ULI supplement in AZRE November/December 2014

30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

2014

©2014 DMB Associates, Inc. Not an offer for sale or lease of real estate. The DMB name and logos are registered trademarks of DMB Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Access to, and use of, The Golf Club of Estrella is not included in the purchase of homes or homesites unless special arrangements have been made. • Certain properties may be registered with HUD, or may have registered components in the future as required pursuant to the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act. If such registration occurs, obtain the HUD Property Report, or its equivalent, required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. • WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. NNP III-Estrella Mountain Ranch, LLC is the owner of the Estrella Community (‘Community’). Certain homebuilders unaffiliated with the owner or its affiliates (collectively ‘Owner Companies’) are building homes in the Community. Owner Companies are not co-developing, co-building, or otherwise responsible for any of the obligations or representations of any of the Builders. Owner Companies are in no way responsible for any obligations or representations of any of the Builders to third parties and/or home buyers, and Owner Companies shall incur no liability whatsoever nor have any obligations or liability to any home buyer regarding a home purchase from a Builder. Buyers of homes from any of the Builders waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any and all rights, claims, causes of action and other rights whatsoever against Owner Companies arising out of their purchase transaction with the Builders. Newland Communities solely acts as the property manager for the Community. The California Public Employees Retirement System (“CalPERS”) has an indirect interest in one of the members in Owner. Newland Communities and CalPERS are not a guarantor or party to any agreement and shall have no liability to the development or selling of homes or responsibility for any claims, issues. A complete list of disclaimers can be found

at www.estrella.com. • Actual development may vary from developer’s vision. No guarantee can be made that development will proceed as described. Prices, specifi cations, details, and availability of a builder’s new homes are subject to change without notice. 2014 © Estrella. All rights reserved. Estrella is a trademark of NNP III-Estrella Mountain Ranch, LLC, and may not be copied, imitated or used, in whole or in part, without prior written permission.

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No one can move you the way we can move you.

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Dial/Henkel at One ScottsdaleNational headquarters with

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BASIS Mesa at Eastmark4-acre school campusin under six months

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in one year? A proven partner for nearly 30 years, our award-winning communities offer a variety of sites with fl exible entitlements – meaning you

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36 | November-December 2014

URBAN LAND INSTITUTE

In 1903, Ford began mass-producing its automobiles in America. It would take a few decades before cars, in turn,

became affordable for the masses. And, in the thick of this evolution, Arizona became a state.

This is one reason a recent study on walkability landed Phoenix in the gutters of New York City and Boston. George Washington University’s School of Business’ report, “Foot Traffic Ahead: Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America’s Largest Metros,” listed Phoenix No. 29 of

30 major metros for walkability. Despite Phoenix being established in 1861, years before the advent of the automobile, its development is arguably decades behind cities that were developed to accommodate a less mobile society.

“Study resource constraints like [the ones for the study] typically undervalue the many improvements that the City of Phoenix completed in the past decade,” says Ray Dovalina, Phoenix’s assistant street transportation director, who nods at the city’s T2000 Plan, which passed

A SOLE CONNECTION

By AmANDA VeNturA

Phoenix community, organizations band together for more walkable city, urbanization

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTBrian DalkeCity manager, City of GoodyearuLI member: Four yearsIn development-related government roles: 20+ years

WHAT ROLE HAS ULI PLAYED IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS?

uLI has provided great opportunities in building relationships within the private sector development community. As a result, I can pick up the phone and reach out to industry experts.

uLI has also been a valuable source of forward thinking ideas that expand the vision of our community.

WAS THERE AN “AHA” MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED THE VALUE OF BEING A ULI MEMBER? I was sitting in a uLI Advisory Board meeting listening to updates from committee chairs. When Lance ross talked about the success of uLI Arizona’s Arizona technical Assistance Panel (AztAP) activities, I quickly realized how valuable this program is for local government. I immediately requested that Goodyear be considered to participate.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING

OUTCOME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP?the top outcomes for Goodyear: 1) Our elected officials have attended trends Day events, which assisted in building their knowledge of current markets, factors affecting development and interacting with industry experts; and, 2) We had an amazing panel of experts for our AztAP that challenged, stretched and/or validated our thinking.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD ABOUT ULI-ARIZONA?my goal is to assist uLI-AZ in building stronger connections between private sector and local government. Cities can learn from uLI’s great resources.

