CREJ

March 2020 — Office Properties Quarterly — Page 15 www.crej.com D uring my two-year term as chair of ULI Colorado, I am striving to make the organization even more effective by broadening our influence on key issues identified in a September 2019 strategic planning workshop. These issues get to the core of ULI’s ability to fulfill its mission of creating thriving and sustainable urban places. We live in a time when this mission is under attack by those who are opposed to creating compact, sustainable urban infill development. Issues such as traffic congestion, gentrification, and general fear of change have put ULI members at times on the wrong side of public opinion. While ULI is not political, we do not shy from honest discussion of critical policy issues. We need to provide the facts about the benefits of compact urban infill development; communicate much better with political leaders; and strive to find new solutions for mobility. So here are our 2020 strategic priorities: 1. Affordable housing. Affordable housing is a linchpin of healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy environment. Lack of affordable housing hurts long-established neighborhoods otherwise experiencing revitalization. It hurts employers seeking to fill jobs at almost every level; and spurs sprawl and traffic congestion by making employees live much farther from work (and away from convenient transit). As stated in our 2016 report, “Overcoming Barriers to Affordable Housing in Colorado,” ULI will continue to push for the “2%” solutions (a broad spectrum of finance, land, policy, and design innovations) rather than seeking the “silver bullet” that does not exist. 2. Mobility. This issue becomes more complex in the era of disruptive technology. As I learned last year on the Urban Exploration in thriving Copenhagen, population growth does not have to mean more cars. There , the combination of compact, walkable development, an amazing cycling network, and excellent public transit limits auto use to less than 10 percent of trips. In sharp contrast here at home, transit ridership is falling as RTD faces competition and financial problems. The rise of Amazon delivery services contributes to our overburdened roads and parking. Where are the solutions? First, we have to recognize that development is not the sole source of traffic growth; that driverless cars are not taking over next year; and then look for ways to boost (and finance) walking, bike commuting, TDM, TOD, and other transit alternatives. 3. Addressing Concerns about Growth. In this case, 1+2 (see above) definitely equals 3. ULI will expand its role to provide public officials with real facts about issues like density and congestion. The shortage of affordable housing and increasing congestion only leads to more opposition to growth, which in turns makes housing less affordable and spurs sprawl. We need to frame the discus sion in terms of economic vitality, as well as the health of our environment, landscapes, and people. 4. Sustainability, Resilience & Healthy Places. These core issues of ULI permeate everything we do. Sustainability includes sustaining our economy, the environment and the fabric of our communities. Resilience is vital as Colorado continues to face rising incidences of natural disasters affecting communities. Healthy places provide the physical environments and economic opportunities that allow residents to enjoy economic progress and personal health at a time when many indicators are heading in the wrong direction. To those four you can add a fifth: Enhanc ed communications. Today’s anti-growth advocates enjoy the tools of social media and the power of citizen-based ballot initiatives. Too often their arguments are based on fear, rumor and general misinformation. ULI must step up to balance this public dialogue. Particularly important is communicating with public officials and providing Leadership in Responsible Land Use Colorado.ULI.org District Council Spotlight Special Section Colorado Real Estate Journal March 2020 Meet the Executive Leadership From the Chair New for 2020 : ULI to focus on strategic priorities… and the South Platte Affordable housing is a key focus area for ULI Colorado year. Pictured is 5800 in Lakewood, an adaptive use of a vacant office building that won a ULI Colorado IMPACT Award in 2019. Mike Zoellner Chair, 2019-2021 Managing Partner ZF Capital Ferdinand L. Belz Vice Chair, 2019-2021 President Fulenwider Mark Tompkins Treasurer Principal Strae Advisory Services Marilee Utter Chair of Mission Advancement Principal, Citiventure LLC Bruce O’Donnell Governance President Starboard Realty Group Past chairs: James DeFrancia Julie Underdahl Marilee Utter V. Michael Komppa Bill Mosher Chris Achenbach Kirk Monroe Amy Cara Tracy Huggins ULI Colorado is a 1,450-member District Council of the 45,000-member global Urban Land Institute. ULI Colorado consists of a four-person staff, 25-member executive committee, and 15 committees with more than 250 volunteers. More than 50 programs a year include advisory panels, leadership and mentoring programs, panels, project tours, publications, and community service. For 2020, strategic initiatives include addressing affordable housing, anti- growth sentiment, mobility, and sustainability. Michael Leccese Executive Director Marianne Eppig Director Sarah Franklin Director Elise Martinez Associate Meet ULI Colorado's Staff 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 211 Denver, Colorado 80202 303.893.1760 colorado@uli.org http://colorado.uli.org A s I complete my 15th year with ULI, I eagerly look forward to the 16th, when Denver and Colorado welcome ULI’s Spring Meeting from May 10-12, 2021. Spring Meeting is one of two global meetings hosted by ULI each year. Unlike Fall Meeting, which is open to all, Spring Meeting is limited to ULI Full Members. Nonetheless the meeting will draw more than 4,500 leaders from around the globe in real estate, finance, design, policy, and more. There will also be many chances for Colorado’s 1,400+ ULI members to participate. This spring, ULI Colorado will form a local Host Committee charged with organizing around 30 tours, raising money to support the meeting, and scouting venues for dozens of panel discussions, product councils and other activities. Also, because we are the host, any Colorado ULI member may attend regardless of their membership level. Colorado has not hosted a national meeting since Fall Meeting 2012. Think of the sweeping changes since then and how much we have to show off. At that time Union Station was closed and under wraps while awaiting rebirth; the Central Platte Valley was a construction zone; communities like Colorado Springs and Fort Collins were just awakening; Stock Show redevelopment was but a dream; the River Mile, not even; and major projects like 9th and Colorado were barely on the drawing board. RiNo was just blossoming. The A Line to the airport was not yet open; nor were the B, R, G, and W lines, now drawing major transit-oriented developments to Aurora, Arvada, Lakewood, and Westminster, among other spots in the region. Mountain towns like Frisco, Silverthorne, and Vail had yet to unveil award-worthy projects such as Base Camp and the Silverthorne Performing Arts Center. ULI Colorado had yet to launch successful programs such as Building Healthy Places Workshops, Colorado Product Councils, NEXT, and the Women’s Leadership Initiative, which The real estate world comes to Colorado next year From the Executive Director Continued on last page Continued on last page