Lou Slade,
International LAI Editor with Michael Hurley, AICP, Associate, Gorove/Slade Associates, Inc.
The Sacramento Chapter has set up an exciting two days of fun touring of major projects that will change the region’s landscape and economy. Three of the highlights are:
A visit to the new constructed Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport. This $1 billion facility is opening on October 6th, 2011. So you’ll get to see the new terminal complex in operation and learn the behind the scenes features that must be considered in constructing an airport in today’s world.
You’ll visit the recently opened expansion of the Crocker Art Museum. The Crocker is now able to put on display many of its great art works that have been locked up in storage due to the lack of space. You’ll learn about the integration of the new museum building with the historic old museum including the special architectural treatments. There will be time to tour the museum galleries, including the wing for the Impressionists.
You’ll also get a behind scenes look at the future California State Railroad Technology Museum that will be constructed in the old Southern Pacific Central Shops Complex. You’ll be able to see a working machine shop that services all of State Parks operating rail facilities in Old Town Sacramento and see a lot of historic railroad cars and equipment that are being restored for exhibit once the museum is constructed.
Please join the fun in Sacramento, October 20th to 22nd.
Tim Youmans,
Managing Principal, Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS)
One day prior to the start of our fall Land Economics Weekend, on Wednesday, 19 October, LAI will spend a day envisioning the next five years of the Society. Our current LAI Strategic Plan was crafted five years ago in Ottawa and we’ll be working on revising that plan to guide our work for the future. While this meeting is planned for your chapter presidents, the executive committee and the leadership of the Land Economics Society, we welcome member participation so if you will be joining us in Sacramento and wish to participate in the Strategic Planning Charrette let Maria Salas know that you’ll be with us. The revised plan draft will be submitted to all chapters for review prior to anticipated approval at the spring 2012 Land Economics Weekend meeting in Phoenix.
Over the past five years and guided by our current strategic plan, we have made some major changes in the Society. We hired a new management firm, Nonprofit Solutions; moved the secretariat of the International from Chicago to Minneapolis; formed new chapters in Madrid, Spain, Maharashtra (Mumbai), India, Atlanta, and Ireland; created a new and very comprehensive Chapter Manual and Briefing Memoranda to guide day-to-day management of LAI chapters; created a New Chapter Formation Guide for those seeking to establish chapters; and revitalized stagnant chapters in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. The Land Economics Foundation has made grants in widely diverse areas of land economics and despite the economic downturn, our Society is continues to make important contributions to land use management. Our new Executive Director, Maria Salas, has broad experience in managing nonprofit organizations such as Lambda Alpha and we look forward to a bright future with her and her colleagues at Nonprofit Solutions.
Jim Fawcett, Chair, Council of Presidents
The Chapter Services Committee (CSC) has been working to prepare a set of best practices and other information to assist Chapter leaders.
Attached is the Local Chapter Briefing Memoranda that has been assembled so far and was approved in Glasgow by the Board of Governors.
The intent of the CSC is to continue adding to these best practices as new ideas are developed.
The Briefing Memoranda are listed on the LAI website under the Members Only section, and can be easily viewed and downloaded by sections.
Chapter leaders will be able to look up this information as needed. It will be available to all future Chapter presidents/leaders as well.
Please do not hesitate to forward your comments and input regarding these Memoranda to the LAI Office.
The Briefing Memoranda are listed below:
The proposed new LAI chapter located in Mumbai, India, will be considered for the granting of a Chapter Charter at the Board of Governors meeting in Sacramento on October 20, 2011. This is an exciting expansion of LAI’s reach into one of the world’s fastest growing countries. The Maharashtra LAI members are looking forward to a strong relationship with other LAI members world-wide to bring expertise and support to address the India’s challenging land use and regional economic issues.
