Jim Fawcett

Over the past few months it seems that transportation infrastructure issues seem to have a firm grip on my attention. We’ve got ongoing issues of traffic congestion caused by intermodal freight movement in southern California, a frustrated airport expansion project and the ever-present struggle to expand our rapid transit systems. There’s also a proposal on the books to develop a high-speed rail link between the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. I know that we are not alone as a region experiencing these concerns.

Governor Schwarzenegger proposed last week that the people of California authorize a bond issue of $25 billion in this year’s general election to fund highways, waterworks, transit systems, classrooms and prison cells. The proposal is part of a multiyear $222 billion program to upgrade California’s infrastructure, $68 billion of which would be funded by new state bonds.

Where does the fiscal responsibility lie for these large-scale infrastructure projects? How should we distribute costs between the states and the federal government? And, what about maintenance (deferred and ongoing) of our existing infrastructure? At a time of fiscal austerity for domestic spending, how well can we improve our nation’s critical intra- and interstate transportation infrastructure without the guidance of a national commitment and plan for such improvements?

I’m reminded of Kevin Starr’s notion that the debt the US undertook in the wake of the Civil War to bring the West closer to the rest of the country via a rail system was money well spent. Borrowing to improve our transportation links East to West made the development of the West feasible and, in fact, was critical for development of the very area where 20+ million of us now reside in southern California. Steve Erie in his recent book, Globalizing L.A., notes that forward thinking politicians and civic leaders recognized that a viable seaport was essential to the growth and development of this region and planned decades ago for the development and expansion of a man-made seaport at the Port of Los Angeles. The dividends it has paid are manifest in the 400,000 direct employment jobs that this, now the nation’s busiest freight seaport, and its neighbor, the Port of Long Beach, play in the economic health of the region.

As a land economics society, I urge us all to contemplate how infrastructure viability and improvement can aid the economic vitality of our regions. How can it as well assist us in facilitating improved movement of freight and passengers throughout our increasingly interdependent cities and indeed the world? Does the recent transportation authorization bill provide the planning that we need to link our regional efforts to meet the needs of a global economy? It seems to me that our Society has both the intellectual capacity and professional interest in advancing these issues.


James A. Fawcett
International President
fawcett@usc.edu





Thanks to the Membership from LAI Immediate Past President Larry E. Lund

Larry Lund

It has been a privilege to serve as the 43rd President of Lambda Alpha International and to lead the organization during the 75th Anniversary. We have a rich legacy, which I am honored to be a part.

It was particularly rewarding this year to be “On the Road” with Richard T. Ely -- who inspired the founding of LAI. I took the opportunity to visit many sites around the country associated with Ely, and hope to continue my Ely travels, as well as write more about Ely and Lambda Alpha during the coming years. But in addition to visiting these “historic” sites, I enjoyed reading many of Ely’s works to gain a better insight into the person and his philosophy. Through his writing, we can learn better ways to think about how we use our land resources. What has particularly struck me was his underlying premise that we are stewards of the land, not the lords of the land, and that we have an obligation to a higher source in how we develop our land resources and policies. His Law of Social Service also underpins the goals of LAI – that we have an obligation to contribute to society through our professionalism and understanding all sides of complex issues that face our use of land.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate James Fawcett, our new International President. Jim was initiated in to Lambda Alpha’s Los Angels Chapter in 1988 and he now serves as the Director of Marine Science & Policy Outreach Program at the University of Southern California’s Sea Grant Program. He will provide outstanding leadership that will continue to move LAI forward into new avenues.

And finally, a big thanks to the organization for a wonderful gift that was presented to me during our celebration on the Stage at Millennium Park – a beautifully mounted facsimile of an expression of appreciation for serving as International President was placed in Land Economics (November 2005)-- the journal that Richard T. Ely founded in 1925. I could not have appreciated anything more.

In addition, I would like to thank all the Lambda Alpha International members from around the world that have made being president such a wonderful and rewarding experience. We are all volunteers who believe that LAI can make a difference and that we will do even better in the future in the advancement of land economics.

