Ely Chapter Past Programs

Past Programs

2009 Program Summary

January 21, 2009: Canadian National Railways Planned Purchase of the EJ&E

A timely discussion of the Canadian National Railway’s planned purchase of the EJ&E, which would serve to reroute freight trains around the outskirts of the metropolitan area. James C. LaBelle, Vice President of Chicago Metropolis 2020 will discuss their just- released report describing the potential economic benefits to the region of the EJ&E transfer. We will also hear from a coalition, represented by the Barrington’s Village President Karen Darch, that has filed suit to have the court review the Surface Transportation Board decision approving the purchase. This presentation should bring members up to speed on this critical infrastructure transaction, highlighting the potential benefits to the region and the concerns of local communities.

February 18, 2009: The GreenExchange: An inside view of this one-of-a-kind development. Later this year, the former Cooper Lamp Factory at Diversey and the Kennedy Expressway will reopen as the GreenExchange--the country's largest sustainable business community. GreenExchange is committed to shifting the green marketplace from niche to mainstream and giving green businesses and innovators the national stage they need to grow exponentially. David Baum, principal of Baum Development LLC, will update us on the progress of this LEED certified platinum renovation of an historic landmark building and the tenants who will be calling GreenExchange home.

2008 Program Summary

January 16, 2008 - The New City, Structured Development

February 20, 2008 – Mary Ludgin, Heitman Management

March 19, 2008 – David Narefsky, Midway Privatization

April 16th, 2008 – Forrest D. Bailey, Lake Meadows

July 29th, 2008 - Summer Social 5 pm to 8 pm: Cliff Dwellers Club

September 17, 2008 – Lakeside Development, McCaffery Interests

October 15, 2008 - Luann Hamilton, CDOT, Complete Streets

December 12th - Holiday Party, Quartino’s

2007 Program Summary

January 17th – Down with the Old, Up with the Huge: The McMansion Next Door. Speaker: Tom Cowan, Community First

February 21st – Retail Review – 2006 and Beyond. Speaker: Andy Bulson, Mid-America Real Estate Corporation

March 21st – Chicago’s Bid for the 2016 Olympic Games. Speakers: Tom Kerwin and Philip Enquest, Skidmore Ownings & Merrill

April 18th – Development Financing without TIF – Lindenhurst Village Center. Speakers: Phil McKenna, Kane, McKenna and Associates Oliver McMillan Blair

July 18th – Summer Social Event – Chicago Architectural Tour

September 19th – K Station Project. Speakers: Alan Schachtman, Fifield Realty Group Sam Assefa, City of Chicago

October 17th – State Street Revitalization – Review of Block 37 & Carson Pirie Scott. Speaker: Paul Fitzpatrick, Joseph Freed & Associates

December 12th – Holiday Party The Tavern Club

2006 Program Summary

January: This program was organized by S.L. van der Zanden, the previous Vice President of Programs. The program speaker was the Mayor of Carmel, Indiana. He spoke about the development of downtown Carmel. This suburb of Indianapolis created a downtown civic core.

February: Reshaping Navy Pier was a program that described the new master plan for the Pier. Tim Macy, General Manager for Navy Pier, was the speaker. He was an excellent speaker.

March: A New Office Tower in River North (great title?) highlighted the 300 North LaSalle Street office building being developed by Hines Interests on the north side of the Chicago River. The speakers were the project architect, Jon Pickard, Design Principal of Pickard Chilton, and John McDermott, Vice President of Hines Interests. Most agreed that Mr. Pickard spent a bit too much time marketing the work of his firm.

April: The Future of Department Stores and Supermarkets (another great title?) was organized by Mike Mallon. The panel included Mike Mallon, Paul Vogel, Principal of Realty Development Research, Inc., and John Melaniphy, Vice President of Mid-America Development Partners, LLC. This program on the retail market was excellent and very well attended.

Summer program was Magellan and LR Development Company, the evening included a tour of the Lakeshore East centered in the Lakeshore East neighborhood. Sponsored by park and the Magellan sales center. It was followed food and libations at the neighborhood grill. The annual meeting and holiday party took place at Flatwater, on Clark Street and the Chicago River. The space worked out well. If we are to continue having it at this location we will need to work on the menu. It is well located for the after work downtown crowd. In summary, our lunch and after work programs were very successful. For purposes of growing the organization and getting a variety of program ideas, it is important to maintain a program committee.

September: This program was focused on the industrial market along the Interstate 55 Corridor. The program participants were Matt Neumann and David Riefe of Pro-Logis, one of the largest developers of distribution space in the world. This was a fascinating program -the speakers showed great expertise - but was not very well attended.

November: Gail Lissner was invited to discuss the 3rd Quarter Downtown Chicago Residential Benchmark Report; she was unable to attend and her colleague, Ron DeVries, filled in for her. This was a very well attended program, due at least in part to the timing and the changing residential market. The January lunch program was planned by Laurie Marston and has a great title - Down with the Old, Up with the Huge; The McMansion Next Door. We look forward to it with great anticipation.

