ULI Newsletter

ULI Richmond District Council • 2231 Oak Bay Lane, Richmond, VA 23233 • Phone 804.754.4466 • Fax 804.754.0801

Winter 2007Vol. 1, Issue 1

Zoning: Bliss or Bane?

NEWS

The May 9th luncheon held at the Country Club of Virginia was as entertaining as it was insightful. First, two guest speakers detailed challenges

faced while navigating through the planning stages for two large local mixed-use projects.

John Easter of Williams Mullen discussed the recent history of the making of the Watkins Centre project located at the intersection of Route 60 & Route 288 in Chesterfield County.

The initial groundwork and approval processes for HHHunt’s Wilton Farm development project on the east bank of the James River at Interstate 895 in eastern Henrico County were discussed by Jim Theobald of Hirschler Fleischer.

One or both of these speakers would satisfy the program portion of a typical ULI Richmond lunch meeting. This event, however, had only just begun as actors prepared to role play the awkward assignments given them for the entertainment soon to follow.

Have you ever wanted to be in the shoes of your professional adversary? A number of people had that opportunity, each delivering performances from their own perspectives – some with plenty of standup comedy along the way. This mock re-zoning hearing was choreographed by Tom Jacobson, Chesterfield County Director of Revitalization.

—continued on page 2

By George Nyfeler

Sustaining Sponsor SPOTLIGHTChicago Title Insurance CompanySouthern VA National Commercial CenterA National Business Unit and VA Direct Commercial Operation

The Richmond office of Chicago Title Insurance Company was very pleased to be the signature sponsor of ULI for 2006. They were very excited at the opportunity when it was presented to them to show support of such a forward thinking and intellectual organization.

The Richmond office of Chicago Title Insurance Company is a National Commercial Center that is your single source for commercial title insurance services. They bring you the underwriting experts, broad geographic coverage, staff and resources to bring your transaction to the closing table as quickly as possible. Chicago Title offers all the services you need for single-site, multi-site and multi-state transactions, equity participations, joint ventures, REITs, sale lease-backs and other complex transactions.

Chicago Title has been putting its seal of approval on real estate transactions for more than 150 years. They are now an independent member of the Fidelity National Financial organization, unquestionably the largest organization in the title insurance business. •

Luncheon attendees mingled prior to the presentation, held at the Country Club of Virginia.

One of the hallmarks of the Urban Land Institute is its commitment to bringing divergent viewpoints together to shed new light on old issues. One of the most illuminating events of the year was the May 9 program in ULI Richmond’s Changing Face of Virginia series, an event that turned out the be as entertaining as it was insighful...

Table discussions followed. Granting the rezoning request would be a departure from the established local comprehensive plan. To the delight of our public-sector guests present, nearly all tables rejected the proposed rezoning request.

One attendee commented, “A common theme exists between this fictional case and real zoning cases. NIMBYs are ever-present. Citizens never seem to want any

development near their homes and lobby government officials to stop or modify proposed land development projects. These cases often seem to be the same show on different dates and locations. What about the notion that each project is a creative and independent idea? If so, then one size won’t fit all.”

Thanks go to the willing participants in helping make the event fun! •

uli r ichmond NEWSLETTER | PAGE 2

continued from front page

Willliams Mullen partner Andy Condlin acted as public planner

Developer Bryce Powell acted as a wild-eyed citizen

Tom Jacobson, Director of Community Revitalization for Chesterfield County

Hirschler Fleischer Chairman Jim Theobald describes the Wilton Farms case

Willliams Mullen partner John Easter explains the Watkins Centre rezoning

Dr. John Moeser acts as an outspoken business advocate

Hanover Planning Commissioner Janet Binns acts as a property rights activist

President of HHHunt Communities Dan Schmitt acts as an affordable housing advocate

What about the notion that

each project is a creative

and independent idea? If so,

then one size won’t fit all.

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

THE CHANGING FACE OF VIRGINIA LUNCHEON SERIES:Zoning: Bliss or Bane.............................1

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Chicago Title..........................................1

The State of the Richmond Housing Market......................................3

Ettrick TAP Update ...............................5

Young Leader’s Corner ..........................5

Non-Profit, For-Profit Developer’s Forum.................................6

Jack R. “John” Marlles Memorial Sponsorship...........................7

A Glance Back at 2006..........................8

Coming Soon: Richmond’s Urban Marketplace Initiative.............................8

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:Karen Miller Campbell............................9

ULI Richmond Awarded Action Grant...........................................9

Waterfront Development: Former Pittsburgh Mayor challenges ULI Richmond audience to do it right!.........10

Noted Writer Alex Marshall on Global Competitiveness and Cities: ULI Richmond joins with the Richmond World Affairs Council...............................11

Collaborative Effort for Regional Vision Emerges: ULI Richmond leads formation of the Alliance for Quality Growth – Richmond Region.................................12

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) hosts ULI National Advisory Panel......................................13

ULI Richmond receives EPA/ULI National support for its Alliance for Quality Growth effort...........................13


Knowledgeable speakers addressed the state of the housing market from national and local perspectives at a ULI-Richmond luncheon on October 3rd at the Country Club of Virginia.

Chris Chmura of Chmura Economics & Analytics displayed statistics indicating that Metro-Washington, D.C. is clearly experiencing a housing industry recession. The Richmond area housing market, however, is merely softening. She also gave an interesting presentation of economic metrics that portray a stable national economy, some of which were that the U.S. annual gross domestic product continues to remain in a healthy range of 2.8 to 3.4 percent and that the Federal Reserve Board appears to be satisfied with leaving current interest rates alone for the foreseeable future.

One significant risk factor to the stability of the national economy would be if oil prices rose dramatically. Locally, there is always the risk of a slowing housing market dropping off faster than anticipated.

Tom Tyler of Integra Realty Resources-Richmond presented data showing new trends in the character of local building activity. Defining the region as being the City of Richmond along with the Counties of Goochland, Powhatan, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, New Kent and Charles City, single family construction fell from 91% to 79% of market share over the period from 2003 to 2006. Townhouse construction market share over the same period doubled from 6% to 12% and condominium construction tripled, rising from 3% to 9%.

