LAI KeyNotes: May 2008

LAI Toronto Land Economics Weekend

More Information and Registration Form Coming Soon!

The Simcoe Chapter of Lambda Alpha International invites you to join us for the
Fall 2008 Land Economics Weekend, Toronto, Canada, October 23-25, 2008.

Royal Ontario Museum

Preliminary Itinerary (link to pdf):

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008
LAI and LEF Business Meetings
Registration Opens
Welcome Reception

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008
Registration Continues
Tour of the University of Toronto Campus
Lunch and Tour at the Ontario
Investment & Trade Centre
Tour of Yonge-Dundas Square
Art and Real Estate: Tour of Queen Street West
Presentation at the Historic Distillery District

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008
Tour of Markham Business Park Corridor,
Markham Town Centre and the Asia Pacific Mall
Tour of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple
Tour and Lunch at Mississauga City Centre
Tour of the St. Lawrence Starch Company Redevelopment
Cocktails and Dinner at the Gardiner Museum

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!

www.lai-simcoe.org

Letter from the President

Les Pollock

Many members know that your Board of Governors conducts semi annual meetings which occur in tandem with the LAI Weekends. Another article in this month's KeyNotes provides full detail on the sites visited, learning and camaraderie enjoyed by over 70 attendees at our Spring Weekend in Phoenix. I'd like to comment on the significant growth of the organization addressed at the Board of Governors meeting held during that time.

Among the most important actions at our Spring 2008 meeting was the Board's approval of the nominations of 12 new members-at-large residing in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This group, which grew out of our LAI Weekend in Ireland last year, represents the core of emerging LAI Chapters in Dublin and in Belfast. Board approval was also given to investigate the possibilities of establishing an affiliation with the Korean Land Law Association, a group with similar purposes, goals and member selection standards as LAI. The intent of this investigation is to determine whether affiliation with like groups in foreign countries having different organizational cultures is an appropriate route for increasing the international scope of LAI. Also, Ackneil Muldrow, Vice President Eastern Region and Tim Youmans, Assistant Vice President Western Region, reported on their work to form new chapters in Atlanta and Denver respectively. Members knowing of individuals in these areas who might be interested in and meet the criteria for LAI membership should send their names to either Robert Gibson, Vice President Europe (for Ireland), Neil or Tim as appropriate.

These activities demonstrate the strength of LAI, and the interest of others in becoming part of LAI. They also reflect the growing geographic interdependence of land economics academics and practitioners, and the growing opportunity for members of our Society to reach out to similarly qualified colleagues in many places as the need arises. Unlike larger single industry or open membership groups, LAI is a true society of diverse, yet similarly qualified, individuals who welcome another member's queries about research issues or business contacts within that individual's city or country. The opportunity for intercity and international contact is clearly one of the strengths of the Society and, as we expand through existing chapter growth and new chapter development, these opportunities will only continue to increase.

Nowhere is the strength and character of these relationships better reflected than at our semi annual LAI Weekends, where, as in Phoenix, members from across North America, the UK and India gathered, exchanged views, got to know one another on a personal level, and jointly learned about and discussed the growth and land economics challenges being experienced in this dynamic region. I believe all attendees gained from the experience, and, indeed, were treated to an exceptional set of tours, lectures, receptions and dinners by our excellent hosts led by Phoenix Chapter President Steven Gragg and the able Chapter Administrator Sheila Hamilton. Kudos to the Chapter for an excellent program, and for their warm hospitality.

Les Pollock
LAI President
lpollock@camiros.com

Editor’s Column

Helen Sause

Dear Colleagues,

WOW what can you say about Phoenix! It was terrific! The Land Economics Weekends are always a great experience and each one seems even better that the ones before! The highlights for me are getting to know you all better and to feel that these shared experiences help us to bond as an organization. Also the splendid back room tours and insights into the cities we visit!

In Phoenix, each of our guides and hosts were so well informed and presented such different aspects of the Maricopa Valley that we were constantly taking notes and pictures. One would never be able to experience such in-depth information about the community by just visiting even with an informed friend as a guide. The many firms that hosted us shared their knowledge, time and staff resources and we were constantly impressed with their great generosity.