37

with a 65 percent majority vote, and the light rail that connected Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.

Dave Wetta, founder of Wetta Ventures, still agrees with the GWU assessment.

“[Phoenix] is not even walkable outside the urban core of Midtown or the Camelback Corridor,” he says.

The fix is “easy,” Wetta says. “We need real sidewalks,” he says. “And that begs the question: will office absorption follow or lead sidewalks/walkability?”

The city has also initiated “Guiding Principles for Complete Streets,” for which the city council has formed an advisory board that will address policy, design guidelines and standards for the city’s transportation network. This, Dovalina

says, will include current and future public and private development projects.

The City of Phoenix encompasses more than 520 square miles and what Dovalina refers to as 15 villages of varying suburban and urban communities.

“Our goal, as a city, is to provide transportation choices to all Phoenicians,” he says.

The report also doesn’t surprise Vintage Partners Principal David Scholl.

“Other than downtown Phoenix, most of the metropolitan area’s built environment was constructed during the past 60 years when U.S. suburbanization was in its heyday,” he says.

Brokerage CBRE predicts in three to four decades, Phoenix, currently the sixth

A SOLE CONNECTION WHAT IS ONE URBANIZATION PROJECT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE PHOENIX ADOPT?“I think the Salt River Project canal system remains an amazing opportunity to create a more urban/walkable network throughout the metro area. The Waterfront in Scottsdale and Tempe Town Lake have both contributed to new urban environments, and I believe they serve as a great model for other communities.”

- David Scholl, Vintage Partners

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTHeidi KimballSenior Vice President, Sunbelt HoldingsuLI member: Seven yearsIn commercial real estate: 32 years

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ULI PROGRAM?Of course, I love trends Day. trends

is a fabulous one-day opportunity to provide insight and inspiration to attendees and is probably our best advertisement for the benefits and advantages membership can provide. It really is the one industry program of the year that I find

consistently rewarding. In addition, the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) is providing numerous ways to encourage women’s participation in uLI, but perhaps equally important, WLI will encourage diversity within member organizations, which is sorely needed in this male-dominated industry. WLI is providing compelling content in our programs for all Arizona District Council members – not just women!

WAS THERE AN “AHA” MOMENT WHENYOU REALIZED THE VALUE OF BEING AULI MEMBER? In 2009 and 2010, I mentored a group of young leaders enrolled in the Partnership Forum program, which teams veteran members of the uLI development community with

industry up-and-comers to provide on-going mentorship, guidance and encouragement. I’m sure I gained as much, if not more, from that experience than my mentees, and it was an inspiration to see how many seasoned members of our community are willing to give up their valuable time to mentor these future leaders. I know that program has also provided valuable experiences to some of my Sunbelt colleagues as well.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING OUTCOMEOF YOUR MEMBERSHIP?I continue to be surprised at the accessibility and generosity of the iconic leaders within the uLI community. It is rare to hear a “no” from any of them, in spite of the demands placed upon their time. I also am grateful for the opportunity to serve in a variety of capacities.

38 | November-December 2014

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largest city in the country, will remain just out of reach of the top 10 at No. 12. Factors that played into this estimate included office absorption, light rail development and revitalization efforts in downtown Phoenix and Tempe.

“I’m not convinced that light rail and walkability are so closely connected in urban Phoenix,” says Wetta, who does support light rail.

“We need to make sure that we allow market forces to organically influence our efforts.  If we try to legislate every new idea, I am afraid that we will end up with a contrived environment that will not be successful,” Scholl says, adding that the ReinventPHX effort — a partnership between the city, ULI, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ASU, St. Luke’s Health Initiatives and many other organizations dedicated to developing a walkable community, with a focus on five districts, near the light rail — and a new Walkable Urban Code are good initiatives. Wetta agrees, but is concerned that ReinventPHX may not capture the necessary momentum.