Significant condominium and townhouse construction has been appearing in suburban locations. Contributing to this trend was the dramatic increase in single-family home sales prices over the last five years. From 2001 to 2006 the number of suburban home sales closing under $200,000 fell from 57% of those sales to a meager 10%.

Furthermore, Mr. Tyler pointed out that rural counties are experiencing a high percentage of new home closings compared with existing home closings in the same jurisdiction. In the year ending June 2006, new home closings, as a

percentage of the sum of new and existing home closings within the same jurisdiction, were Goochland at 38%, New Kent at 34%, Powhatan at 32%, Chesterfield at 29%, Henrico at 23%, Hanover at 22%, Charles City at 17% and the City of Richmond at 11%. The sources of these numbers come from the Central Virginia MLS and Integra Realty Resources-Richmond.

Both Ms. Chmura and Mr. Tyler indicated that the new market is putting buyers in better negotiating positions.

Following speaker presentations, a panel of local industry professionals commented on their understanding of current and future Richmond area market conditions. Thanks go out to Bill Barnett, Senior Vice President/ Partner, Commonwealth Commercial Partners, Clem Carlisle, Senior Vice President, East West Partners of Virginia, Inc. and Barry Musselman Senior Vice President, Real Estate Services, Wachovia Bank for sharing their insights.

After the event, Director of Government Affairs for the Home Builders Association of Richmond, Tyler Craddock, described the Richmond building situation like this: “You are barreling down the highway at 90 mph, then you slow down to 65 mph. At 65 mph, you are still moving at a brisk pace, although your previous speed makes changes seem more drastic than they really are.”

Cautious optimism and comfort from knowing Richmond’s long history of housing market stability were recurring themes. •

The State of the Richmond Housing MarketBy George Nyfeler

Ten-Year Annual New Home Closings and Average Pricesin Suburban Richmond by QuarterSource: Integra Realty Resources-Richmond


ULI Richmond Leadership 2006-2007

CHAIR John Grier, Trammell Crow Residential

VICE-CHAIRChris Corrada, East West Partners of Virginia

DISTRICT COUNCIL COORDINATORRobin Morrison, ULI Richmond

PROGRAMSKristen Heckman, Chicago TitleJohn Nolde, Nolde Commercial Real Estate

TECHNICAL ADVISORY PANELSLaura Lee Garrett, McCondlish Holton, P.C.

YOUNG LEADERSRyan Fanelli, Ryan HomesTeri Klug (Advisor), Commonwealth Architects

MEMBERSHIPLinda Smith, Landmark Design GroupTom Jacobson, Chesterfield County

OUTREACHCosta Canovas, VHDAMonique Johnson, VHDA

SPONSORSHIPTim Davey, Timmons GroupBrett Womack, Divaris Real Estate

COMMUNICATIONSGeorge Nyfeler, McCrone, Inc.

Newsletter CommitteeEDITOR

George NyfelerMcCrone, Inc.

LAYOUT & DESIGNJessica Bankston

D.O. Allen Homes, Inc.

From The Chair: Putting the “You” in ULI

Wow! That is what comes to mind as I glance at all the activities covered in this newsletter - clearly, ULI Richmond is making a difference in our community, and we are looking forward to the year ahead for

even greater impact. Perhaps what is even more remarkable is that all of these activities are initiated and implemented by volunteers, all local members acting to enhance our neighborhoods and our region by undertaking efforts such as facilitating forums and worksessions, offering programs on trends and best practices to enhance our businesses, or mentoring the younger folks entering the various professions represented within ULI.

Throughout this newsletter, you will see updates on new initiatives, and the leaders behind them. While some of these leaders are drawn from our the ranks of our more “seasoned” members that have a long familiarity with ULI, its mission, its ethics, and how to

make things happen within the organization, we are also blessed with an emerging group of Young Leaders that are stepping in and stepping up, to bring new commitment, new ideas, and new energy to our committees and initiatives.

In the process, these Young Leaders are demonstrating that while the national organization is a vast enterprise with tremendous knowledge and leadership resources at the national level, the local District Council offers a framework within which every member new or old can find, perhaps even create, a leadership role based on their own particular interests. This framework gives all of our members an opportunity to volunteer and make a meaningful difference in our community through ULI Richmond, while at the same time contributing to their own professional development.

This concept is best demonstrated by noting just a few of the members that have emerged in the past year to carry out past efforts or take on new initiatives. Specifically, I would like to recognize and offer thanks to Laura Lee Garrett for her leadership with the Technical Advisory Program (TAP) and its successful execution of a TAP this year, with Adena Patterson’s editorial support for the published results; Dave Smith and Tom Jacobson for their leadership in the Alliance effort; the new duo in Programs Kristen Heckman and John Nolde, Jr., together with Jessica Bankston’s work on the outstanding program flyers; Tim Davey and Brett Womack for leading the Sponsorship effort; Karen Miller, and her strong successors Monique Johnson and Costa Canovas in Outreach for the development of new revitalization initiatives; and for establishing one of our most dramatic growth areas this past year, Teri Klug and Ryan Fanelli with the Young Leaders group. And of course, with this newsletter, the folks involved, led by George Nyfeler, are setting a high standard for communicating all the many activities of ULI Richmond. Look for much more from those folks in the months ahead!

So, yes, it’s clear, we had a great 2006 as far as serving our community in new ways, and offering professional development and networking opportunities to our members, but there is more to be done. Each of you has something to offer, some idea to advance, something to contribute that will help shape the initiatives and programs of ULI Richmond. Please follow those that stepped up in the past year, and let us know your ideas, and how you can join us in our efforts in the year ahead. •

John GrierChairpersonULI Richmond District Council


Ryan Fanelli

Young Leader’s CornerAt the beginning of June, Teri Klug, Business Development Manager for Commonwealth Architects, stepped down as Chairperson of the Young Leader’s Group (YLG) and was succeeded by Ryan Fanelli. Ryan will oversee YLG’s various social and educational programs. Ryan is a land manager with Ryan Homes.