Phoenix was also impressive with the involvement of their young university colleagues in the chapter, kudos to them for forging such relationships — a real lesson for us. Having young peoples' inquiring minds relating to our professions will help guide us in this swiftly changing world.

What did we see and hear? We will have additional articles and photos that help fill you in on this author's impressions, some of the highlights for me started with a "virtual tour" of the Valley. Mr. Greg Vogel, CEO Land Advisors Organization. This presentation was a tremendously impressive power point showing a broad array of statistics about the population and land use in the Mariposa Valley.

The population growth is amazing and if it continues over the next 30 years at the rates forecast, it will pretty well fill the Valley with the exception of the lands set aside for Indian ownership and parklands. We were pleased to hear from the Dean of the ASU College of Design and the Chair of the Planning Commission that there are growing efforts to require more compact development and there are a number of high rise buildings built and more on the books.

ASU campus
(click on photo for larger view)

We received a brief tour of a portion of the Arizona State University (ASU) campus. Duke Reiter, Dean of the ASU College of Design showed us a lot of the campus expansion that is occurring. The student body currently includes 65,000 students! So with the instructors and auxiliary personnel ASU forms a city in its own right. They have a huge acquisition and building program and apparently there are some who are concerned that the University may be overwhelming other uses in the community. The campus is quite impressive and certainly adds a lot of vitality to the City.

SunCor Commercial, tour of Hayden Ferry Lakeside
(click on photo for larger view)

Our visit to the Hayden Ferry Lakeside development was an example of development that is what Phoenix apparently sees as the wave of the future. It is a mixture of office and housing and commercial. The buildings are high rises and the setting is quite interesting. A "lake" has been created, probably a mile or so long and maybe 200 feet across. The dam that creates it appears to be an inflated plastic tube. It forms a pleasant focal point for views with a public walkway along its banks. It is unfortunate that it is some distance from downtown but the commercial area and campus buildings nearby provide a nice neighborhood feel to the development. As it is built out (about 2/3 completed at this point) and the offices are filled it should become a robust and active area. The developer, ASU and the City also seem to be working to improve public transit for the area.

Valley Light Rail
(click on photos for larger view)

An exciting "first" followed. Phoenix has built a great light rail system! Bravo for them....I gather that there has been a fair amount of controversy over the likelihood of getting folks to move out of their cars and use the system. It is really attractive—stations and cars—and not yet ready for prime time. The LAI Weekenders can say that they got to ride the Phoenix light rail system before it was open.

Phoenix Chapter Pesident Steven GraggInside Valley Light Rail
(click on photos for larger view)

We were as excited as kids and loved the quiet ride in their beautiful cars. I think it'll be a big hit especially as gas prices continue to spiral up. They have built with foresight and have the capacity to expand.

Tempe Center for the Arts
(click on photos for larger view)

Another aspect of Phoenix life was a brief tour of their performing arts center. The theaters and gallery are so beautiful, very new and just becoming real players in the community's arts scene.

Stockyards Restaurant
(click on photo for larger view)

We retreated to rest our feet and recharge our batteries at the Stockyard and enjoying one of the best steaks I've had in a long time. The historic building and its role in the City's early days was fun to learn about— and the food was superb. Tours of high quality residential developments ended with returning to the hotel for a lovely reception on the roof and a beautiful sunset.

Guest Host Grady Gammage
(click on photo for larger view)

We had an amazing speaker, Grady Gammage, who is the author of "Phoenix in Perspective"; he spoke on the historic role of Phoenix in the settlement of the West and its historic influences on the present day City.

Current LAI President Les Pollock presenting a thank-you gift,
a Chelsea Shipstrike clock to former LAI President Dr. Jim Fawcett
(click on photos for larger view)

A nearby Mexican restaurant provided nourishment, and I don't know about our colleagues but I was grateful to haul my old bones off to bed and rest my eyeballs! And that my friends were just the first day! Saturday was equally enthralling.