Dovalina maintains that ASU’s downtown campus has been a catalyst for bringing 10,000 students to the city, 3,000 of whom, he says, live downtown in dorms or apartments new to the campus. Phoenix Community Alliance President Don Keuth calls the expected delivery of multifamily units over

the next few years one of “the most important items moving forward.” This, he says, will bring a wide cross section of people, age and income downtown.

With the influx of multifamily in the pipeline, CBRE Senior Vice President Bryan Taute believes the demand is coming, although it may be paradoxical.

“The demand is pushing [Phoenix] to be more urban,” says Taute. “Demand is where people want to live. That circle is where people want to live.”

However, he says, amenities tend to respond to where people want to live.

“It’s hard to build something and attract the people,” he says.

Millennials are comprise the workforce and lifeblood of urbanization. Therefore, developers are looking closely at where Millennials are moving, which includes Austin and many California cities, Taute says.

Phoenix will not be L.A., San Francisco or Denver, Wetta says, but it needs to be understood as unique.

That’s one of the reasons in 2013, the City of Phoenix commissioned the Adams Street Activation Study by Gensler that appraised the pedestrian-value of the street.

“One of the goals is for visitors to our downtown core to have an authentic Phoenix experience as a modern desert city, as a means of differentiating downtown Phoenix from other urban

MOST WALKABLE CITIES1. Washington, D.C.2. New York City

3. Boston4. San Francisco

5. Chicago

LEAST WALKABLE CITIES26. Las Vegas

27. San Antonio28. Tampa

29. Phoenix30. Orlando

Source: Foot Traffic Ahead:Ranking Walkable Urbanism in America’s Largest Metros. The George Washington

University School of Business, 2014.

“Did You Know? Urban Land Institute conducted the ReinventPHX kick-off event at the historic A.E. England building to an audience of more than 200 community members and leaders. The institute hosted strategic convenings and focus groups to ensure a

private sector, development perspective was represented throughout the project.”

MEMBER SPOTLIGHTHeather PersonnePrincipal, evergreen Devco, Inc.uLI member: One yearIn commercial real estate: 19 years

WHAT ROLE HAS ULI PLAYED IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS?

my involvement with uLI has allowed me to build relationships with high-caliber thought leaders in the industry who willingly share their expertise and experience for the greater good. even after a decent amount of time in this business, there are still new things to learn, and I am getting

a chance to learn from some really great people.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ULI PROGRAM? trends Day presents a unique opportunity to hear from the best and the brightest in our industry about the trends ahead of us and how we can collaborate to move forward in an impactful way.

WAS THERE AN “AHA” MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED THE VALUE OF BEING AULI MEMBER?I was flattered to be asked to participate as a founding member of the uLI Arizona’s Women’s Leadership Initiative. As a female in a traditionally male-dominant industry, I

feel strongly about giving back to younger women who are just starting their careers and am grateful to uLI for providing the platform to make a difference.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING OUTCOME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP?the uLI members share a common passion to make our community a great place so much so that they set aside competing interests in the spirit of collaborating, knowing that approach will pay dividends for them personally and professionally. While this concept itself is not surprising, the level of commitment to this common goal is more intense than I realized and is extremely inspiring.

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40 | November-December 2014

ULI

locations,” says Beth Harmon-Vaughan, principal at Gensler Phoenix. “Sense of place is an important attribute of social sustainability because it uniquely connects people to specific places and locations. The authenticity of attributes celebrates those features that are unique to each place and specifically differentiates one place from another – for example, Phoenix from Anaheim or San Francisco from Denver.”

Adams Street connects the light rail station from the airport to two downtown Phoenix hotels and the front door of the city’s Convention Center. It’s within walking distance of museums, restaurants, cultural attractions and sports venues.

A significant portion of the Adams Street Activation Study looked at the visitors’ experiences through “pedestrian connectors,” defined by Harmon-Vaughan as attributes and amenities that deliver comfort and interest to the pedestrian experience.

“Experiences are understood through our senses. One of the key findings was to activate the street to enhance the pedestrian experience,” she says.