Teri Klug has been involved with YLG since its inception two years ago. She has been instrumental in making Richmond’s Young Leader’s Group a success, and will continue to be involved in ULI Richmond. Also look for Lee Alford of Monroe Properties, who is an active member of Young Leaders and continues to assume more leadership responsibility.

Ettrick Area TAP Update

Part of ULI’s community outreach program is to offer professional services to evaluate specific issues. One of those programs is ULI’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP). A TAP session is usually one day long and brings

together experts in the real estate and development industry to deal with three to four well defined questions related to a land use issue. The TAP is staffed by local ULI members and expenses are covered by the sponsor or contracting entity. Briefing books are provided to the TAP panel members prior to the TAP and a written report of the findings follows one to three months following the event.

On August 9, 2006, five real estate and business experts were brought together to answer three questions related the type of uses and potential development along Chesterfield Avenue in Ettrick. The panel members were: Diane S. Akers, CPA, CEcD (ComBiz Solutions and the Blacksburg Partnership); David Anderson, P.E. (Timmons Group); Benjamin B. Cummings, Jr. (Millennium Retail Partners, LLC); Richard L. Ford, Jr., AIA (Commonwealth Architects), and Brett Womack, CCIM, CPM (Divaris Real Estate).

Virginia State University (“VSU”) is located within Ettrick. Ettrick is a local community within Chesterfield County, but is not a separate governmental jurisdiction. While VSU continues to grow and improve its campus, it also faces geographic limitations. Currently there are also limited support services for the University provided within the Ettrick community. As part of VSU’s Strategic Plan and Visionary process, the University and the County of Chesterfield requested a TAP to evaluate what services might be needed to support VSU students, faculty, and employees while supporting and reinvigorating businesses in Ettrick. As part of the University’s long

term development and growth, the TAP also evaluated the physical relationship of Ettrick to VSU and what improvements could be made to enhance the relationship between the University and the Ettrick community.

The event was supported by ULI Richmond – District Council and coordinated by the local TAP committee. Assistance to the committee was given by additional Richmond District ULI members, as well as a number of employees of Virginia State University and Chesterfield County. At the end of the day, the sponsors and various stakeholders were invited to a presentation of the panel’s findings and recommendations. Questions and comments from approximately forty attendees followed the briefing of the findings.

If your locality would like to know more about the Technical Assistance Program, please contact Laura Lee Garrett, Chairman of the ULI Richmond TAP committee at [email protected] or her McCandlish Holton, PC office phone 804-775-3897. •

By Laura Lee GarrettEdited by George Nyfeler

From The Chair: Putting the “You” in ULI


Earlier this year, ULI Richmond was the recipient of a Community Action Grant to fund a half-day workshop bringing together 60 players from local government, for-profit developers, non-profit organizations and

others interested in the challenging process encountered when redeveloping some older neighborhoods and communities.

ULI/J. Ronald Terwilliger Chair for Housing, John MacIlwain, came down from Washington, D.C. to facilitate the event held at the Richmond office of the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

Attendees were assigned tables and tasks for breakout sessions involving problem solving and then reporting on identified issues and potential solutions to the rest of the group. Topics addressed were: forming partnerships, development strategies, financing, creating

mixed-use/mixed income developments, inner suburb revitalization and property acquisition.

Over lunch, Laura Lafayette, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & MLS Richmond Association of Realtors, updated the group on the Mayor’s Inter-Agency Task Force on Community Infrastructure for the City of Richmond. Also speaking were the City of Richmond’s Rachel Flynn, Director of Community Development, covering the new mixed-use zoning ordinances and Art Dahlberg, Commissioner of Buildings, discussing his upgrading policy for code enforcement and streamlining of the construction permitting process in Richmond.

Non-Profit, For-Profit Developers ForumBy George Nyfeler

Group Leaders for the day:• Robin Miller – Miller & Associates• Chris Corrada – East West Partners• Glen Hudson – LISC• Anthony Scott – RRHA• Tom Jacobson – Chesterfield County• Ron Stallings – Walker Row Partnership• Lee Householder - RRHA

Key partner organizations:• Chesterfield County Department of Community Revitalization• Virginia Commonwealth University, Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs Planning Department• East West Partners• Better Housing Coalition• Richmond LISC

Many thanks go to the ULI-Richmond Outreach Committee members who organized the event: Monique Johnson - VHDA, Costa Canavos - VHDA, Eric Leabough - RRHA and Karen Miller Campbell - ULI community volunteer & contact person for the Action Grant. •

Four members of the ULI Executive Committee, John Grier, Chris Corrada, Linda Smith, and Teri Klug attended ULI National’s summer leadership event in Washington, D.C. in August. For three days, the participants from district councils across the country shared innovative ideas and best practices.

While there was a lot of focus on the core activities of district councils, such as developing programs and establishing stable sponsorship efforts, ULI Richmond had the opportunity to share its knowledge on two areas where it is among the forefront: establishing regional alliances to advance quality and sustainable growth (see more about the founding of Richmond’s Quality Growth Alliance, page 12; and fostering dialogue among a region’s for-profit and non-profit development enterprises to brainstorm on how partnerships might emerge to advance a region’s revitalization and affordable housing objectives (see more about Richmond’s fall housing forum, page 3.

The participants were also among the first to hear of efforts to update ULI’s mission statement, as ULI National Chair Marilyn Taylor shared the elements of National’s strategic plan for the year. The updated mission statement is intended to reflect the reality that both the national organization and the district councils are pursuing increasingly in-depth and intensive efforts to positively address a wide-spectrum of quality of life issues throughout the regions of the world. Look for further news on the mission statement update in the next ULI Richmond newsletter. •

ULI Richmond Executive Committee well-represented at ULI National Leadership Event

Rachel FlynnJohn MacIlwain


ULI Richmond has joined with the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association (VAPA) and Virginia Commonwealth University to establish a scholarship fund in memory of John Marlles, honoring his lifetime of work in urban planning and revitalization.

John was a 1983 graduate of the Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning Program (MURP) in VCU, and upon full funding, annual scholarship awards will be made to a leading student in that program.