On Saturday morning, we had an interesting bus tour of the very successful Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Development area. The community has a casino and has also developed a successful business park. The community worked with the City and other professionals to achieve this development. Its proximity to the airport is an added feature contributing to its success. The artwork in the area is also an attractive feature calling to mind the art and history of the developers Philip Hamilton, OPUS West Corporation, and Russell Ray, SRP-MIC were our bus narrators and indicated the varied nature of the businesses located in the park and the apparent success of its tenants and owners.

We then went to Scottsdale Hanger One, born of a vision as the first and only of its kind, a completely private jet hangar complex unlike any other globally. Hanger One creates the image of visiting one of Southwest's repair shops eh? Couldn't be further from the reality! We were taken to the most incredible building designed by a Japanese architect who had clearly been give full rein to design his dream buildings. We went into a beautiful room filled with remarkable cars, in many cases, these are of a kind cars all exquisitely maintained, belonging to the owners of the planes in the adjacent "hanger". A private and unparalleled experience, Hanger One exults in world-class design, amenities and security provided to its privileged members, their guests and flight crews.

From first glance at Hangar One's ultramodern aerodynamic and fanciful exterior, one can sense its design was meant to enhance the aviation experience. Aviation is symbolized by twin roof forms clad in riveted aircraft aluminum that form the leading edge of a wing. This, in combination with its giant overhead "paper airplane" sculpture crafted of metal, pays homage to the eternal wonder of flight.

Tour of Scottsdale Hangar One
(click on photo for larger view)

It seems that Hanger One is the property of a few airplane aficionados who own rare and unique planes, store them and their special cars here when not in use, and have all the amenities that someone who is a car and aviation collector could wish. The communications systems were awesome, the security incredibly tight, and the level of maintenance simply amazing! One could easily imagine eating off the white floor in the "hanger". Phillip Hamilton, OPUS West Corporation, our tour guide said that it made it easy not to lose a washer.

Group photo at Scottsdale Hangar
(click on photo for larger view)

The gated 130,000 square-foot complex includes two hangars with over 50,000 square feet of secured space. Security is state-of-the-art with access limited to members, crews and guests. A valet service offers cleaning of members automobiles. All member vehicles are stored in a secured underground garage. For the utmost in comfort and convenience, a generous covered launch area provides shade for loading, easing the glare and heat of the sun.

Hangar One also will make available comprehensive aircraft management and maintenance services. Members benefit from this wealth of shared resources and its resultant safety net.

Windgate Ranch by the Toll Brothers

Tours of the DC Ranch and adjacent Windgate Ranch by the Toll Brothers representatives provided additional views of very high end retail and nearby gated communities with extraordinary amenities located in the outskirts and up the hills high enough to enjoy marvelous views of the City.

Our concluding event was a fascinating guided tour of Taliesin West, luxuriating in another gorgeous sunset while enjoying a lovely catered dinner and chatting with our local table hosts.

Tailesin West Guided Tour

Great gratitude to all of those who made this Weekend so superb we commend you—the Chapter and its sponsors and hosts were remarkable in their seamless and thoughtful arrangements. Thanks! Great appreciation to the LAI staff for all of their organizing and support for the meetings and arrangements that allowed us to do our business and enjoy this Weekend.

Helen Sause
International LAI Editor
helensause@alamedanet.net

Guest Editorial:
Putting the right Ingredients together to Make Brownfield Site Redevelopment Happen

Steve Figgins
President, Orange County Chapter

When Brownfields sites were first discussed, starting back in 1995, it seemed like a great idea, and topic for discussion. The problem was, and has been, keeping all the right ingredients "in the pot" to make a Brownfield recipe work. Often the missing ingredient is money. You may have a site, a motivated seller, and a motivated buyer—with a plan for redevelopment. But the missing ingredient is often money to evaluate what the environmental risks for a site actually are. The "fear" about environmental unknowns can keep many good redevelopment candidate sites from ever getting off the drawing board.

