Chapter events
Virtual Salon: AI
Positive disruption? How AI is already transforming the ways we work
Our chapter has started a new type of event: “salons” designed for smaller groups to foster discussion on a current topic of interest.
Join Jason Moody, Managing Partner, Economic & Planning Systems (“EPS”) and Loren Supp, Senior Project Designer, HOK who also co-leads HOK’s global design board, helping guide the firm’s design culture and process through innovation and firmwide initiatives.
Both are heading their firm’s efforts to incorporate AI and to develop the associated policies.
Then, we’ll have a group discussion among participants sharing how they use AI and problems they have solved.
$15 - attendance limited to 12
Membership dues must be current to attend. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Program - California Forever
** Please note new location**
City Club of San Francisco, 155 Sansome St., San Francisco
The California Forever Project: Exploring the Future of Urban Growth in California
California’s housing crisis has fueled population decline as residents leave in search of more affordable housing (with a loss of 268,000 residents in 2023 alone). Some of the state’s housing advocates have begun to argue that we need to turn to new measures to reverse the decline — perhaps none more provocative than the proposal by California Forever to build a new city on farmland in Solano County.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Gabe Metcalf, Head of Planning at California Forever, as he shares the project’s vision and addresses the tough questions it has raised. This will be a chance for a look under the hood at one of the most controversial land use stories of the moment, and a chance to explore what lessons the East Solano Plan might offer for meeting California’s unmet demand for walkable urbanism.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Early Tickets
Members & Guests: $90 each
After April 17
Members & Guests: $100 each
Save on fees! Pay by check or Zelle. Please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Gabriel Metcalf, Head of Planning, California Forever
Gabe Metcalf is Head of Planning for California Forever, which is trying to build the first large-scale walkable "new town" in a century. Previously, he was CEO of SPUR, and later the CEO of the Committee for Sydney. He has led policy reform efforts in the field of housing, transit, regional planning, economic development, and climate action for 25 years.
Tour & Happy Hour - Transamerica Building
Transamerica Building Tour
Join the LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of the iconic Transamerica Pyramid, at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, March 13th. Happy hour to follow at 5:00 pm.
Encompassing an entire city block in San Francisco's Financial District, the Transamerica Pyramid Center is a symbol of the strength of San Francisco. Designed by famed architect William Pereira and completed in 1972, the Transamerica Pyramid stands at a height of over 850 feet. The building is the second tallest building in San Francisco, and its illuminated spire is the most recognizable landmark on the San Francisco skyline, but few have had access to its upper floors. SHVO purchased Transamerica Pyramid Center in 2020. In 2024, together with Foster + Partners, SHVO completed the remastering of this iconic asset. Our tour will include a guided walk through the renovated Lobby, the Redwood Park, Norman Foster's "Vertical City" Exhibition, the 27th Floor Sky Lobby, the 36th Floor Leasing offices, and the private bar on the 48th Floor.
Space is limited, so please sign up ASAP.
Tour + Happy Hour
$55 each (Members only
Happy Hour only:
$45 each (Members and guests)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
New Initiate Reception
Thursday, February 12, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Please join the 2024 nominators and board members in welcoming the new initiates at the 2024 New Initiate reception!
2024 Initiates & their nominators: No charge
Other members: $25 each
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Program - State of the Market 2025
** Please note new location**
One Market Restaurant, One Market Street, San Francisco
State of the Market: What does 2025 hold in store for Bay Area residential, commercial and retail markets?
Join us at One Market Restaurant on February 11 from 11:45 am - 1:30 pm for an in-depth discussion on recent and anticipated trends in the region’s residential, commercial, and retail real estate markets.
How are hybrid work trends, interest rate uncertainty, and the growth of AI companies affecting office demand, housing choices, and retail activity? What does this mean for commercial leasing and overall market stability? How do trends vary across the region? Are we approaching a “new normal,” or is further disruption ahead?
Three leading brokers will share their insights on today’s market dynamics and what to expect in the foreseeable future.
Residential: Eve Myers Loecher, Senior Vice President, Eastdil Secured
Retail: Julie Taylor, Executive Vice President, Colliers
Commercial: Alexander Quinn, Senior Director of Research, Northern California, JLL
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Early Tickets
Members & Guests: $90 each
After February 7
Members & Guests: $100 each
Save on fees! Pay by check or Zelle. Please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Eve Meyers Loescher, Senior Vice President, Eastdil Secured
Eve, based in San Francisco, is currently a Senior Vice President at Eastdil Secured, where she has worked since 2012. As a leader within the firm’s multifamily advisory practice covering the West Coast, Eve advises clients on strategic sale, recapitalization, and joint venture executions for single assets and across geographically diverse large-scale portfolios. Over the course of her career, Eve has executed over $50 billion in transaction volume. Eve is an active member of Urban Land Institute (ULI) and serves on the boards of Stern Grove Festival, the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCC SF), and the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Eve earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons, and loves to travel, enjoys the outdoors, and is an avid hiker and skier.