Tim Youmans, Managing Principal, Economic & Planning Systems, Inc. (EPS)
The Plan for Northerly Island: An Oasis in the City
On Tuesday, July 26, over 90 Ely Chapter members and guests were treated to a “behind the scenes” presentation and walking tour of Northerly Island. At one time a small airport, this 91- acre peninsula jutting into Lake Michigan at the heart of the Museum Campus, is beginning to be reclaimed as Chicago’s famous architect and planner Daniel Burnham imagined it over 100 years ago. The nature area at Northerly Island features beautiful strolling paths, casual play areas and a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline. It is also home to some of the best fishing in Chicago. Recently, a temporary outdoor music venue was added, generating revenue for the Chicago Park District to reinvest into the island.
While gathered in what used to be the old Terminal building, Gia Biagi, Director of Planning and Development for the Chicago Park District (and Lambda Alpha International – Ely Chapter member) and Gregg Calpino, Principal of consulting firm JJR, provided our group with eye-popping images of what the future could hold for Northerly Island. The recently approved 20-year frame-work plan calls for a chain of reef islands off of its east coast, creating a lagoon that will be a haven for fish and other wildlife. Cool lake breezes and sunny blue skies enabled the group to engage in a walking tour around the island where Gia and Gregg helped everyone to imagine the proposed suspension bridge along with the cafes and shops to be added to the west side of the island facing the skyline.
After all that hiking on Northerly Island, thirsts were quenched and ideas were exchanged back on the mainland during a cocktail reception at the Chicago Hilton Hotel.
Upcoming Event in September
On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, the Center for Real Estate Law at John Marshall in Chicago will be hosting an all-day conference: the 12th Kratovil Conference on Real Estate Law & Practice: 40th Anniversary Quiet Revolution in Zoning and Land Use Regulation.
In 1971, the President’s Council on Environmental Quality published The Quiet Revolution in Land Use Control (The Quiet Revolution). The book described in detail the innovative land use laws in nine states around the nation which returned the control of land use to a state or regional level, largely at the expense of local zoning. This constituted the “quiet revolution.” The Kratovil Quiet Revolution Conference will bring together national scholars and experts in land use to analyze the lasting land use impact of The Quiet Revolution in several jurisdictions around the country. In the afternoon, experts will analyze the future of land use policy and how this national issue will play out around the country and in the Chicago region.
Lambda Alpha International’s Land Economics Foundation is supporting this conference as a Platinum Sponsor.
For a full list of speakers and to register, visit us online at www.jmls.edu/kratovil.
Correction from July KeyNotes
Please note: there was an incorrect reference in last month's KeyNotes. Ted Novak of DLA Piper is who presented Ruth Wuorenma with the Robert J. Piper Distinguish Leadership Award.
Terri T. Haymaker, Ely Chapter Scribe and Jackie Loewe, Programs Chair
Public-Private Partnerships: A Tale of Three Projects
Back-to-back-to back monthly programs in May, June and July highlighted public-private
partnerships with three types of projects. Each focused on revitalizing an underutilized asset.
In the first, LAI Baltimore Chapter Board member, Joanie Millane of Millane Partners, LLC and Steve Cassard, Vice President for Facilities Management & Capital Planning at the University of Baltimore (UB) outlined their collaborative process that resulted in an award winning real estate transaction and project, The Fitzgerald.
UB issued an RFP in 2004-05 for a mixed-use development on a 4.3-acre, 600-space surface parking lot — a brownfield site owned by the State — on behalf of UB. The parcel is located in the midst of the urban campus and cultural arts district on a Light Rail stop and within walking distance of the Lyric Opera, Myerhoff Symphony Hall, the Charles Theater and Amtrak’s Penn Station.
With the university’s law school enrollment expanding to nearly 1150 students, and its undergraduate program expanding to include Freshmen and Sophomores, UB’s objective, as predominantly a commuter school, was to maximize the number of parking spaces available to its faculty and students at below market rates as ground rent, while enhancing a neighborhood in one of the State’s first official Transit Oriented Districts (TOD). The Bozzuto Development Corporation, teaming with PMI, was selected for the design-build project. In September 2007 the 65 year ground lease, with one 10-year renewal option, was signed and on September 17, 2008, Bozzutto settled with financing from the Bank of America through syndication with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the New York State Teachers Pension Fund.