John was an active contributor to ULI Richmond, serving on the Membership Committee and sharing his expertise at various breakfast and luncheon programs. In his professional life, John was known throughout the Commonwealth for his exceptional leadership in a variety of public agencies in Virginia. He came to Richmond in 1979 to work for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, where he led the introduction and implementation of the Virginia Main Street Program. In 1987, he moved on to Roanoke to lead that city’s Department of Planning and Community Development, where his push for the revitalization of downtown included the ultimate preservation and rebirth of the Hotel Roanoke.

Many of us in Richmond got to know John professionally in his role leading the Planning Department in Henrico County from 1998 to 2004, however, to simply associate John with guiding the high quality growth evident today in western Henrico would be to overlook that theme that ran throughout his life, that confidence that with a little push, a little team work, and a lot of persistence, things can be better. It may be hard work, but things can be better.

Consistent with his innovation with the Main Street and Enterprise Zone programs, John applied his keen eye to strategically examine the changes and challenges that were becoming apparent in Henrico’s older suburban neighborhoods, and began to raise the profile of those issues to the County leadership. Rather than allow these issues to be addressed as a sideline within the larger Planning Department’s mission, John planted and nurtured the seeds that grew to the eventual establishment of a new Department of Community Revitalization, and he left his position in the Planning Department to head up this new initiative.

John Marlles passed away on September 20, 2005. In all that he did, John was best known for his humility and generosity of spirit. We honor John for his tireless dedication to serve all residents, all neighborhoods, in the communities in which he served, and for that extra effort required to bring new ideas, and strategies, to organizations where leading change is often difficult.

Please join ULI Richmond in sustaining the lessons that John’s life brought to us, by supporting our next generation as they study the emerging trends in this region. Please complete the form to the right and mail to:

VCU College of Humanities & SciencesAttn: Director of Development

P.O. Box 842019Richmond, VA 23284-2019

Or, you may make a secure gift online at www.vcuf.org/ donations/ egiving _center.html. Please reference the “J. Marlles Scholarship” when doing so. In the next newsletter, we would like to recognize those ULI members that help us achieve our goal of full-funding of the scholarship, so please make your contributions as early as possible in the next 30 days. •

Announcing the Jack R. “John” Marlles Memorial Scholarship

Marlles ScholarshipGift Form

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

Phone Number

E-mail Address

I would like to contribute in the following way:

• My gift of $ ______ is enclosed in the form of a check.

• My gift of $ ______ is in the form of a pledge to paid: ___ Quarterly

___ Semi-Annually

___ Annually

No. of Payments ____ to begin ___________. (mo./year)

• Please charge/debit my gift of $______ to the following:

____ Visa ____ Mastercard ____ Amex

Name (as it appears on card)

Account Number

Expiration Date

Signature

Your contribution is greatly appreciated!


COMING SOON:ULI Richmond’s Urban Marketplace InitiativeULI Richmond’s Community Outreach Committee, headed by Costa Conovas and Monique Johnson, has announced the formation of a workgroup to hold a Richmond Region Urban Marketplace, tentatively set for May 2007. The theme for this event will be “Make a Deal, Make a Difference”.

Urban Marketplace will evolve to be an annual conference to showcase and promote investment opportunities and development strategies for urban and inner-ring suburban neighborhoods and business districts that are in transition. This will be the premier event for public sector officials, finance professionals, real estate brokers, for-profit developers, non-profit development organizations, and all other participants in the development process to come together and find profitable and rewarding ways to take advantage of these opportunities. The Urban Marketplace concept was initiated by ULI Los Angeles, and similar events, with a high degree of impact, have

been held by ULI Atlanta, ULI Houston, and ULI St. Louis.

This is a significant, major undertaking for ULI Richmond, and as such, it is a great opportunity for members to participate in an effort that will be both highly visible and highly meaningful for participants and attendees. All members interested in the issues, opportunities and strategies for promoting, fostering, or undertaking infill, revitalization, and/or redevelopment projects are encouraged to contribute to this effort, and we particularly encourage those that would like to showcase particular past development projects or specific future opportunities to join the workgroup early. This will also be an outstanding opportunity for those of you that serve the development community, such as financial services, design, and real estate brokerage professionals, to showcase your firm’s services and opportunities. For more information, please contact Costa at (804) 343-5735 or Monique at (804) 343-5992. •

ULI Richmond was pleased to carry out the following slate of activities this past year. A heartfelt thanks is offered to all of you that attended, participated, and of course, provided financial sup-port for these events and activities:

JANUARY• Young Leaders Event: Understanding Legislative Policies

FEBRUARY• Changing Face of Virginia Series: Capital Markets Review

MARCH• National ULI Advisory Services Panel: Jackson Place & N. Jackson Ward• Young Leaders Event: Rockett’s Landing

APRIL• Young Leaders Event

MAY• Young Leaders Event: Urban Renewal at the Manchester District’s Corrugated Box Building• Changing Face of Virginia Series: Zoning: Bliss or Bane• Establishment of John Marlles Scholarship Fund

JULY• Alliance for Quality Growth: Official Formation with Initial Board Meeting

AUGUST• Young Leaders Event: West Broad Village• Technical Advisory Panel – Ettrick Area, Chesterfield County• Executive Committee Participates at ULI National Leadership Event• Young Leaders Event

SEPTEMBER• Young Leaders Event: Case Study – Refinancing the Wilton Retail Portfolio

OCTOBER• Changing Face of Virginia Series: Richmond Metro Housing Market• Housing Partnership Forum: For-Profit and Non-Profit Development Partnerships

NOVEMBER• Young Leaders Event: Breaking into Real Estate Development – Darden School, UVa• Changing Face of Virginia Series: Waterfront Development – Doing it Right

DECEMBER• Holiday Reception with Mayor Wilder, at Richmond’s Historic Main Street Station• Joint Program with the World Affairs Council: Cities and Global Competitiveness

A Glance Back At 2006


Member Spotlight: Karen Miller CampbellFrom time to time, we will recognize members of the ULI community that have stepped up and worked tirelessly to advance ULI’s mission in the community. At this time, we would like to tell you about ULI member Karen Miller Campbell.