Summer program was Magellan and LR Development Company, the evening included a tour of the Lakeshore East centered in the Lakeshore East neighborhood. Sponsored by park and the Magellan sales center. It was followed food and libations at the neighborhood grill. The annual meeting and holiday party took place at Flatwater, on Clark Street and the Chicago River. The space worked out well. If we are to continue having it at this location we will need to work on the menu. It is well located for the after work downtown crowd. In summary, our lunch and after work programs were very successful. For purposes of growing the organization and getting a variety of program ideas, it is important to maintain a program committee.

2005 Program Summary

January: Rebirth of Affordable Housing at Park Boulevard. Richard Hanson, President, Mesa Development presented a program on the actual implementation of the redevelopment of the existing public housing blocks from the ground up. He highlighted the Park Boulevard project (formerly Stateway Gardens) that will consist of tree-lined streets with houses, townhouses, condos and duplexes. A total of 1,316 new housing units will be developed, 438 at market rate, 437 at affordable rates, with the remainder comprised of public assistance housing. The Park Boulevard plan replaces super blocks with a grid system of streets and walkable neighborhoods.

February: Near South Side Explosive Retail Growth. Mike Mallon lead a panel of experts to discuss the recent, rapid growth in retailing on Chicago's near south side. The panel reviewed the various projects along Roosevelt Road in the South Loop, including Harlem Irving's Marketplace and JPS's Development at Roosevelt and Canal. The panel, consisting of Rick Filler, Director of Development, Harlem Irving Companies, Todd Cabanban, Executive Vice President, Zifkin Realty & Development, and David Hene, Leasing Specialist, JPS Interest discussed the evolution of the corridor and the prospects for its continued redevelopment.

March: Prairie Crossing Revisited: The Next Phase and Lessons Learned. G. Benjamin Ranney presented a program on Station Square, a mixed-use, multi-phase development across the street from two Metra train stations. The development features three multistory buildings around a town-square and several outlots. He described how Station Square is an extension of the vision for a dynamic and economically successful, new urbanist community. Also outlined were the many cost savings and value enhancements achieved through implementing new urbanist land-use concepts in combination with "green" and LEED elements, and described how development costs were reduced and the achievement of higher relative sales prices.

April: Transit Oriented Development. This program focused on T.O.D. development. John LaMotte, Senior Principal, LAKOTA and Stephen B. Friedman, President, S.B. Friedman Company used their experience with several Chicago area redevelopment projects to illustrate their presentation, focusing on successes, lessons learned and future trends. The student members from the John Marshall Law School were also inducted.

May: Spring Chautauqua Eminent Domain: Public Benefit or Private Purpose? In Honor of the Memory of Earl L. Neal and His Monumental Work. A discussion on the momentous decision pending before the U.S. Supreme Court which could affect government-authorized eminent domain powers and economic development projects for years to come. Can government agencies invoke eminent domain powers to take privately-owned properties for conversion to other private uses in the name of economic development, greater tax revenues and jobs creation. Local and national viewpoints were addresses as well as the property rights versus economic development perspectives.

Langdon Neal, Partner, Neal & Leroy, LLC presented The Local Perspective in the Plenary Session. Kathleen Ransford, former Chief Assistant Corporation Counsel for Real Estate, City of Chicago moderated the panel discussion: Public Benefit or Private Purpose? Panelists include David Dana, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Tim Bishop, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, LLP and Richard F. Friedman, Neal & Leroy, LLC.

September: Unveiling of "Fordham Spire Tower, Set to be the Nation's Tallest Building. Chris Carley, founder and President of the Formdham Company described his latest development project designed by world-renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. CalatravaAIA Goldmember, was recently included in Time Magazine's 100 Most Important People. This building promises to make a splash as the nation's tallest building, employing a unique design promising to be a stunning addition to Chicago's skyline. is an

November: Fall Chautuaqua Illinois State Taxation Issues: How to Pay for Education, Health and Security While Balancing the Budget. Ralph Martire, Center for Tax and Budget Accountability discussed current State taxation issues: How are state legislators, in Illinois in particular, going to fund critical needs in areas such as education, health care and security given the need to stay globally competitive, the increasing costs of health care due to the aging of the population, and the large increase in security threats confronting the nation? How can we effectively distribute tax revenues in an area of rising costs and complexity of social needs in the face of strong demand to reduce taxation and provide a balanced budget. In addition to the programs listed above, the following social events were held:

June: Initiation Banquet - Twenty-nine new members were inducted into the Ely Chapter on June 15,2005 at the Mid-America Club.

July: Social - Members and guests enjoyed the great views of Millennium Park and the lakefront from the outdoor patio at the Cliffdweller's Club.

August: No event.

October: LAI's 75th Anniversary Weekend Experience The Ely Chapter hosted the Weekend Experience which included two days of mobile workshops and the 35th Biennial Awards Reception and Banquet at the Signature Room of the 95t Floor of the John Hancock Center. The Weekend concluded with the 75th Anniversary Gala at the Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park.