In order to enhance a pedestrian’s experience on Adams Street day, night, weekday and evening, Gensler suggested the addition of shade structures, canopies or trees, more seating, calm traffic conditions, public art, multi-modal transportation access and lighting structures for safety, as well as comfort. To activate the city, Gensler suggested more clear glass windows or spaces like

restaurants or shops that make interiors of buildings open to the street. A good mix of these entertainment accents, she says, will make this a destination for residents as well as visitors.

“We were pleased that there was so much interest from business owners, city officials, community leaders, residents, students and citizens in the study,” she says. “Their participation was truly remarkable.”

Public-private ventures are key,says Taute.

“In some of these areas, it’s tough to make the numbers work,” he says. Financing has been negatively impacted

by vacancy rates inflated by obsolete buildings. As reported in AZRE in September, obsolete space in the office sector (which is seeing the worst vacancy rates in the Midtown Phoenix submarket) is seeing adaptive reuses to keep spaces active.

“The owners of [the Phoenix warehouse district buildings] don’t seem willing to put the capital in and are not realistic on value expectations and rents to allow for that revitalization,” he says, adding, “I’m not a big incentives person, but in downtown Phoenix, it’s crucial and can be used in the right way.”

Adaptive reuse of under-utilized or vacant parcels is one of many keys to improving the walkability of Phoenix.

Keuth says infill is key to unlocking Phoenix’s walkability. “As we get these vacant lots filled, the buildings themselves will create a better shade environment. The complete street program (recently adopted by the city council) will help to create better shade on the sidewalks. Making sure we plant the right type of trees can also help.”

As more infill projects get completed, we will see a spike in urbanization, he says.

“This effort is making it easier to fill in the gaps in the urban fabric,” says Dovalina. “The Downtown Comprehensive Transportation Plan adopted by the city council in Julyis a three-tiered approach to improvements to the downtown transportation network. Improvements focus on the movement of people and economic development.”

Stanton A. ShaferCOO, Holualoa Capital managementuLI member: 22 yearsIn commercial real estate: 35 years

WAS THERE AN “AHA” MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED THE VALUE OF BEING A ULI MEMBER? my “aha” moment came at the first national Fall meeting I attended in San Diego in the early 1990s. the speakers, sessions and networking opportunities just blew me away. At that time, I realized that uLI offered the best bang for the buck as an organization to advance me in my professional development.WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING OUTCOME OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP?I do not think that anything really surprises me about uLI. As an industry organization, it is always at the top of its game with the industry’s best and brightest providing superb programs, ideas and market analysis.

INITIATIVES INTENDED TO INCREASE WALKABILITY IN PHOENIX:1. General Plan update that calls for creating a more vibrant downtown.2. ReinventPHX planning study that is modifying development requirements along the light rail line to create a more walkable environment.3. Infill development that focuses on adaptive reuse of existing buildings, along with underutilized or vacant parcels.4. Complete streets planning effort strives to transform appropriate street right-of-ways with more walkable amenities like shade canopies and trees.5. Bicycle pedestrian master plan will make it easier to bike to destinations throughout city.

— Ray Dovalina, City of Phoenix

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42 | November-December 2014

ULI

Deb Sydenham joined ULI Arizona as executive director in September 2010 after nearly 20 years with

the State of Arizona and nine years in the private sector. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and a member of the College of Fellows for the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP). In 2012, she was named as one of the 25 Most Admired CEOs in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and in 2014 was included in the inaugural group of the 20 Most Influential Women in commercial real estate. Her experience with local, regional and state governments and tribal communities serves as a solid foundation to moving the ULI mission forward.

Trends Day in Arizona will celebrate its 10-year anniversary this year. What is your fondest memory?As a ULI member, I attended a number of Trends Days and was continually amazed by the substantive content brought forth. As executive director, I have the incredible opportunity to work alongside vastly talented member volunteers in developing the Trends Day program ... ULI Arizona’s Trends Committee is invitation-only and represents a cross-section of land use and real estate interests. The overwhelming success of Trends Day 2014 posed an interesting challenge to the group: How do we top Trends 2014, deemed by all to have been the best Trends Day ever? You’ll have to join us on Jan. 28, as I have no doubt that the compelling program developed by this team is going to do just that!