Karen has recently “retired” from her role as the founding vice-chair of ULI Richmond’s Outreach Committee. In this role, Karen exhibited the same forceful drive as she demonstrated in her professional career. Trained in architecture at Virginia Tech, Karen applied her skills in the private sector, including a stint with award-winning developer HHHunt here in metro Richmond, but her mission-driven outlook was clear in her subsequent work with the Better Housing Coalition, where she made a name for herself in her contribution to the success of the Coalition’s Winchester Greens community. Winchester Greens has been nationally-recognized as a landmark revitalization project, demonstrating that a thriving, mixed-income community can emerge within an inner-ring suburb facing serious challenges from blight. After four years, Karen moved to the public sector,

joining Tom Jacobson in his newly formed Department of Revitalization in Chesterfield County.

In Karen’s outreach role with ULI Richmond, she built bridges between the private sector members of ULI and the local non-profit housing and community development organizations. Her first high-profile project was not only a break-thru at the local level, but also recognized nationally as an innovation. In this project, Karen brought for-profit and non-profit developers and financiers drawn from the ULI Chicago District Council, to Richmond so share their efforts to build partnerships between the non-profit and for-profit sectors. That event was anchored by a dinner meeting, where then Lt.Gov. Kaine inspired our out-of-town guests with his background fighting for fair-housing. The next day brought further discussions and tours where the ULI Chicago group spent the day helping representatives from our for-profit and non-profit development community see the many opportunities in our city through new eyes.

Karen also spearheaded the effort to bring the John Marlles memorial scholarship to fruition, while also leading ULI Richmond to successfully apply for and receive a major grant for further discussions of partnerships among the for-profit and non-profit development community here in Richmond. That effort resulted in last fall’s Housing forum (see page 3), with the research of that forum serving as the springboard for the upcoming Urban Marketplace (see page 8).

After giving so much to revitalization efforts in our community, both professionally and thru her involvement in ULI Richmond, Karen has turned her focus to her own household, and has handed the reigns of the Outreach Committee over to two able successors, Costa Canovas and Monique Johnson, both of VHDA. We thank Karen for her creativity and commitment in establishing a strong and lasting role for the Outreach Committee, and wish her much success in her future endeavors. •

Karen Miller Campbell leads Congressman Randy Forbes on a tour of Winchester Greens

ULI Richmond was honored this past summer to be selected to receive a ULI Community Action Grant from the Urban Land Institute Foundation. ULI Richmond was one of four Action Grant recipients, out of 23 applications from District Councils around the country for the second round of competition in FY 2006. The grant, in the amount of $10,000, supported ULI Richmond’s initiative to develop and host a forum and worksession designed to foster collaborative thinking among and between the for-profit and non-profit development communities. The effort to compete for this grant was led by Karen Miller Campbell. For more information on this forum, see page 6.

The ULI Foundation supports the mission of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) by providing an assured source of funding for ULI’s core research, education, and public service activities and for a variety of special initiatives. Through its various giving programs, the Foundation helps to strengthen ULI’s ability to provide responsible leadership in the use of land to enhance the total environment. The ULI Foundation funds ULI programs in the following areas: action grants, research, public service and education. •

ULI Richmond Awarded Action Grant


On November 21, former Pittsburgh Mayor Thomas Murphy brought the story of Pittsburgh’s riverfront revival to Richmond, as the leading presentation in ULI Richmond’s November edition of the Changing

Face of Virginia Series. The program offered a discussion of waterfront development strategies and a review of what is going on along our region’s waterfronts. Murphy, a Senior Fellow at ULI National, was joined by Jim Constantine of Looney Ricks Kiss (LRK) for a review of other national case studies; David Canada, City Manager of Petersburg, for an update of that city’s Appomattox riverfront initiative; Andy Condlin of Williams Mullen to review Henrico County’s approach to planning along the James River; and Rachel Flynn, Richmond’s Director of Community Development, to review the vision for the Downtown riverfront.

Mr. Murphy led off with a review of the evolution of Pittsburgh’s waterfront from an area dominated by industry, with minimal public access, to today’s stunning situation where the waterfront is an amenity serving residents throughout the region. His tale of hard-fought battles in his effort to maintain public access along the waterfront, including his face off with the Steelers that resulted in the team’s practice fields being shortened to 80 yards so that public access could be preserved around the fields, offered a lesson that doing what is right can be difficult, but with steadfast commitment it is achievable.

Mr. Constantine reviewed some of his firm’s work from throughout the country, and noted that the concept of preserving public access along the waterfront is a good one, and that finding ways to bring residential uses to the edge of the public space is a great way to reap the value

of waterfront views through high-value residential tax base, while also creating a critical mass of people that will activate the public spaces along the waterfront, making it more welcoming to all users of the waterfront.

Mr. Canada described in great detail his city’s efforts to get the Appomattox dredged to allow renewed boat access to the downtown area. He also reviewed the already increased development activity underway in Petersburg, attributing it in part to the availability of relatively modest-priced land in close proximity to the historic district and waterfront.

Mr. Condlin reviewed the various development projects that are underway along the riverfront in eastern Henrico, including Rocketts Landing, Tree Hill Farm, Wilton Farm, and Curles Neck Farm, and he described how the county anticipates a mix of public parkland and private open spaces along the waterfront. Two items of note were the new road intended to run parallel to Route 5 to help accommodate traffic needs along the riverfront, and the Capital to Capital Trail, a recreational trail that will run from Richmond to Williamsburg, with a substantial portion envisioned to run along the James as it extends out of downtown Richmond.

Ms. Flynn reviewed the history of Richmond’s relationship to the riverfront, describing how like Pittsburgh, Richmond’s riverfront was the base of industry and commerce until relatively recent times. Ms. Flynn led the audience through a comprehensive inventory of the remarkably rich and diverse uses and experiences that Richmond offers along its waterfront, but noted that the challenges of creating a cohesive sense of place along the riverfront, and fostering stronger urban design connections and better public access from the core of Downtown, still remain to be addressed in the years ahead.

