economics Foundation (LEF)
LEF Grant Program
Announcements
Administration Matters!
Save the Date!
Send your announcements for next edition of KeyNotes to LAI@LAI.org |
Webmaster / Designer: Kathy Keler
For more information about LAI activities, visit the website or contact:
Shane Weinand Executive Director
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Lou Slade
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Dear Colleagues,
I am recommending a book that I haven’t read yet myself, but because I’ve seen so many good reviews of it, I’m pretty confident that Joel Kotkin’s “The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050” is a good read with a lot of hope for the relatively near term future. In my quest for good news these days, I get excited about anything that offers a positive vision. Kotkin’s demographic calculations show a trend toward a younger America as we add 100 million to the population over the next 40 years. It seems with some modest adjustments to some of our bigger government retirement and medical programs, we can expect population changes to help with the looming entitlement program funding crisis caused by the aging boomer population bulge.
Changes are coming to American business too. I’m familiar with a Michigan manufacturing company that was 100 percent dependent on the automobile manufacturing business. That company is now also working in the wind energy manufacturing business, and happily seeing an uptick in the auto business too. I recently read about how methane production from cow manure may lead to a confluence of the dairy and industry and the internet transmission business where the energy generated from the waste of the former could power the needs of the latter. To survive and thrive, business is getting more flexible and finding new synergies.
The above revelations reminded me of a lecture from a HUD official presented in my graduate school in the late 60’s. The Feds were looking at a policy to encourage the development of “new towns.” The concept then was to collocate nuclear power plants with new interstate highway interchanges; overlay electric power transmission lines in the interstate rights-of-way, and add giant greenhouses heated by the waste heat from the power plants to produce year round agribusiness capacity. Then, secondary business would grow as a result of these two primary industries (energy and food production), and a new city would grow in place.
Given an increase of 100 million Americans, we need a new set of policies to deal with the population growth and it seems that our greatest opportunities will be in the revitalization of our cities whose industries are obsolete or significantly shrunken, and new settlements in parts of the U.S. that have attributes that will support new forms of industry.
We have many new pieces for that old HUD puzzle: energy generation from many sources solar radiation, wind, ocean waves, methane (from trash), nuclear, etc.; new transportation hubs located at high-speed rail stations, new interest in organic local food production, and a burgeoning labor force among the unemployed, the new immigrants, and all those babies that will come along as part of the “extra” 100 million new Americans. The American labor force will need new kinds of training to fill the new kinds of jobs that will be created.
So the message to Congress and the President is: gather our creative resources, mingle them together and think outside the box. Create incentives for our educational institutions and our industries to foster highly productive synergies that integrate the new industries of energy production with the next upgrade of our national transportation networks, and the markets for new healthy food production, all fueled by eager Americans who are ready to work. Find locations where the new sources of clean energy can be produced near our older cities and in new locations too. Make it happen!
Lou Slade
International LAI Editor
louis.slade@goroveslade.com
A special plea to all Chapter officers
We need your help in getting the word out on the great experience that the Land Economic Weekends (LEWs) provide. These include important looks behind the real estate scenes in every city they are held in – with the local development community providing information that you won’t get anywhere else – I am sure that all of our colleagues who went to Vancouver are feeling that as they watch the Olympics! The LEWs provide an incomparable opportunity to talk in depth with professionals from across the globe and also learn much more of the role LAI plays in the real estate scene by attending the LAI Board meeting. These conversations include hearing about hot discussion topics and ways other chapters do their work.
We are counting on you to help us make Santa Fe a great experience this October.!
Lou Slade, International LAI Editor
Chapter Corner
Atlanta Chapter:
The Atlanta Chapter met on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, and eight (8) of our 15 members attended. Chick Krautler, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission invited our guest speaker, Laura Hughes of Red Fields to Green Fields Atlanta.
We continued working through the organizational details required of a new chapter; established Program and Website Committees; and received nominations to fill two positions on our Board of Directors. Members also approved the use of the Atlanta Chapter’s share of dues paid to LAI to cover the travel expenses of Joan Herron, President, to the Board of Governor’s meeting in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 13th.
Speaker: Laura’s discussion on Red Fields to Green Fields (R2G America and R2G Atlanta) was very interesting and timely, and all of us learned a lot about the organization and its worthy activities. Laura is interested in attending other LAI Atlanta Chapter lunch meetings, co-hosting programs, and, hopefully membership. Background information on Red Fields to Green Fields follows.
