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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.
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.)

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

8:00am - 9:30am Breakfast and Orientation Presentations at FoundRE Hotel  
9:45am Load buses
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. 
1:00pm

Load buses
1:30pm Westgate and VAI Resort Tour – Light Refreshments and Cocktails
https://www.vairesort.com/		  
3:30pm Load Buses back to Hotel  
  Dinner on your own or with local chapter hosts.  

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024
8:00am - 9:30am Breakfast and Presentation - 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.

  
9:45am Load Buses
10:00am Aeroterra https://www.aeroterra-apts.com/
A former public housing site that now has three housing complexes serving senior, rental homes for families (up to 5 bedrooms) and apartments. Cindy Stotler, former City of Phoenix Housing Director who oversaw the development, will share details about the development.
12:00pm Load Buses to Downtown Phoenix
1:30pm Depart for Devine Legacy Via Light Rail to Devin Legacy
2:00pm - 3:30pm

https://www.nativeconnections.org/housing/affordable-housing/devine-lega...
This affordable housing development has a variety of income levels living in the complex. Named for Dede Yazzie Devine, the former Executive Director of Native American Connections for over 40 years, Dede oversaw the vision and building of the development and will speak to how the needs of the residents were incorporated in the design and the services provided on-site.  Joe Keeper, Devine Legacy Project Manager, will address the costs and challenges of construction. As a member of a Canadian First Nation Joe brings his informed perspective of his cultural background and how it influences his work.  There will be a tour of the amenities and units.

  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