KeyNotes

LAI Global Initiatives sponsored a webinar on Home Ownership in Transition - A Canada-California Comparison on 2023-10-16. 
 
The webinar featured a moderated panel with experts from the legal, insurance and regulatory perspectives and explored the differences in construction defect legislation and project financial risk  between acceptance of condo housing (5 or more units, apartment or townhome) in Canada compared to California. 38 percent of the new housing added in Canada between 2011 and 2021 was in the form of multi-family condos (5 or more units), compared to an estimated 3 percent in California. 

The webinar recommended California consider the systems in place in Canada to encourage multi-family home ownership.

Photos of LAI Home Ownership in Transition header, courtesy of Rick Cook

Special thanks to Photographer Emilie K. Adin, LAI Vancouver Chapter Member and Scribe Marina Aviles Olmos, LAI Madrid Chapter Member.

Kathy King, of the Los Angeles chapter, begins her two year term as LAI International President.  Kathy introduces you to the International leadership team and shares some perspective on LAI. 

In 2023 LAI Baltimore members participated on an Architecture and Urban Design Exchange Trip between Baltimore, Maryland and Rotterdam, The Netherlands with students and faculty from Baltimore’s Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning and the Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst. And another trip is planned for 2024.  

LAI President Kathy King traveled from Los Angeles and LAI Past President, LAI Fellow, and New Chapter Development Chair Steven Gragg from El Paso, Texas to support the underdevelopment LAI Suncoast Chapter. The three-day visit was filled with a multitude of activities, including local tours, individual induction ceremonies and culminating with a prestigious November 28 event; a total of 13 new At-Large members were inducted into LAI.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 26, 2023, 9 – 10:30 PDT for the LAI Global Initiatives sponsored webinar series on Home Ownership in Transition - A Canada-California Comparison. The initial webinar will feature a moderated panel with experts from the legal, insurance and regulatory perspectives, and provide LAI members the opportunity to query the panelists. 

Confirmed speakers are Wendy Moir, CEO and Registrar, Ontario Home Construction Regulatory Authority; Tamara L. Boeck, Partner Stoel Rives LLP and Kerry Nagy, Vice-President – Underwriting, Travelers Canada. Based on member feedback, future webinars will focus on one or more of the topics explored in the opening event.   

Photos of LAI Home Ownership in Transition header, courtesy of Ken Cameron, Tim Youmans and Rick Cook

LAI members from the Sacramento and Atlanta Chapters as well At-Large members from Dorset, England and Sarasota, FL participated in the May 25 Eco Justice for ALL Dialogue, Environmental Stewardship: the business perspective. The Temple of Understanding invited Elemental Impact Founder & CEO and At-Large member (Sarasota, FL) Holly Elmore to orchestrate and moderate the empowering 60-minute dialogue.

In their dialogues, Stephanie Barger (Sacramento,) Tim Trefzer (Atlanta,) and Simon Lamb (At-Large) showcased business community leadership in environmental stewardship.

Businessman and philanthropist Warren K.K. Luke, longtime member of LAI Aloha Chapter, was recently selected in this year's group of Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients.  The Ellis Island Honor Society awards medals to distinguished people of diverse backgrounds who have selflessly worked to better their community. Luke accepted the medal at a ceremony at Ellis Island on May 13, 2023.

Photo of Warren Luke, Courtesy of Aloha Chapter

The Board of Governors extends its congratulations to Richard A. Wilson who has been nominated by the Ely Chapter and selected by the International Awards Committee as the 2023 International Member of the Year. Richard has been a member of LAI for 17 years.

When she returned to her hometown Sarasota, FL in 2021, former Atlanta Chapter Board member Holly Elmore formed an environmental Leadership Group (LG) on the central Florida Gulf Coast focused on water quality and its land economics impact. Two years later, the LG boasts ten members, all prominent environmental leaders and LAI At-Large members, and an impressive track record of accomplishments.

Sheila Harris, PhD, Immediate past President of LAI International, welcomed the group to the first in a series of presentations focused on housing affordability. She introduced the Moderator, Carole Galante, who presented the topic, “Housing Affordability - The Missing Middle.” 

The panel of experts from the U.S. and Canada presented success stories and the challenges that exist for those needing livable, affordable housing options.

In 2020-21 COVID intervened to cancel LAI Award Ceremonies during which Christopher Leinberger would be recognized as 2021 Educator of the Year. This well-deserved honor was presented at the Los Angeles LEW.  

Photo courtesy of George Washington Chapter

The February 17 Coastal-Water Quality: Challenges, Solutions, and Economic Impact global webinar was the second program in an eighteen-month series about water and land economics around the globe hosted by the LAI Global Water Group.

LAI At-Large Members from Florida’s Central Gulf Coast shared on global-coastal-water challenges along with the economic impact to the local and regional communities. With a well-orchestrated plan, via the Water Playbook, community organizations execute programs designed to prevent water contamination from land use and to cleanse contaminates in the water.
 

Economist Alan Nevin, LAI Fellow, San Diego Chapter, takes a deep dive into a changing population, competitive challenges offshore and much more.  You’ll want to read this astonishing paper.

Unsplash Photo by Jerry Wang

Ann Gray, a member of the RICS Governing Council and now, 2023 President Elect of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors was recently inducted as a new LAI member by Max Farrell, London Chapter President.

Photo courtesy of Max Ferrell

Long time friendships are one of the great benefits of LAI membership.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Soon, PhD., FAICP

The LAI Land Economics Foundation sponsored research examining the role and potential risk of automated social media accounts in participatory planning processes related to land development, including the development of a Twitter bot to test a range of cyber influencing strategies

Photograph courtesy of Justin Hollander

“Reflections in Stone and Bronze” is reviewed by Alan Nevin, San Diego Chapter, LAI Fellow and LEF Board Member.  Cheryl explores how land economics is an essential part of Hawaiian history and culture.