What role will ULI take in solving one of the most important issues facing Arizona’s land use in 2015? It is clear we are surrounded by wholesale change. Several critical issues headline this change, but one in particular

is far-reaching — infrastructure. Infrastructure can be defined in a variety of ways – transportation, technology, utility, social, and so on – and leadership and implementation of new infrastructure frameworks can reposition communities not only from a competitive standpoint, but also how they enhance the quality of life for residents ... This vast infrastructure conundrum must be addressed and executed in the context of a multi-generational marketplace and changing demographic scenarios. ULI’s legacy is rooted in the sharing of best practices. The institute is widely-acclaimed as a neutral convener and safe haven where individuals engage in dialogue, analysis, and debate to review market trends, best practices and future challenges faced by communities globally. Facilitating collaborative conversations that result in teamwork and strategic action is a cornerstone of ULI Arizona and one of the spaces in which we continue to be most effective. The ULI Arizona Community Initiatives Committee ... has been exploring the unique facets and nuances of infrastructure within the Phoenix Metropolitan region ... There are no quick fixes to issues of this magnitude. Patience and deliberate action will enable business and community leaders to craft insightful and future-oriented strategies to forge better places. ULI will be the organization convening the conversation where this transformation takes place.

How is ULI sharing best practices between public and private sectors?After decades of what felt like infinite resources, we now face a mind set of shortages – especially financial ones. In the world of land use and real estate investment, the continual challenge is to understand new trends, capitalize on

new market opportunities and direct investment funds in strategic ways. Local governments and development interests are seeking ways to embrace flexibility – in regulatory environments, floor plates, target market demographics and location ... A strong public-private partnership goes well beyond the financial considerations of leveraging resources. This partnership must also involve open communication and collaboration – both of which are essential in today’s economy ... Communities statewide have reached out to ULI as a partner in convening meaningful dialogue and seeking solutions to local land use and development challenges ... ULI Arizona’s member and institute resources are positioned to navigate the transformational momentum being experienced throughout the Valley and form the partnerships that are a prerequisite for progress.

What’s a development issue you’d like to see discussed more in 2015?Leadership. Catalyzing the changes necessary to create vibrant and resilient communities is not for the weak at heart, especially as we continue to forge through uncertain markets.

Read elaborations on Deb's responses at azBIGmedia.com/azre

AN AGENTOF CHANGEBy AmANDA VeNturA

43

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4 4 | November-December 2014

ULI

Jim Belfiore, CEO and President of Belfiore Real Estate Consulting, has spent nearly a decade volunteering

to help high school students enrolled in economics classes understand the nuances of urban planning and development. In schools where UrbanPlan has been offered, enrollment in the class has “skyrocketed,” he says.

Of ULI’s 52 district councils, 15 have UrbanPlan programs. With the exception of a few councils with higher education partnerships, UrbanPlan is exclusively offered in high school curricula. Schools that offer the UrbanPlan program in their economics classes are Desert Vista and, most recently, Brophy Prep.

To put the impact into perspective, Desert Vista High School instructor Shannon Corcoran teaches the UrbanPlan curriculum to 250 students every semester. During the program, students work with classmates to create a redevelopment plan in response to an RFP and receive live feedback from a mock city council comprised of industry experts, such as Brett Heron, executive vice president of finance at RED Development. Heron is a seven-year volunteer.

“Growing up, none of my friends or family were in real estate, so I didn’t have much exposure to it,” he says. “I became interested when I took a class in college.”

He says a program like UrbanPlan

would have given him a better idea of different real estate disciplines and may have allowed him to focus more deeply on those areas during college.

“We continually receive feedback from the hundreds of Arizona students who have taken the program,” says Belfiore. “UrbanPlan changes their perception of the community they live in, increases their confidence, gets them involved in real estate and their communities, and many have told us the program was ‘the’ single-most valuable experience they have had in their years within the educational system.” ULI selects schools that have reputations for being high performing, says Jeff Mongan, senior vice president of The Athens Group, who has been with the program since it started and currently chairs the UrbanPlan Committee.