The eight-story/1245 space public parking garage includes the first electric vehicle (EV) charging station in the City and two EV preferential parking spaces. This new parking facility is also available to art enthusiasts and patrons of the nearby cultural facilities. The 275 market rate residential unit building is certified LEED Silver. There is 25,000 square feet of retail at street level, with UB receiving a share of the revenue from the Barnes and Noble Town/Gown Operator — one of 650 schools nationwide with this arrangement. UB rents 20,000 square feet of space in which Barnes and Noble operates the bookstore and cafe. Additionally, there is a 1,500 square foot space occupied by Two Boots Pizza at the Fitz, while a third retail space of approximately 3,500 square feet is being actively marketed.
This public-private partnership is a win-win for the developer, UB and the neighborhood, —delivering a mixed-use, ecologically friendly project that is an economic development generator in the City of Baltimore. It connects neighborhoods to retail, restaurants and cultural venues where before there had been a pedestrian-unfriendly sea of cars. The developer enjoyed benefits such as no land assembly, ease of barriers to entry to the market due to UB’s involvement, market rate development fees, a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) from the City to finance the parking garage and, diversification of its business risk.
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| Baltimore Chapter Officers, President and Vice President, Rachel Edds and Jim Leanos along with LAI Sr. VP Jim Ellison present Jim Cheevers a LAI Mug as token of appreciation. |
In June, Rouse Company veteran, Barbara Nicklas, Vice President of Marketing for the Columbia-based Master Planned Communities and Development division of the Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC), chronicled the history of The Rouse Company (TRC) since the creation of Columbia in l967. This included its merger with HHC in 1996 and the purchase of the company by General Growth Partners (GGP) in 2004. GGP shepherded the process leading to the Downtown Columbia Plan that the Howard County Council unanimously approved in February 2010. In November 2010, GGP retained the Mall and spun off 34 assets to HHC who now has 67 net developable acres. The Columbia Mall, nearing its 4th decade of existence, was envisioned by James Rouse as the Main Street for the planned community. Guiding the six year process to create an acceptable plan to redevelop downtown Columbia was an acknowledgement that James Rouse’s original vision for Columbia still was relevant—to be an integrated community with people of all backgrounds. Also recognized were the need to address the aging physical environment; to make Columbia the urban hub for the County; and to embody Smart Growth by concentrating and accommodating future regional growth. Many revisions to the original draft Master Plan were based on extensive community engagement by and between knowledgeable and passionate residents and GGP.
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| LAI members gather around a sculpture of USNA’s mascot, “Bill the Goat.” |
For the Chapter’s annual summer outing, LAI Senior VP for Eastern James E. “Jim” Ellison, FAIA, joined Baltimore members who traveled to Annapolis for maritime-themed presentations. Beginning at the US Naval Academy Museum, www.usna.edu/Museum.com, the internationally respected Associate Director and Senior Curator James W. “Jim” Cheevers provided a customized tour of the military and naval art and artifacts relating to the history of the U.S. Navy. Highlights included the collection of ship models, especially the replicas of British warships housed in custom built ornate cabinets and the smaller ones carved out of steer bone by French prisoners of war.
The group then rode in e-Cruisers, 100% electric cars, to the Maritime Republic of Eastport and the Annapolis Maritime Museum (AMM), www.amaritime.org. Located on Back Creek and overlooking the Chesapeake Bay, AMM’s Executive Director Jeff Holland welcomed and explained the public-private partnership that redeveloped in 2003 the former McNasby’s Oyster Company, the last oyster-shucking and packing house in the city of Annapolis. AMM’s campus includes the Barge House, McNasby’s, water tours to the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, and the Cap’n Herb Sadler Watermen’s Park. AMM’s primary mission is to preserve the Bay and to promote the area’s maritime history and culture of the watermen.