Mr. Murphy concluded with a commentary that the challenges Ms. Flynn left on the table are not unusual, and that with commitment, like the level manifested in Pittsburgh, they can be overcome. His closing comments put the pressure on the audience to not leave doing the “right thing” to just the local government, by calling out to each of us to impress upon our leaders that there is no other option.

In addition to the placement of activity generators like sports facilities along the waterfront, a key principle in Pittsburgh’s success was to hold fast to the concept that there should be public access along the entire downtown waterfront, to serve as a component of Pittsburgh’s “Green Necklace” of recreational space. •

Waterfront Development: Former Pittsburgh Mayor challenges ULI Richmond audience to do it right!

...finding ways to bring residential uses to the edge of the public space is a great way to reap the value of waterfront views...

Pittsburgh skyline


On December 7, ULI Richmond joined with the World Affairs Council to present noted writer Alex Marshall at the Richmond Federal Reserve. Mr. Marshall, a fellow at the noted Regional Plan

Association in New York and a prolific writer on the design and economies of cities, offered the audience a review of key factors for cities to consider as they try to position themselves to compete in the global economy. Marshall’s commentary offered three projects as examples of the principles that should guide cities (and regions) in their effort to stake their claim in the global economy.

In citing the Erie Canal, begun in 1820, Mr. Marshall pointed out that this is an example of the principle of “looking beyond today” and doing whatever it takes to put the right investments in place for the future. At the time that this improvement was started, the budget was beyond any infrastructure effort up to that point, but was justified by the proponents as being essential to position the New York region as a gateway to the world, while supporting the development of the interior of that portion of the country. Marshall asserted that the measure of the “correctness” of this investment is obvious, as the canal made New York harbor important, resulting in New York City as a city unparalleled in its global position in the world economy.

The next example cited by Marshall was the decision of North Carolina leaders in 1956 to create the Research Triangle Park around the university infrastructure of Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. He described this as an example of the “grow your garden” approach. The leaders in that area recognized that the “production” of college graduates was an asset that could be leveraged to create a one-of-a-kind critical mass of technology jobs, that would, in turn, make the universities more attractive to the “best and the brightest” students in the years ahead.

Finally, Marshall noted the efforts of Bilboa, Spain, to create a distinctive identity for itself. He began by pointing out the well-known symbol of that city, its free-form metal clad Guggenheim Museum. Marshall pointed out, however, that this single building, although gaining worldwide notoriety for the city, was actually just one part of a consistent effort to position the city as a center of art, culture, and livibility. Thus, the lesson is not to build a single cool building as the path to success, but rather, make all of your investments internally consistent to an

overall theme, or plan to create a distinctive identify throughout the city.

In closing, Mr. Marshall also touched on “what not to do”, with the particular emphasis to the principles of “do not follow the

herd”, which translates to do not go out and get a “thing” or a “ building” or other project for your city, just because some other city did that project and it worked for them. In essence, copy cat strategies rarely succeed, and the best investments are those that are tailored to what the city or region can do to be different than the rest.

Following Mr. Marshall’s presentation, thoughtful commentary was provided by a panel consisting of Richmond business leader Jim Ukrop, Garland Pollard of Virginia Living magazine, and former Secretary

of Transportation Whitt Clement. All of the panelists spoke of the tendency in our region to drift toward a copycat mentality, but also noted that this tendency is tempered by the equally dysfunctional tendency of our region to avoid investing in public facilities and infrastructure. •

Noted Writer Alex Marshall on Global Competitiveness and Cities: ULI Richmond joins with the Richmond World Affairs Council

Alex Marshall offers wisdom on how to position Richmond to be competitive in the global marketplace, as Jim Ukrop listens attentively.

Marshall suggests Richmond is well positioned to take advantage of the eventual melding of the Piedmont Atlantic mega-region (Atlanta to Raleigh) and the Northeast mega-region (graphic: Regional Plan Association)


In July, a diverse group of stakeholders came together to form an organization dedicated to foster open and honest dialogue on the growth issues facing our community, and to use that dialogue to reach broad community consensus on how best to address those issues.

The initial genesis of the alliance concept was an outgrowth of discussions started by ULI Richmond member Gary Fenchuk, together with others, including ULI Richmond members Kim Tingley and John Cogbill. The discussions eventually evolved into a steering committee made up of a variety of stakeholders in the growth debate, including groups that normally hold opposing views on growth management principles. Based on ULI’s reputation as a fair and balanced “middle ground” resource, ULI Richmond was tasked as the convenor of the effort, and Dave Smith assumed the leadership role of the steering committee. Other organizations represented included the The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Richmond Association of Realtors, the Homebuilders Association of Richmond, the James River Association, and the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce. The committee was able to draw on the expertise of Suzanne Cartwright from ULI National, and a work plan was established to gauge the interest of the broader Richmond community in establishing a formal alliance effort to lead collective visioning and collaboration of growth issues.

On May 18, 2005, approximately 60 invited leaders, some of which came to the table with extremely divergent viewpoints about how our region should grow, spent the day learning the facts about the growth pressures our region will face, and discussing the future of the Richmond region. After gaining a common understanding of the trends, the participants ended the day with far more commonality than differences about the key actions that need to be taken. The common themes that emerged were generally summarized as the need for:

1. maintaining and enhancing the quality of life of the area,

2. providing opportunity for all area citizens, and

3. preserving the history, beauty, and uniqueness of the region.

A second leadership forum was held on October 26, 2005, where the participants heard about how other communities are addressing their growth issues, and concluded that there should be a new organization formed to serve as the instigator and forum for a series of even broader discussions on the growth issues, with the intended product of those efforts a widespread consensus of how our region should

grow to preserve and enhance our region’s quality of life. In addition to the commitment to forming and supporting an alliance to foster these discussions, a second product of this forum was a commitment by the participants as to how the discussions should be undertaken, to ensure that the participants can move from opposing viewpoints to a collective vision for the future. These values will require participants to come to the debate in a mindset that is honest, inclusive, respectful, action-oriented, with a sense of urgency, and with candor. Participants also debated and recommended draft quality growth principles that could serve as a guide for how our region’s growth should occur in the years ahead.