“This interaction provides the future leaders of our community an opportunity to gain a better understanding that high quality sustainable economic development and the built environment don’t happen by accident,” says Mongan. “Instead, it requires a team working together, collaborating with the local community to achieve a win-win result and enhance the community they live in.”

Last year, Mongan received a letter

from a college graduate who had participated in UrbanPlan six years earlier.

“He mentioned that participating in UrbanPlan … had a transformational effect on his thinking about his future and that it was foundational in terms of preparing him for the challenges of college and his ultimate career choice. That was special,” he says.

Shannon Corcoran, an economics instructor at Desert Vista High School, gets to hear about the program’s effect first-hand. She has seen students take what they learn in her class to careers in economics, marketing and business. Some have gone on to become city planners, involved in real estate, sales and design, she adds.

“I always tell my students UrbanPlan is the best practice for an interview they will ever have,” she says, adding, “Whether or not they end up in the field as a land use professional, they still have a greater understanding and willingness to participate in decisions within their own communities that impact land use decisions around them.”

Like Belfiore, Corcoran also gets goosebumps talking about UrbanPlan.

“One [moment] in particular was when I had a student who had no real plan for the future say to me ... I love this and I want to do this for my job,” she says. “That student is now at ASU getting a master's in real estate development.”

Live and Learn

By AmANDA VeNturA

Above: Jim Belfiore still gets goosebumps when he describes uLI Arizona’s urbanPlan to his peers.

46 | November-December 2014

ULI

Some professional organizations have the foresight to funnel resources into mentoring young leaders for

the sake of grooming the next generation of their respective industry as well as securing future involvement in the organization. According to ULI Arizona members, few organizations do it as well as the Partnership Forum. ULI Arizona's Partnership Forum pairs a mentor with about 10 professionals under the age of 35 and is one of the highly touted programs of its kind in the Valley with more than 120 participants.

Mentors commit three years to the program, receiving a new “class” of professionals each of those years. The young professionals, led by a group leader charged with coordinating meetings and project tours, meet at the beginning of the year to discuss industry and career issues they’d like to address. Monthly meetings and the program is largely led by each group’s collective goals.

Brian Rosella, vice president of Land Services at Cassidy Turley, has co-chaired ULI Arizona’s Partnership Forum for

eight years. Speaking from personal experience, he refers to the program as the “ jewel” for ULI and leadership in other facets of the organization. Since joining ULI and the Partnership Forum, he has traveled all over the country and to Canada for ULI-related meetings.

“I think it fills the need for young professionals in the land use and real estate industry who don’t have a mechanism or person in their organization who will give them training or mentorship, formally or informally,” says Rosella.

“The ULI Partnership Forum is the real deal, the mentors commit to really being there 24/7 for these younger leaders,” says Jordan Rose, the president and founder of Rose Law Group, who is in her second year of mentoring. She compares the program to Young Presidents’ Organization, calling it “the most successful peer leadership program in the world.”

“Arizona is the capital of real estate development and there are so many paths a hard-charging bright person can take to success,” Rose says. “The

mentorship program gives these emerging superstars the chance to really vet the various options that present themselves in a totally confidential setting with both the mentor and their peers, which leads to life-changing and, I hope, good decision making.”

Rose says the groups become close during their monthly meetings. Mentees in her group changed jobs, got married and had kids. When it came time for Rose to purchase the office building that houses her law firm, she hired one of her mentees, a financial analyst, to aid in the process. Rosella, too, has been mentored by clients, such as Everest Holding’s Joe Blackbourn and Paradigm Private Equity Holdings’ Steve LaTerra.

“I was also surprised by how open and honest my groups have been and how long-lasting friendships and business associations can be formed sometimes by and between competitors,” notes third-year mentor and Steve LaTerra.