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| Bob Hannon explains the history of Anne Arundel County’s choice to ‘privatize’ its economic program in l993 by establishing the AAEDC. |
The Chesapeake Bay defines the character of Anne Arundel County, according to Robert “Bob” Hannon, CEO/President of Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC), www.aaedc.org who spoke to the group. According to Bob, the County is well planned and well managed in terms of its General Development Plan, and a central role of the EDC is to ensure that the GCP is implemented. This entails organizing support for expansion of the industrial/commercial base through land use designation, correct zoning application and extension of utilities supported by financing.
The current industry count is over 14,000 businesses that in turn employ approximately 240,000 workers. Hannon said the County is just back to the employment levels of 2007 and this does not count the 400-acre National Business Park located just west of Fort George G. Meade.
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| LAI Baltimore President Edds thanks Laura Fritts, Annapolis EDC for her participation. |
Celebrating her 6th month on the job as President/CEO of the one year old, Annapolis Economic Development Commission www.annapolisedc.org. Lara Fritts said her organization’s audience includes the City of Annapolis government; residents and neighborhood associations; and the business community and allied organizations. Working positively with the newly-formed Committees to implement the organization’s mission of retention, expansion and attraction, Fritts said she has a “healthy/contentious relationship” with the City. While she admitted achieving the mission is tough in this economy, she proudly pointed out the successes after what an audience member characterized as “the City’s culture of No for the past 25 years”. The AEDC helps streamline and make the process for developers easier by eliminating one or more of the regulatory steps. Also it is collaborating with the City’s Planning Department on a wayfinding program by identifying keystone properties. Lara also talked about the preliminary findings from a retail market analysis to be released in early August that identified gaps, according to the responses from residents, visitors and internet patrons, in the City’s 5 commercial districts. These ranged from an art cinema, entertainment to a grocery store, restaurants and parking. Having this information about people’s preference will help develop a road map and action strategy.
Tara B. Clifford, Baltimore Scribe
The Lambda Alpha International Atlanta Chapter met on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at Decatur City Hall at the
office of Lyn Menne, Assistant City Manager. During the lunch meeting, Lyn, the guest speaker, presented
an overview of historic Downtown Decatur, and led a walking tour of the downtown.
View the meeting minutes.
*Note from the KeyNotes Editor: This posting is a new experimental service in KeyNotes in response to a request from an LAI member. We’ll monitor responses to this posting and new requests for postings, and determine if the membership sees this as a valuable addition to KeyNotes.*
OBJECTIVE: To obtain a position with a leading non-profit organization which allows me to contribute my professional skills and personal passions to benefit that organization and grow professionally.
My current work in Chile has definitely cemented my desire to pursue a career in international relations. My areas of interest and my experience are in program management, marketing, and public relations. I have experience working with nonprofit boards of directors and serving as a liaison to nonprofit organizations with elected officials and community organizations.
LEF EXPANSION
The Board of Trustees of the Land Economics Foundation has continued efforts on a monthly conference call basis to crystalize the meaning and purpose of the organization; the intent is expanding the impact of the Foundation. Commitments over the past six years have produced a number of successful ventures on a co-funded basis, these may be found on the LAI website. The Trustees agree that it is time to enhance both LEF and LAI exposure on multiple levels. By the end of this year it is their desire to trifurcate the Directors’ obligations among three core functions to increase effectiveness.
- Research Approval and Review Committee
- External Funding Committee
- Communications Committee
The expanded internal structure will allow more Members (whether Director or not) to participate, increase funding of projects within five years to $100,000 annually directed to both academia plus the public/private sector ventures having effects in other arenas through greater communication. A growth oriented Business Plan will be presented to and discussed by the Board of Directors in Scotland; the results will be shared with LAI Members in ensuing Keynotes. We invite input from all LAI members on this new direction. If you would like to take an active role in this process please contact any of the officers. We will keep you informed as we move through this new strategic direction.
Steven R. Gragg MAI, FRICS, LEF President
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: www.linkedin.com.
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.
Sacramento Land Economics Weekend
October 20-22, 2011
The Citizens Hotel, Sacramento, CA
More details and registration available here.
truction industry has also helped. However consumer spending remained weak. 