The steering committee took this charge forward, and incorporated the Alliance, with the following mission:

“To achieve positive change in the growth and land use practices of the Richmond Region through education, partnership, and action”

ULI Richmond has committed to playing a leadership role in this new organization, and members will continue to be kept up to date on this initiative in this newsletter. What does this leadership commitment mean for ULI Richmond and its members? As an organization, ULI will offer support for, and participation in, the regional forums and educational efforts to be offered by the Alliance in the months ahead. In the long run, we can anticipate ULI Richmond being called upon to offer facilitation of working groups to resolve specific issues or develop strategic polices, perhaps through Technical Advisory Panels. For individual members, as the Alliance evolves, as additional forums are held, as special studies and TAPs are formed, the Alliance will be seeking the skills, talents and wisdom for which the ULI membership is known. For more information on the Alliance effort, please contact Robin Morrison, ULI Richmond Coordinator at [email protected]. •

Collaborative Effort for Regional Vision Emerges: ULI Richmond leads formation of the Alliance for Quality Growth – Richmond RegionBy John Grier

Richmond Canal Walk


Following a request by the RRHA, in March 2006 an Advisory Panel was convened by ULI National in Richmond. The panel, consisting of distinguished panel of urban planning experts and real estate practitioners drawn from other markets in the country, undertook three days of study, then presented its recommendations for the potential future development of the Jackson Place Redevelopment area and North Jackson Ward in the city of Richmond.

The primary focus of the panel was the Jackson Place area, a 65 acre area bounded on the north by Duval Street and Interstate 95/64, the south by Jackson Street, the east by North 3rd Street and the west by Chamberlayne Parkway, which includes the currently vacant properties on its eastern end, as well as the Jackson Commons area currently undergoing development by a joint venture of Walker Row Partnership and Monroe Properties. The panel also considered the area north of the Interstate, consisting of North Jackson Ward and Gilpin Court.

As part of the RRHA’s Strategic Plan, the agency had determined it will advance redevelopment of this area in partnership with the city of Richmond. The advisory panel’s planning recommendations included specific action items that can be used by the city and the RRHA to advance the revitalization of the area. ULI Richmond member Tim Davey

was instrumental in helping the RRHA formulate the proposal and background briefing material for the Advisory Panel.

“We are excited about the recommendations of the panel,” noted Sheila Hill-Christian, RRHA Executive Director at the time. She continued, “Their findings and strategies complement our interest for a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use community for the Gilpin Court and Jackson Ward neighborhoods. Going forward, we will prepare to engage the Gilpin Court community, the city of Richmond, our elected officials and other partners to develop a successful revitalization plan for the future of this historic and important area for the city.” •

Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) hosts ULI National Advisory Panel

ULI Richmond, as the initial convenor and founding member of the Alliance for Quality Growth - Richmond Region, was awarded a grant through the joint initiative of the Environmental Protection Agency and ULI National to foster the emergence of smart growth alliances in selected regions around the country.

This grant is part of ULI National’s continued effort to work through and with local District Councils to form alliances, where diverse stakeholders can work in through the civic and political stalemates that often result when communities examine how best to support economic growth, accommodate a wide range of housing choices, enhance community livability, and protect the environment.

According to ULI President Richard M. Rosan, the Environmental Protection Agency’s funding for ULI’s growing network of active and emerging smart growth alliances is an extension of the federal agency’s ongoing support of the Institute’s overall smart growth effort.

The grants were awarded in two categories. In the category of District

Councils with existing smart growth alliance programs, recipients in this category were ULI Atlanta, ULI Orlando, ULI Philadelphia, and ULI Washington. These District Councils were awarded $1500 to help them mentor new alliance efforts in other regions.

A second category consisted of District Councils that had strong potential to foster regional collaboration on smart growth activities. ULI Richmond’s grant was awarded in this category, to support its continued efforts in the formation and implementation of our region’s Alliance for Quality Growth. The grant was for $5,000, and ULI Richmond joins ULI Colorado, ULI Seattle, and ULI Southeast Florida as recipients in this category. ULI Richmond is grateful for the EPA/ULI National support and recognition of our effort, and for the opportunity for ULI Richmond and its members to participate in the Alliance as it seeks to promote civic engagement in the discussions on our region’s future.

For more info on the Alliance for Quality Growth – Richmond Region, see the related article on page 12. •

ULI Richmond receives EPA/ULI National support for its Alliance for Quality Growth effort


New Members (January - November 2006)John Arehart, III, Countryside Service CompanyKevin T. Barnes, Lumsden Associates, PCAnthony R. Beck, Highwoods Properties, Inc.Andrew T. Bleckley, DesignForumLauren E. Block, MBA, Darden School of Business University of VirginiaMitchell Bode, Wilton Development CorporationAndy Boenau, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.Ryan Boggs, Williams MullenStephen B. Brant , HHHunt Brent A. Campbell, Vaaler Real Estate CompanyRohini D. Chopra, SunTrust BankMichael Cooper, Henrico CountyShane Cusick, designforum incMatt Dugan, Timmons GroupJames G. Dunn, Chesterfield County Economic DevelopmentMarwa 0. El-Messidi, Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development Rich Hardin Ellis, Jr.Carolyn Entzminger, BCWHTravis Gardner, Centex HomesJohn Gillenwater, KBS, Inc.Geleene Goffena, Henrico CountyMark W. Green, ECorp Management Associates, Inc.Anthony Wolf Greenberg, Clark Realty Capital, LLCJ.Andrew Andrew Hagy, First Bank and Trust CompanyLarry Haines, City of Richmond Industrial Development AuthorityJohn Robert Hauserman, Goode Land CompanyShelia Hill-Christian, Richmond Redevelopment & Housing AuthorityJames Phil Huber, Marstel-Day, LLCKristie Howle Inge, Highwoods Properties, Inc.Safwan Jaber, Tameer Holding InvestmentsJames E. Jarrell, III, Jarrell Properties, Inc.Stewart S. Jester, Better Housing CoalitionWilliam A. Johns, AES Consulting EngineersBradley Michael Johnson, Columbia UniversityMonique S. Johnson, Virginia Housing Development AuthorityDaniel Jones, East West PartnersChad L. Joyce, Ryan HomesChristian Kiniry, Kiniry & Company, Inc.