- Red Fields to Green Fields (R2G America and R2G Atlanta) is a multi-faceted public/private enterprise that achieves a range of social and economic objectives by:
- Acquiring financially distressed real estate (i.e., properties "in the red")
- Strategically converting portions of those assets into public parks (i.e., "greenfields")
- Restoring land for future development and
- Endowing a charitable land trust to own and maintain parks and green space.
- Partners include the Speedwell Foundation, Georgia Tech, City of Denver, University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Miami-Dade County and University of Miami, Kent State University, and University of Delaware.
- The locations of projects and activities are Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Miami-Dade, Philadelphia, and Wilmington.
Joan H. Herron, President
and Acting Scribe
joan@herronconsultingservices.com
Baltimore Chapter:
On April 21, Tom Sadowski, President & CEO of the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore, spoke to the Baltimore LAI Chapter about the status of the Federal Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) initiative in the Baltimore region. Mr. Sadowski coordinated the region’s response to the Department of Defense plan in 2005, and now manages the regional marketing effort aimed at relocating defense employees, defense contractors and support businesses and institutions.
Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County and Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County are the centers for relocating defense jobs. The Baltimore region stands to attract additional contractors, and spin-off jobs generated by this new employment.
Sadowski maintains that to best take advantage of the opportunities stimulated by the BRAC relocations, the Baltimore region should:
- Maintain its high quality of life
- Nurture an entrepreneurial culture
- Improve public transportation; promote transit oriented development
- Attract the region’s graduates to remain here
Rachel Edds, Chapter President
Boston Chapter:
Left to right, Lowell Richards, MassPort Director of Real Estate, Jeffrey Mullan, Massachusetts
Department of Transportation Secretary, David Kirk, President of Boston LAI Chapter.
The Boston Chapter met on May 11 with Jeffrey Mullan, Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth to discuss the newly consolidated transportation department for which he is the first secretary in charge of the MBTA, the Turnpike Authority and the former Highway Department. After discussing charts of organization, Secretary Mullan set forth the mission and financial challenges of meeting objectives on a timely basis. The Q and A demonstrated the busy agenda that is well under way at DOT. The Chapter will host its Harbor Update on June 8th narrated by Lowell Richards, MassPort Director of Real Estate.
David Kirk, Chapter President
Los Angeles Chapter:
Conservation significance: Have we lost the plot? What is it all about?
By Anthony Walker, founding partner of DLG Architects
Anthony is clearly a man who cares deeply about the conservation of the built environment, and he used our lunch on 29th April 2010 to express his concerns that the regulations against which we, in Britain are trying to do the job are not, to use the current phrase, ‘fit for purpose’. The recently-introduced PPS5, Planning and the Historic Environment, has added to his anxiety. The core of the problem, as he sees it, is that the rules, and the guidance issued by English Heritage use words that are highly subjective and capable of extensive interpretation. Whilst this may bring work to consultants and lawyers for years to come, it militates against owners and developers who wish to engage constructively, and is not conducive of consistent outcomes. The result of all this is that local authorities tend to become formulaic in their approach, with great divergence in the lines that they take. The whole process is being driven, in Anthony’s view, by ‘order’ rather than ‘ideas’. In part this reflects, of course, the training of conservation officers, few of whom understand architecture, or design.. They thus feel unable to hear and interpret ideas in the language of architects. There is also a need for all involved in conservation to better understand the economics and commercial realities of property ownership and different uses
This rather rote-driven approach becomes of particular difficulty with 20th Century buildings. The diversity of architectural language developed and deployed in buildings of that century is particularly impenetrable to a rule-based approach. Anthony gave us the particular example of the Commonwealth Institute building in Kensington. In a sensitive location abutting Holland Park, its most striking external feature is its roofline. However, the building contains extensive detailing in both design and lay-out that reflects its historical genesis. In discussions about its future, these all seemed to get swept away, with only the roof becoming the icon!
In subsequent discussion, comparison was made with Europe, particularly France and Spain. The Spanish, whilst being meticulous in conserving valuable detail, are far more willing to consider modern additions provided that thought is given to how the original architect might have treated the issue; they do not seek pastiche. The French seek to conserve much less, but what they do conserve, they conserve thoroughly and well. This led Anthony to argue that our approach to conservation seems to far too broad-brush, with everything including the kitchen sink being swept in.
As a personal aside, the debate reminded me of the anguish of engaging, in education, with Ofsted; when dealing with intangibles, officialdom has problems. Judging by the furrowed brows, Anthony’s talk gave us some cause to worry, but it is always a pleasure to hear speaker talking with passion on his subject.