Best regards,

Larry E. Lund
Immediate Past President
Larry@REPG-Lund.com

Photos from the 75th Anniversary Celebration

Ed Uhlir, Ely Member and Project Manager for Millennium Park

Larry Lund and James Fawcett present the chapter
charter to Michael Shymanski, President of the Ely Chapter.

Six Former International Presidents gather at 75th Celebration (left to
right) Frank Spink, Thompson Dyke, Philip Boname, Larry Lund, Roger Kallman, and Eugene Stunard.

Michael Shymanski, Ely Chapter President, Host Chapter for the 75th
Anniversary welcomes guests to Chicago.

Michael Maremont the first President of the
Zia Chapter, Lambda Alpha's newest chapter presenting
the State of New Mexico. Michael had read a letter that
Governor Richards had written to the Chapter welcoming their
participation in the discussion of land use issues.

James Fawcett, Michael Maremont, and Larry Lund. Michael
Maremont is receiving the Lambda Alpha Charter to start the Zia Chapter,
representing the State of New Mexico.

REGIONAL LAI

Regional Structure:

The Regional Vice Presidents provide easily accessible information on LAI and models to solve organizational issues. The regional structure encourages sharing on local information.

The following is how David Greenwood, Western Region, sees his role:
“In my regional capacity, I am a resource solely for the benefit of the Chapters within LAI West.

If there are issues that need to be dealt with at an International level, I am your liaison with the International Executive and I would sincerely encourage you to use me in that capacity. If you are dissatisfied, in any way, with the service provided by LAI please let me know. Similarly, if you have suggestions for improving the way LAI operates, or suggestions for enhancing our public profile, I would also like to hear from you.

Any organization is only as good as its membership but that membership needs to communicate with each other. I would encourage your Chapter to make ongoing use of the on-line KeyNotes to share the successes of your Chapter and its members. In your capacity as President, I would also urge you and other Chapter members to attend the LAI bi-annual meetings, held in conjunction with the Weekend Experiences.

For those of our members who have not attended a Weekend Experience, this is a tremendous opportunity for continuing personal and professional development. Those who have attended Weekend Experiences will know that Chapters go all out to make a favorable impression for their visitors. The quality, of both the tours and the speakers, is first rate. Please do what you can to encourage members to attend the Weekend Experiences. The next one is in Washington D.C. in the spring.

For those Chapters that have not hosted one of these events you might give it some serious consideration as an opportunity to profile the professional activities of your members and showcase your cities.”

David Greenwood
Vice President-West
dgreenwood@avisonyoung-van.com



Editor’s Column

Helen Sause

2006 is new enough to make it seem that all things are possible and the same old issues and challenges haven’t loaded us down yet so we can still think in terms of change and new horizons.

One of my new horizons is the opportunity to work with the great team that produces the KeyNotes. This includes a number of people but first and foremost is Michele Meng, LAI staff, web designer Kathy Keler, James Fawcett, LAI President and hopefully all of you! What are your new horizons, what interests you, what is going on in your part of the globe and what programs are you working on that could provide models for all of us to adapt to our circumstances? This type of information was an important reason for me to read KeyNotes, as member and eventually Chapter President. All of these “what’s” are priorities for KeyNotes to share. Ergo you all will be pressed into service as contributing editors….okay?!!

A discussion of maintenance of “development created” public spaces noted December's KeyNotes may be another new horizon. One of the latest examples of such spaces is Millennium Park which has become a major visitor attraction and appears to be beloved by Chicagoans. It is beautiful and because it is so popular, the park’s maintenance and its management must be of great concern to the City. They were counseled to have an income stream set aside to pay for the costs of maintenance and replacement which will inevitably exceed income from the leasing the facilities. Of interest for us as developers, both public and private, is the source of the necessary income stream, how easily can it be appropriated to address other necessary City expenditures, and whether it is adequate to keep pace with increasing costs.

