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2024 Phoenix Program

 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2024

8:00am – 4:00pm

LAI and LEF Business Meetings

  

GATHERING BEGINS

TENTATIVE AGENDA:  Presentations and tour sites may change due to availability of locations and/or speakers.

Opening Reception & Awards Dinner
6:00pm - 10:00pm

Opening Reception & Awards Dinner at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel - The Gold Room (Home to the second largest gold gilded ceiling in the world.)

6:00 pm: Opening Reception including light appetizers and wine/sparkling bar
7:00 pm: Welcome from City of Phoenix Mayor, Kate Gallego and Dinner
8:00 pm: Awards Ceremony

Awards Ceremony, presented by LAI President Kathline King and LAI Awards Committee Chairperson, Dr. Jim Fawcett
- Richard T. Ely Distinguished Educator Award
- Journalism/Author Member of the Year
- Skyline Award
Keynote Speaker – Terry Goddard, Central Arizona Project CAWCD Board President, former Phoenix Mayor, 1984-1990, former
Attorney General of Arizona, 2003-2011

Complimentary bus transportation will be provided from our official hotel, FoundRE
For those interested, the evening will conclude with a no-host cocktail at the Bar at the FoundRE.

By 1924, the McArthur brothers wanted to make Arizona a tourist destination – but they needed proper accommodations. Albert Chase McArthur – Warren and Charles’ brother – designs the Arizona Biltmore with a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence.

FUN FACTS
McArthur paid Frank Lloyd Wright $10,000 to use his patented block design, but it turned out Wright didn't actually own the patent. This permanently soured their relationship.  In August, 1928, construction begins on the Arizona Biltmore and was completed in nine short months.  February 23, 1929, the Arizona Biltmore has three days of grand opening celebrations.  The Arizona Biltmore had over 250,000 blocks, 33,000 pounds of copper in the roof and the second largest gold leaf ceiling in the world (only behind the Taj Mahal)!

In 1929, the stock market crashes and the Biltmore is sold to William Wrigley Jr., an original investor from Chicago.

  

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024
The Booming West Valley

8:00am - 9:30am Breakfast and Orientation Presentations at FoundRE Hotel - The New Valley of the Sun
- Developer/Architect FoundRE and Hance Park
- Devney Majerle, CEO Downtown Phoenix, Inc.
- Tim Sprague, Owner/Partner, Habitat Metro, LLC & South Oval, L.L.C.		  
9:45am Load buses:  Today’s Travel via Luxury Bus
10:30am - 1:00pm

Tour Estrella A Masterplan celebrates its roots while changing with the times https://estrella.com/.
The largest active master planned community in Arizona, Estrella was started by Charles Keating in 1988. An unprecedented model in its time, today’s owners, Harvard Investments, are addressing the community challenges and opportunities in real time. What is the best land use for 19,000 acres? How is water use being addressed? Are the outer-circle suburbs ready to move beyond single-family detached homes? Filled with complexities, Estrella is a prime case study of the need for change to meet the times, while still honoring the community and its 22,000 residents.

Join us for this candid discussion and lunch at Estrella’s Presidio Clubhouse outdoor plaza. 

The West Valley — Boomtown!
Estrella tour, lunch and discussion, Presidio Clubhouse
How to take a thirty-year master-planned community and refresh for the needs of today, including over 14,000 additional homes.
- Tim Brislin, President of Harvard Investments, Developers of Estrella
- Jeff Zimmerman, Vice President of Development, Estrella
- Claudia Sieb, LAI Board of Governors, Chair International Communications Committee, Moderator
1:00pm

Load buses
1:45pm

Westgate and VAI Resort Tour – Light Refreshments and Cocktails
https://www.vairesort.com/

The Ups and Downs of an Entertainment Zone
Visit Westgate Entertainment District, the valley's entertainment center including the State Farm Stadium, Desert Diamond Arena, VAI Resort, Popstroke, hotels, restaurants, shopping and more!

Coyotes Stadium
A distinguished panel will speak about the ups and downs of creating an entertainment zone in the Valley of the Sun. What worked? What didn't? What plays scored and what plays earned penalties?

  
4:30pm Load Buses back to FoundRE  
  Dinner on your own or with local chapter hosts.  

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024
Housing Affordability Day
8:00am - 9:00am Breakfast and Presentation at FoundRE Hotel - 18 Hour City in fewer than 18 Years! https://dtphx.org/
Housing Affordability Day!  

The day will focus on housing developments that have affordable rents – meaning housing that is affordable to persons earning 60 percent of area median income and pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent.  At least one of the developments will incorporate a variety of rents including market rate units.

In order to provide a tour that will be of interest to all of our attendees, there will be discussions with the developers of the apartments, including financing, unit mix, challenges to the site as well as services provided at the sites for residents.

  
9:00am Load Buses
9:15am - 11:15am Aeroterra https://www.aeroterra-apts.com/
This former public housing site now provides three housing complexes, providing residences for seniors, rental homes for families (up to 5 bedrooms) and apartments.
Tour and Panel Discussion
- Cindy Stotler, Housing Director, Phoenix IDA, former City of Phoenix Housing Director. Ms. Stotler oversaw the development of Aeroterra.
- Titus Mathew, Director City of Phoenix Housing Department
- Dr. Sheila Harris, Founding Director of the Arizona Housing Finance Authority and former Deputy Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Moderator
11:30am - 1:15pm Lunch and Keynote Speaker
Dr. Kil Huh, SVP Government Performance, PEW Charitable Trust.
1:15pm Depart for Devine Legacy Via Light Rail to Devin Legacy
1:45pm - 3:00pm

https://www.nativeconnections.org/housing/affordable-housing/devine-legacy-on-central

Devine Legacy Tour and Panel
Named for Dede Yazzie Devine, former Executive Director of Native American Connections for over 40 years, this affordable housing development serves a variety of income levels.
- Dede Yazzie Devine. Dr Sheila to confirm
- Joe Keeper, the Project Manager speaking about the costs and challenges of construction. Joe is a member of a Canadian First Nation and can speak to his cultural background and how it influences his work. Dr. Sheila to confirm
- Dr. Sheila Harris, Founding Director of the Arizona Housing Finance Authority and former Deputy Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Moderator
  Arrive back at the hotel at your own leisure so you can be sure to enjoy Friday night happy hour and/or dinner downtown Phoenix!  https://dtphx.org/things-to-do/getting-around/
  Optional tours for those staying the weekend are being planned.  Stay tuned!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024
  Things To Do  
  https://www.travelandleisure.com/arizona-travel-guide-8558231   
  Two Phoenix chefs named finalists in the 2024 James Beard Awards  
  Conde Nast article on things to do and places to eat in Phoenix   

 

Dress Codes

Opening Reception and Dinner: Business Attire
Tours: Casual with Comfortable Shoes