Michael Mallinson, Chapter Scribe
Phoenix Chapter:
For more information on these events, please visit the Chapter Website: http://www.lai-phx.org
Vancouver Chapter:
Project Featured at Vancouver LEW now complete
In May 2009, 100 LAI members took advantage of the tours of Whistler and Vancouver that were provided at the Vancouver LEW. One of the more interesting stops was at the two heritage buildings in Vancouver’s Chinatown that LAI member and condo sales whiz Bob Rennie was renovating to serve as his office and home for his art collection.
The project is now complete and making news through the involvement of California artist Richard Jackson, as can be seen at the following link:
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Painting+goes+WALL/2944609/story.html.
Ken Cameron, Vancouver Chapter Scribe
Land Economics Foundation (LEF)
LEF Grant Program
LEF is a not-for-profit charitable foundation organized to administer an investment fund which provides grants for research projects related to land economics. Over the past three years LEF has committed capital (5% of assets) to a number of significant and worthwhile endeavors across the country on a matching basis with other non-profit entities. The following are projects LEF has funded to-date.
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$5,000 |
Safe Horizon – A mediation program designed to train volunteers in three New York locations to assist the underprivileged in dealing with aggressive landlords. Highly successful program being expanded nationally. |
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$5,000 |
San Diego Canyonlands Video – Created a video on a collaborative basis with several conservation organizations to expose on cable television the critical need to preserve open space canyons as a natural link to other urbanized communities in the county. |
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$5,000 |
Arizona State University Student Chapter – Provided the initial funding to create a graduate student chapter in real estate to function cooperatively with LAI’s Phoenix Chapter; a model for other Chapters. |
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$30,000 |
Burnheim Centennial Celebration – An advanced commitment for LAI to participate with other major real estate organizations in 2009 to recognizing the unique skills of Daniel Burnheim, credited with the masterplanning of Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Manila, etc. |
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$4,500 |
Ross Minority Program – In cooperation with USC’s Marshall School of Business, LAI is participating with the partial sponsorship of minorities in attendance in a comprehensive, two-week program involving community redevelopment projects, primarily in neglected areas. |
$5,000 |
Light Rail Value Impacts – With the completion and now operational Light Rail system in Phoenix, the Foundation underwrote the cost of updating a ULI study addressing the impact on land uses and values surrounding the stations along the new rail line. The Master’s Thesis is to be submitted and published by Arizona State University. |
$10,000 |
San Miguel de Allende Land Use Study – A technical work shop involving 15 participants from multiple disciplines will be assembled in Mexico to provide guidance for urban growth patterns, transportation, water management, conservation, etc. for this community of 80,000 people. LAI will be participating with six alliance partners. |
LEF has carefully investigated a number of other proposed projects that it did not fund, primarily because of capital constraints at the point in time the request was made, others due to conflicts with our grant criteria. Without detail, the following were submitted and considered.
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$10,000 |
Tenement Museum Program |
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$10,000 |
World Urban Forum |
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$5,000 |
University of Memphis Scholarships |
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$5,000 |
California State University Scholarships |
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$100,000 |
Lewis Bolan Scholarships (John Hopkins University) |
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$5,000 |
Chicago Architecture Foundation |
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$10,000 |
DePaul University |
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$10,000 |
California State University (Fullerton) Scholarships |
The principal thrust of our efforts has been to promote LAI recognition on a broad scale basis, with particular emphasis on local chapter involvement at numerous levels. We look forward to considering your Chapter’s application, the process can be found on LAI’s website. Please do not hesitate to contact any of the officers for guidance if needed, that is what we are here for.
LEF Board
Download this article in word format
LEF Grant Program (pdf)
Ron Buss, LEF Vice President
Announcements
Administration Matters!
LAI on Linkedin.com
Lambda Alpha International (LAI) has recently created a group on Linkedin.com. Linkedin is an online professional network of more than 60 million professionals in over 150 industries. Linkedin is a great place to exchange information, ideas and opportunities. Linkedin allows you to:
- Stay informed about your contacts and industry,
- Find the people & knowledge you need to achieve your goals, and
- Control your professional identity online.
Our LAI Linkedin group will provide a means to further promote communication and networking among LAI members. Please join us at LAI’s newest place to network!
http://www.linkedin.com/
Attention LAI Members! Forgot how to login? No Problem
Please visit the LAI Website at www.LAI.org. On the left hand side click on the Members Only Tab. Here you will need to use your email and the password is lai.
New LAI Brochures Available!
Please contact LAI@LAI.org to order the New Brochures.
Save the Date ! ! !
Future Land Economics Weekends (Subject to Change)
2010
Fall: New Mexico, Zia Chapter, October 21-23, 2010
2011
Spring: Scotland, June 1-4, 2011
Fall: TBD
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