The Yerba Buena Gardens project in San Francisco was built with consideration for those issues and it may be worth looking at how well the assumptions/agreements are holding up now after the 12 + years since the Gardens opened. And helpful to look at similar spaces. There are no good guys or bad guys in these scenarios, but only people doing their best in a political/funding milieu that challenges the ability to plan for the long term support of the invisible and expensive work that keep these public areas looking good and secure. To be continued….

Helen Sause
International Editor
helensause@alamedanet.net

Chapter Corner

Minnesota Chapter:

New Chapter President Jay Lindgren (Rick Collins Immediate Past President):

The Chapter is pleased that members RSP Architects, won a 2005 National Preservation Honor Award for the Grain Belt Brew house Renovation (Minneapolis, MN) it was one of 16 projects selected from a field of 130 nominations nationwide.

Orange County Chapter:

Chapter President: Pat Neal, (Lisa Chester, Immediate Past President):

The Chapter's 2006 theme will be geared to the economy in Orange County. It will encompass the many aspects of this diverse economy that affect Lambda Alpha International members. Transportation issues, high housing costs, shortage of build able land, environmental requirements, government regulations all areas that play a role in the future economic health of the county.

Members of the Chapter are stepping up to the challenges that face the future of the County by structuring the 2006 Chapter programs around these issues.

Golden Gate Chapter:

New Officers:

Chapter President, Jesse Capin Smith. Has been a commercial real estate attorney for over 20 years and has been named as one of Northern California's "Super Lawyers." He now serves as the Chief Assistant City Attorney in for the City and County of San Francisco, where he oversees all of the advice divisions in the office, including the City's real estate and finance transactions. In the City Attorney's Office, he has been the City's lead lawyer on a number of major public-private partnership development projects, including the Giants ballpark and the Mission Bay mixed use project.

Thomas Sullivan, Vice President. Tom Sullivan’s experience in commercial real estate development and investment includes the management of significant real estate enterprises and large scale, technologically innovative developments such as Foundry Square in San Francisco. At Wilson Meany Sullivan, Tom focuses on the identification of investment opportunities, development management, and debt and equity financing.

(Immediate Past President, Helen Sause)

Los Angeles Chapter:

Chapter President Randal Lee (Gregg Gann, Immediate Past President)

The Los Angeles Chapter traditionally starts its new year by having fellow member LAEDC Chief Economist, Jack Kyser give us his annual Greater Los Angeles forecast talk. In February, we plan to conduct an initiation ceremony for our new initiates. As incoming president my goal is to have our members participate in at least one chapter event, introduce one candidate for membership to our chapter and to participate on a committee. Instead of gifts of pens and cups, I hope to increase our chapter’s visibility and recognize our speakers by donating real estate text books to a local university. Each book will have the Lambda Alpha logo and will be signed by our guest speaker. (ed. GOOD IDEAS!)

CHAPTER HISTORIES:

Chapter histories are a great way for LAI members to become familiar with the land economics interests in each region and how they have come together, as providing information for incoming members. If your chapter history is among the missing, please turn it in at your earliest convenience so that we can complete publishing the series.

Previous Histories published In KeyNotes:
Aloha April 05
George Washington August 05
Golden Gate May 05
London September 05
Los Angeles October 05
Orange County June 05
New York July 05
Sacramento September 05
San Diego October 05

Announcements

New Members

Orange County Chapter
Peter DeGregori, DKAdvisors Inc.

Philadelphia Chapter
William F. Martin, Pelino & Lentz, P.C.