As tends to be the case, the distinction between student and teacher can be a two-way street.

tHe extra milePartnership forum is not just another young leaders group

By AmANDA VeNturA

47

Partnership Forum members, guests and mentor, John Graham,

visit the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. Pictured, lef t

to right: John “Boots” Dunlap, rrA Companies; Chris Hundelt, Wespac Construction; erin mcInerney, reD

Development; Carl Perrone, Sunbelt Holdings; Stacey Haggerson, uLI;

todd Severson, Walton Development and management; Joe Compagno, CBre; C.e. Kaiser, ViaWest Group;

John Graham, Sunbelt Holdings; John Drowns, CBre; Justin

Goldblat t, midFirst Bank; Brendan mcCarthy, PS Business Parks.

When cities face complex land use and real estate issues amidst a

multitude of opinions and interests, ULI Arizona helps make experts in the industry available to provide strategic advice. Amy Malloy, senior development manager at Macerich, joined ULI Arizona’s Technical Assistance Panel (AzTAP) committee eight years ago after receiving AzTAP assistance for downtown redevelopment while working in Apache Junction.

Now, she’s on the other side of the program as the ULI Arizona AzTAP committee vice-chair and, along with other AzTAP committee members, works closely with different sponsor communities to coordinate one- to two-day panel programs that provide objective, nonpartisan guidance to local jurisdictions on specific development challenges. Interdisciplinary panel teams are chosen for their specific knowledge and the holistic examination that they provide to help resolve local issues.

“This is a rewarding program to be involved in giving back to Arizona municipalities,” Malloy says, adding, “I think ULI is just such a valuable organization to look critically and

intuitively at smart land use.”For the past four years, the Union

Pacific Building America Foundation has helped underwrite AzTAP costs enabling smaller communities to benefit for this resource. Interest for this program is souring statewide, ranging from rural counties dealing with open space preservation issues to small town central business districts and main street revitalization.

Malloy says it takes several months to prepare for an AzTAP, from developing briefing materials to picking the right panel of industry experts and working with local officials and stakeholders to define the scope of questions that will frame the panel discussion. The sponsor community prepares a briefing book of local economic and demographic information and often arranges a site tour to provide panelists on-the-ground perspective into local conditions.

“AzTAP panels are able to look critically at community problems,” she says. “Sometimes a panel offers back to basics strategies which can be a wake-up call, because we offer external perspectives that aren’t mired in local politics, the guidance can be

particularly effective.”This was evident in the Town of

Carefree. The day after the panel, the town formed a steering committee to begin implementing suggested changes.

“People sitting separately at the beginning of the day were now sitting together,” says Malloy. “The town manager was the unsung hero in all of this. He was trying his hardest to get these divergent interests in one direction. Fortunately, the AzTAP was the tool that helped bring people in line. The light bulb had gone off.”

Carefree Mayor David Schwan agrees.“The AzTAP program created energy

in both the town staff and the economic stakeholders in Carefree,” says Schwan. “Building owners, landlords, merchants and restaurant operators were all enthusiastic about the process of the AzTAP. The recommendations of the meeting are being used in a full-scale economic study of Carefree possibilities. In my view, the AzTAP was a critical first step to move forward with a sound plan for economic development in Carefree.”

—Amanda Ventura

TAPPED FOR SUCCESS

“Every year, I learn as much as the members, or more,” says DMB President and Partnership Forum mentor Charley Freericks. “The other benefit for me is the connection to our next generation of leaders. They are learning to work in a much different environment than the world that we grew up in and it’s an opportunity for me to learn about the tools they are using to be successful.”

Reflecting on one of the more surprising moments during his tenure as a mentor, Freericks says, “One of my favorites was when we had a group of Baby Boomers to the group and we had a great discussion on work ethics, habits, definitions of success, etc. It was the first time I saw the generational divide live.”

“I was thoroughly inspired by so many of the mentees’ drive to excellence,” says Rose. “Watching that reminded me that each day I can do better than the day before.”

Walton Development and Management Planning and Development Manager, Todd Severson, a second-year mentee and group leader, says the willingness of mentors to share their failings as openly as their successes has been surprising.

“Many elements of real estate cannot be taught in a classroom, but are better

learned through life experience,” says Severson, adding later, “[Mentors’ ups and downs of their personal careers and real estate ventures] are a reminder to us young professionals that a career is built out of successes and failures, giving us confidence to pursue all aspects of real estate.”

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