Register Now for The South Beach Weekend Experience

The good news is that the Spring Weekend Experience program for South Beach, Florida, May 14-16 is set! However, because of the nature of this outstanding program, we will only be able accommodate the first 60 people who sign up -- so register NOW!

The South Beach Weekend Experience will begin Friday evening, May 13 with cocktails and dinner in the Oval Room at the National Hotel. Our dinner speakers will be Lewis Goodkin, President of Goodkin Research and Michael Cannon, President of AREEA and Managing Director of Integra Realty Resources. These two will provide an overview of the Miami marketplace that we will experience firsthand Saturday.

We will begin our mobile workshop Saturday morning with a walk from the National Hotel down Lincoln Road, one of the hottest streets in America. Our tour will be lead by Christine Burdick, President of Tampa Downtown Partnership (former Director of Lincoln Road Redevelopment) and Randall Robinson, of Miami Beach Community Development Corporation.

Our motor coach will pick us up at the end of the street where Nancy Leibman, President of the Urban Environment League, will take us to the Cultural Center in Historic Collins Park featuring the Bass Museum. The Bass Museum is considered by many architectural historians to be the most significant of the Art Deco structures in Miami Beach's internationally renowned historic district. Additional stops include the Miami City Ballet designed by Arquitectonica, and the Miami Beach Regional Library designed by Robert A.M. Stern.

We will proceed north in Miami Beach to Allison Island to visit Aqua -- a new development concept in "tropical urbanism" by Dacra where we will take a hard-hat tour. NEWSWEEK featured this development and its developer Craig Robbins in a recent issue. The 8.5-acre private island is master-planned by Duany-Plater Zybeck and features a combination of mid-rise and single-family townhomes. The developer has selected several architectural firms to design different buildings within this unique development.

Moving across the 79th Street Causeway to Miami, Nancy Liebman will take us down Biscayne Boulevard to see the Upper East Side neighborhood, Miami's oldest single family residential area that is seeing an exciting revival. Next, we head to the Miami International Design and Arts District. We will end the morning with a construction site tour of the new Performing Arts Center of Miami designed by Cesar Pelli.

On the way to lunch, we will drive up Calle Ocho, the heart of Miami’s Latin District where former Floridian, Jon DeVries (now of Roosevelt University and URS of Chicago) will talk about the profound importance the Latin Community is having on the future of Miami.

We will lunch at an exciting new restaurant, Ortanique in Coral Gables. Cathy Swanson, Coral Gables Development Director will give us an overview of the Coral Gables area that was master-planned and developed by George Edgar Merrick in the 1920’s. The Village of Coral Gables is a partner in the Ortanique. After lunch, we will tour the Village of Merrick Park, an award-winning mixed-use development that Coral Gables and Rouse Company developed.

From Coral Gables, we will proceed through Coconut Grove to view Coco Walk before going to Arquitectonica’s offices on Brickell Avenue. Founded in 1977, Arquitectonica is world-famous for being at the front lines of avant-garde design. Bernardo Fort-Brescia, AIA, the co-founding principal of the firm, will show us their latest projects that are transforming downtown Miami.

After leaving Arquitectonica's offices, we will drive through the downtown area on the way back to the National Hotel to see the incredible development boom that is now in progress.

Saturday evening at 7 p.m. will feature cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the National Hotel to allow our LAI Weekend Experience attendees to reflect upon the day’s experience. After cocktails, dinner will be on your own to select from the many outstanding restaurants of Miami. Though not part of the formal program, many of you may want to join former Floridian, Donna Pugh of Vedder Price who will lead the more adventuresome to South Beach's hot entertainment venues along Collins Avenue.

Sunday morning at 8:30 am will feature a continental breakfast for all at the National Hotel. The LAI Executive Committee, Chapter Presidents, and Land Economics Foundation Board Members will convene between 9 am and noon.

Our host hotel is the four-star National Hotel on Collins Avenue. This elegantly restored Art Deco landmark is on the ocean and in the heart of South Beach. For more information on the hotel, visit their website at www.Nationalhotel.com. However, you are free to stay at any of the wonderful lodging facilities South Beach has to offer.

(Please note: While we are committed to the program outlined above, it is subject to change without notice)

[Click Here] to register for the South Beach Weekend Experience Online

or [Click Here] to register for the South Beach Weekend Experience by mail

Corporate Sponsors for Weekend Experience Wanted. As you have been reading, the Miami Weekend Experience will be an outstanding event and something that your company should be associated. We invite you to be a sponsor by contributing $500 or if you wish to be an exclusive sponsor for a particular event such as one of the cocktail parties. If you would like to be a sponsor or an exclusive corporate sponsor, please e-mail LAI@LAI.org and let us know. Your company will appear in the upcoming online and printed editions of KeyNotes, signage at the event, archived material acknowledgement, and of course during the event an acknowledgement and thank you.

Letter from the President:

Larry Lund

This is one of two times during the year when you receive both an e-mail edition of Online KeyNotes and a paper version that uses traditional mail. I wanted to take this opportunity to remind those members that if you have not been receiving your e-mail Online KeyNotes, we probably do not have your e-mail address or the one we have is incorrect. If you are only receiving this written copy, please contact LAI International and provide them with an e-mail address where we can reach you.