Patricia M. Kluge, Vineyard EstatesCharles Justin Lambert, Hyperlink Cafe LLCAharon Laufer, Star Property Management, LLCEric S. Leabough, Richmond Redevelopment and Housing AuthorityBrandon LeeBob Lewis, Ryan HomesBurke S. Lewis, McGuire Woods LLPLewis Little, Jr., Grubb & Ellis/Harrison & BatesHoward R. Long, III, Luck Stone CorporationHeather C. Mackey, McGuire Woods, LLPJoseph Marchetti, IIIWilliam H. Mattox, Grubb & Ellis/Harrison & BatesPatricia Collins McCullagh, McCandlish HoltonThomas Jeremy Miller, Hanover County Economic DevelopmentRobin M. Morrison, ULI Richmond District CouncilStephen Cassin Muir, Jr., The Long CompaniesKelly Sewell NagelMark C. NelisCharles Edward Nunnally, Jr., Philip Morris USAGeorge A. Overstreet, Jr., McIntire School of Commerce, University of VirginiaAndrew A. PainterEvan Paner, River City Land CompanyDonald G. Pendleton, Consensus Real Estate Services, LLCMyles PerkinsMichael Pruitt, Pruitt Associates, Inc.Thomas E. Pruitt, Pruitt Associates, Inc.Steve Quesenberry, Virginia Commonwealth UniversityDavid Rau, 3North ArchitectsMary Reynolds, Henrico CountyMuriel Rodriguez, Schnabel EngineeringSaundra R. Schmidt, Kaufman & CanolesAnthony Scott, Richmond Redevelopment & Housing AuthorityCarter Snipes, Snipes & PartnersWilliam A. Stanley, William A. Stanley Companies, LLCScott Sutton, Froehling & RobertsonBenjamin W. Tripp, City of SalemBirge Swift Watkins, Landmark Atlantic Holdings, LLCStacie Wiczulis, Grubb & Ellis, Harrison & BatesDavid Ryan Wilkins, CB Richard EllisBrian J. Wilson, Interstate BusinessDana Zaffuto, Higgins & Gerstenmaier


District Councils are ULI at the local level. District Councils are organized in 48 North American communities and 13 European communities, and serve more than 30,000 of its more than 33,000 members. Through District Council sponsored educational forums and events such as trends conferences, Smart Growth programs, and project tours, through community outreach programs, and by providing industry expertise to community leaders, the opportunity to influence local land

use policy continues to be the focus and achievement of the District Councils. In the ULI fashion of offering an unbiased and non-partisan exchange on issues impacting the industry, District Councils provide the avenues for active dialogues between private industry, environmental organizations, and public agencies to help provide solutions to local and regional issues.

What is a District Council?

The History of the District Council ProgramThe District Council Program began in 1983 when ULI’s Trustees approved a set of seven “District Council Network” regions. At that time the Trustees noted that “as the American economy shifts from a centralized industrial base to one of geographically separate, diversified economic centers, it is increasingly difficult to paint local issues with a national brush and that as the balance of power—the ability to get things done—shifts form the national level to smaller political units, local initiatives will become a driving political force parallel to the ‘bottom up’ theory of networking structures.” By 1984 the network had expanded to nine regions. The District Councils were intended to provide an expanded base of membership resources needed to support the Institute’s program of work at the local level. By 1987 there were 34 metropolitan areas represented in the network and nine meetings were held. By 1990, the regions were replaced by District Councils in individual metropolitan areas. Led by Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Washington, the District Councils moved from the “breakfast club” mode to entities which produced ULI quality programs and began outreach activities in their communities. In 1996 a strategic plan was created, setting forth how the District Councils should be organized, how they should function and how they should be viewed within ULI. The plan created full-time

senior staff positions within the national organization to administer the District Councils, and set the framework for a substantial increase in the prominence of the Program within ULI, extending ULI’s influence into the hometowns of its members. Upon assuming ULI’s Chairmanship in July, 1999, Ron Terwilliger made the District Council Program one of his primary focuses with objective to take the District Councils to “the next level” and make them the place to be at the local level. A Summer Retreat in July 2000 resulted in a new strategic plan setting forth a “seamless” organizational structure, integrating all aspects of the Institute and the local level. The success of the community outreach program and the frequency of Senior Resident Fellows speaking engagements at District Council events are two examples. The next two chairs, Joe O’Connor and Harry Frampton, continued to focus on “ULI in the Community” and the District Councils continue to grow exponentially as more and more real estate professionals use ULI’s tool to make a visible difference in the communities in which they live and work. As a result, ULI’s membership has grown from 15,000 in 2000 to over 33,000 today. More and more District Councils have significant outreach strategies and our members are having a profound influence on the land use issues in the communities where they work and live. The District Councils have truly become the “delivery system” for ULI’s policy and practice agenda at the local level.

Did you know that by harnessing volunteer action, ULI Richmond can multiply your financial support to make a meaningful impact on the future of our region by sharing ULI’s best practices, and improving the dialogue about growth and development? ULI Richmond offers numerous opportunities for community leaders to support its efforts through annual sponsorships, event sponsorships, breakfast and luncheon series sponsorships, and targeted sponsorships such

Support your local District Council - Be a ULI Richmond Sponsor in 2007

as those for Technical Advisory Panels and Outreach events. In return, the association of your business with ULI’s efforts will let the community know you and your business are serious about making a difference in our community. To find out more about our sponsorship opportunities, and the benefits you will receive, contact us at [email protected].

Thank You ULI Richmond 2006 Sponsors!The generous support of our 21 Sustaining Members creates the backbone that supports ULI-Richmond in 2006. None of what we’ve accomplished in the first half of the year would be possible without those who you see proudly displayed at every ULI-Richmond event. Please take a moment to thank the sponsors below at the next event.