This paper will provide insight into how to find grant monies as well as low cost loans, to use to evaluate and quantify the actual environmental condition properties in a redevelopment area. If it is a single or smaller group of properties, low rate interest loans are available through a number of states. This money is considered seed money, as many redevelopment projects progress stalls due to the lack of information on what the actual environmental condition of sites are. It will also provide examples how city redevelopment agencies can use their status and the status of redevelopment areas within their city limits to position themselves for additional funding for investigation and remediation activities. Grant monies can come from State funded programs as well as federally funded programs through the EPA. There are right and wrong strategies to apply for these funds and methods to improve a grant's chance of success will be discussed.

Once these monies have been obtained, there are various ways to approach an area. This paper will discuss methods used and modified, to maximize the information, for the least amount of money. Once initial data is collected, it can be used to target any potential subsurface investigations, thus increasing the efficiency of investigation monies. Presence/absence survey techniques such as collecting soil gas samples, can cover a wider area faster and cheaper to determine if any Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as solvents or gasoline have been released in an area. Remember that any and all data collected for investigations should be useful in developing a remediation strategy. This helps avoid having to collect additional data when it comes to decision time for site remediation methods.

Using these techniques, we can make sure all the right "ingredients" are in the "pot" to make a Brownfield redevelopment recipe a success.

Steve Figgins
President, Orange County Chapter
sfiggins@brwncald.com

Special Report: LEF Funding Program Update

The Board of Trustees of LEF have approved the following funding requests submitted. Highlights of the Board's actions are recapped below; all grants require matching funds.

Safe Horizon - $5,000
The Foundation funded $2,500 in the Spring of 2006; another $2,500 in the Fall was matched by another non-profit entity. This Housing Mediation Program was initiated in operation at three Domestic Violence Shelters in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and has been expanded into a 40-hour training program for volunteer mediators. This program has grown statewide with ten mediation centers to assist underprivileged/under-educated residents with aggressive landlords.

San Diego Canyonlands Video Project - $5,000
This information/education video was concluded and aired on San Diego cabled television stations to further the community's knowledge on maintaining environmentally significant canyon areas and linking these connectors with nearby urbanizing areas. The preservation of this open space is absolutely necessary to maintaining the ecosystems of the county.

ASU Graduate Student Chapter - $5,000
To be implemented and monitored by the Phoenix Chapter, a real estate based graduate student sub-chapter will be formed. Funded on a matching basis by the local chapter, the students enjoy the benefits of real estate community involvement, networking, and clearly a more practical understanding of our industry through monthly meetings plus an annual conference with MIT's real estate school. The program is in effect and highly successful.

University of Memphis Scholarship Funding - $5,000
An ongoing request for scholarship funds was honored as it had been in the past, the funds made available to multiple deserving students. The LEF guidelines have since changed to eliminate scholarship funding that local chapters can provide.

Burnham Centennial Celebration - $30,000
To be funded over a four-year period with matching funds from the Ely Chapter, the project will allow Lambda Alpha to directly participate in the presentation of the project in 2009 and share in the promotional benefits of this historic undertaking. Chicago was masterplanned under the leadership of Daniel Burnham, who went on to prepare plans for San Francisco, the National Capital in Washington, Manila, etc. The impacts of this plan are still being felt by planners nationally and, especially, in Chicago where it continues to be viewed as a guide by both the private and public sectors.

Ross Minority Program in Real Estate - $4,500
USC Marshall School of Business; School of Policy Planning & Development meet twice each year; the spring session is a two week resident program, the winter program is for non-residents and lasts for six weeks. This Certificate Program is an intensively comprehensive, educational program that is designed to provide minority urban developers with the technical expertise and access to resources needed to develop significant urban real estate projects in their communities. The Program provides real estate development and finance education for minority entrepreneurs and professionals. It was founded in 1993 by the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles, USC and others interested in redevelopment. Now sponsored by USC, it has graduated over 500 leaders in urban revitalization.

In addition, 5 very meritorious applications were received but did not meet the LEF criteria so were regretfully not approved.

Ronald Buss
LEF Vice President