Also, everyone should take this opportunity to update your membership profile online. We have improved the directory to include a website address, a narrative biography section and also an area where you can let members know your availability to be a speaker. These enhancements are designed to improve the wonderful LAI membership network.

Speaking of membership network, I hope to see many of you May 14-16 in Miami for LAI's Weekend Experience. An outstanding program is planned -- however, in order to maintain the high quality program, we regretfully must limit registration. Register now to be among the sixty participants.

I want to thank the many LAI members from around the world who have contributed to the South Beach Weekend Experience including: Christine Burdick, Jose Pelli, Jon DeVries, James Fawcett, Roger Kallman, Donna Pugh, Christopher Coe, Lew Goodkin and Lynn Osmond.

Do not forget Baltimore’s symposium that follows the American Planning Association conference in Washington D.C. Baltimore has developed an outstanding symposium that explores how technology is shaping the form of the city. This high-caliber program deserves your time (see program details). The program is bringing some of the top people in the country together to discuss these issues. I have already booked my flight reservations and hope to see many of you at Johns Hopkins Downtown Center, Thursday, April 29 in Baltimore.

Holding this symposium at Johns Hopkins is particularly significant for Lambda Alpha because it was in 1881 that Richard T Ely, the founding influence of our organization, received his first university teaching position as professor of political economy. It was at Johns Hopkins where Ely founded the American Economic Association. Ely was one of the leaders of a methodological battle at that time which contended that history and institutions affect economic behavior – that ideas not "laws of economics" govern man. See you in Baltimore!

Best regards,

Aloha Chapter

Cheryl D. Soon, Director of the Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu, has been elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners. She will be inducted at the American Planning Association's annual meeting in Washington D.C. in April.

Baltimore Chapter

"Technology, Smart Growth, and the Future Form of the Baltimore Region" is the theme of Baltimore Chapter's all day symposium, Thursday, April 29th from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm at Johns Hopkins University Downtown Center at 10 Charles Street.

The symposium’s goals are twofold: first, to improve the understanding of these trends, technology’s influence, and the implications for the Baltimore region and, second, to consider how judicious investments in advancing the region’s technology base and managed development policies together may achieve desirable and sustainable patterns for our future metropolitan development. 

While these themes are particular relevant to Baltimore, all Lambda Alpha Chapters are facing similar issues and all members are encouraged to attend.

Speakers of international prominence and local decision makers will interact to explore how new technologies and public policy can be applied effectively to produce vibrant communities and a high quality of life for all of their members. 

Participation will be open to all Lambda Alpha International members and the public, but limited to approximately 150 people.  A fee of $95.00 will be charged to cover the costs of lunch and refreshments, and documents to be provided to participants.  The organizers plan to produce a proceedings or other documentation following the symposium.

 Registration and payment ($95) must be received by April 23, 2004, and will be confirmed by email or telephone.  Checks payable to LAI-Baltimore, attendee’s name, affiliation, postal address, and email address should be sent to

T&SG Symposium
c/o AIA Baltimore
11 1/2 West Chase Street
Baltimore, MD  21201

Complete program details can be found by clicking here, or calling Baltimore Chapter President, Dr. Andrew Lemer at 410-235-3307 or e-mailing him atalemer@ecostructure.com

Chicago-Ely Chapter

The Ely Chapter has announced its Spring Chautauqua program for the evening of Wednesday, April 28. Following Richard T. Ely's methodology of "sifting and winnowing" the Ely Chapter's program will focus upon the transformation of the Chicago Housing Authority. The CHA is creating mixed-income neighborhoods and the Ely Chapter is bringing together several key players for a panel discussion on the elements of community as well as the economic and social infrastructure that is needed to insure success. Panel members include Peter Holsten, President of Holsten Real Estate Development Corporation, Shirley Newsome, Director of Kenwood Oakland Community Conservation, and a representative from the CHA. Howard Stanback, Executive Director of the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities will moderate the panel. The keynote speaker will be Anita Miller who is widely recognized for her contribution to the renaissance of the South Bronx as Program Director for the Comprehensive Community Revitalization Program. She will set the stage for the panel discussion. For more information and reservations please contact the Ely Chapter at (312) 726-4030.

Tribute Cards

Oftentimes we don't know how to adequately express our condolences for the recent passing of a colleague, friend or LAI member. To meet this need, the Land Economics Foundation has made available tribute cards specifically for this purpose.

These tasteful memorial cards announce that a contribution has been made to the Land Economics Foundation of LAI in tribute to someone. Inside the card, space is included to add a personal note of your own. Additionally, the note card outlines the aims and objectives of the Land Economics Foundation.

Tribute cards are $20.00 (US) each and are available through your local chapter or International Headquarters. Local Chapters may wish to order packets of 10 notecards for $200.00 (US). These cards are also appropriate if you wish to acknowledge a speaker at one of your chapter events.

Contact International Headquarters at LAI@LAI.org to order these cards. (Special thanks to Virginia Solomon and the 2003 LEF Committee for implementing this program).