Phoenix Chapter
Jim L. Adams, Arizona State Land Department
Charlotte Ann Christian, Phoenix Commercial Advisors
Scott Henderson, The Henderson Law Firm
Thomas E. Kabat, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Joseph E. Meyer, JE Meyer Investments, Inc.
C. Randall Paul, Geneva Holdings
Frederick R. Unger, Spring Creek Development
Connie Wilhelm, Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA)

Sacramento Chapter
Larry Allbaugh, Buzz Oates Enterprises
Linda Clifford, C.C. Myers, Inc.
Steve Morgan, Wildlands, Inc.
Dick Nelson, Nelson Properties
Jim Ray, MacKay & Somps Civil Engineers, Inc.
Robert Slobe, North Sacramento Land Co.
John Sprague, City of Roseville
Lux Taylor, Taylor Properties
Angelo Tsakopoulos, Tsakopoulos Investments

Vancouver Chapter
Peter Arbuckle
Sheldon Chandler, Chandler Associates Architecture Inc.
Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, City of Vancouver
James Murray Hancock
Hugh Kellas, GVRD
Jacques Khouri, Vancity Enterprises
Nancy Knight, UBC
John McCormack, John McCormack Architects
Nelson Merizzi, Canada Mortgage and Housing – BC & Yukon
David Negrin, Concord Pacific Group Inc.
John Ryan, Fairmont Developments Ltd.
Larry Sandrin, Bull, Houser & Tupper LLP

Special Recognition to LAND ECONOMIC FOUNDATION (LEF) Donors(Exceeding $25.00)

A huge thanks to:

· $250.00 Earth Advisors, Inc. Member: John A. Harris
(Member at large domestic)

In Memoriam

Vancouver Chapter: William Lane

It is with great sorrow that I announce that William (Bill) Lane passed away November 24th, 2005. Submitted by: Howie Charters, President, Vancouver Chapter



Golden Gate Chapter: Piero Patri, FAIA

A member since 1986, Piero died January 7, 2006 of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) Piero’s love for his city and his architectural accomplishments were recognized by the Golden Gate Chapter with its Lifetime Achievement Award at its December banquet. To the end, Piero was looking at projects to improve San Francisco. Many new and renovated buildings, as well as civic projects testify to his dynamic career.

Sacramento Chapter Chapter’s Founding President: Samuel J. Cullers, AICP, CSEC, AEP

Samuel passed away September 28, 2005, was born in Chicago, IL and attended Tilden Technical High School, then Roosevelt College and Fisk University, Nashville, TN. With the support of a John Hay Whitney fellowship, he entered the graduate program in city and regional planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was the first African-American graduate. While at MIT, he was active in the New England Chapter of the American Institute of Planners (now APA). He has continued to be active in Association affairs throughout the years and formerly was a member of the board, them First Vice President, and most recently continued to serve as a member of AICP Exam Specifications Committee and of APA Community Planning Team for Greensboro, NC.

His professional career had been outstanding in terms of variety and accomplishment. Starting as Deputy Director of Redevelopment in Hartford, CT, he then went overseas as Senior Planner and subsequently Chief of Party for the Bangkok, Thailand, and city Planning Project team. This was followed by an assignment as City Planner Advisor to the Ministry of Interior of Thailand. He then returned to Chicago as Director of the Community Renewal Program. He then was recruited to bring U.S. techniques to Canada and direct an Urban Renewal Study for the Metropolitan Toronto Planning Board for three years. At completion of this project he became Chief of Urban Planning for the State of Calif. State Office of Planning. After serving as Acting Director of the office, he was offered the position of Vice President, Planning and Environmental Affairs for Engineering Science, Inc. In 1972 he resigned to open the firm of Samuel J. Cullers & Assoc.

Other professional activities have included Jury of Awards, Cal Chapter, APA Director, Sacramento Valley Section, Task force of ALI Code, APA, Board of Directors, Council of Sate Planning Agencies, among others. He was elected to Lambda Alpha International, Honorary Land Economics Society, and was the founder of the Sacramento Chapter and served as International Vice President, West.

Numerous community activities have included board membership and chairing such entities as the Red Cross, United Way, and YMCA Sacramento Metropolitan chapter of commerce, the Urban League, NAACP, Symphony Board, and others. He has served a Visiting Executive, International Executive Service Corps, to assist with economic development in Ozd, Hungary.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Geraldine Lewis Cullers, his sons Jim and Mark, and his daughters Jackie and Adrienne.