Julie Taylor,
Executive Vice President
, Colliers
Julie works exclusively to serve the needs of retail real estate property owners, investors, and retailers. Julie is highly active in the Downtown San Francisco trade area leasing flagship properties and representing luxury and urban retailers. She has leased almost 850,000 square feet over 90 transactions with an aggregate lease value of over $900 million in the Union Square market. Her area of expertise spans the regional retail markets of the Bay Area and urban retail in San Francisco. Julie also leases the 100,000 square foot Salesforce Transit Center in Downtown San Francisco. Julie has had extensive experience representing chain stores expanding throughout Northern California.
Alexander Quinn
, Senior Director of Research, Northern California,
JLL
Mr. Quinn is the Senior Director of Research for Northern California at JLL, with over 20 years of economic analysis experience specializing in real estate development, economic forecasting, and urban regeneration. He leads commercial real estate research efforts for JLL’s Northern California region, providing insights on prevailing commercial real estate demand, regional economic dynamics, and shifting business behavior that shape the built environment. Mr. Quinn has advised developers and tenants on site selection, building recommendations, and strike price for office, lab, research and development, and multifamily projects in Northern California. He also develops the North America Tech Report, which identifies the top 30 markets for tech companies in the U.S. and Canada. He has provided expert testimony to the U.S. Congress, first explaining the economic contribution of water infrastructure to the national economy and later outlining the potential national loss in GDP should the U.S. water system fail. Mr. Quinn has worked on multiple feasibility studies for clients in the Bay Area, including the Downtown Berkeley Feasibility Analysis for the Downtown Berkeley Area Plan. His international experience spans development projects in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. He has led infrastructure and economic policy analysis efforts, including an evaluation of the economic impact of SB375 on the State of California and the Central Market Economic Strategy, which won a national economic development award. In addition to his professional work, Mr. Quinn is a professor in the Masters of Real Estate Development program at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also earned his Master's degree in City and Regional Planning. He serves on the Board of the Downtown San Francisco Partnership and is a member of the Urban Land Institute.
Program - Capital Markets & Real Estate Outlook for 2025
** Please note new location**
Harborview Restaurant, 4 Embarcadero Center
Looking Forward: The Capital Markets & Real Estate Outlook for 2025 and Beyond
Another year has flown by! Join us on January 14, 2025, as we kick off the year with an engaging program featuring LAI member Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions at StepStone.
StepStone is a leading global allocator, managing investments across numerous asset classes, including $186 billion in total capital responsibility for real estate (as of September 30, 2024). Margaret will share StepStone’s insights into the capital markets, the implications of stabilizing interest rates, and the preferred property types for investment in the year ahead.
Following Margaret’s presentation, Alan Billingsley will lead a moderated discussion, offering attendees a chance to dive deeper into what to expect in 2025.
Bring your questions and join us for this informative and thought-provoking session!
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Early Tickets
Members & Guests: $85 each
Public Sector Members: $75 each*
After January 7
Members & Guests: $95 each
Save on fees! Pay by check or Zelle. Please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public Sector discount available only when paying by check or Zelle
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions
, StepStone
Margaret is a member of the real estate team at StepStone and focuses on various investment and portfolio management activities. She is also a committee member of the StepStone Charitable Giving Program and on the Global Allocation Committee.
Prior to joining StepStone, Margaret spent more than a decade at Carlyle’s Metropolitan Real Estate, where she served as the co-Chief Investment Officer and was the fund head for Metropolitan’s Global Funds series. She was a Consultant with Cambridge Associates and held various roles with JP Morgan. Margaret sits on the Investment Committee for Sutter Health, the fifth largest US non-profit community-based healthcare provider and the Real Assets Investment Subcommittee for Swarthmore College. She recently served as a Senior Advisor to Juniper Square, focused on Capital Markets applications of their investment management software.
Margaret graduated with high honors from Swarthmore College and earned an MBA from New York University.
Alan Billingsley, Owner, Billingsley Investments
Alan Billingsley is the owner of Billingsley Investments, a small private family investment fund. Following an over 30-year career in investment advisory services and land economics research for the real estate industry, Mr. Billingsley is currently managing and pursuing his own investment interests in the residential sector. He most recently departed RREEF (now DWS Asset Management, part of Deutsche Bank) after 13 years, where he served as Head of Americas Research and Investment Strategy. Prior to this, Mr. Billingsley had 20 years of experience in all forms of real estate development and investment analysis, including work for both public and private sector clients. He held senior positions with Sedway Group, and Economics Research Associates, beginning his career at RCLCO in Los Angeles. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute at both national and local levels, is past-President of the Golden Gate Chapter of Lambda Alpha International; and has been active in many real estate organizations. Mr. Billingsley holds an M.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning from UCLA.
2024 New Initiates Gala
Lambda Alpha International Golden Gate Chapter's 2024 New Initiate Gala
Date: Thursday, December 12, 2024
Time: 6-9:30 pm
Location: Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St.
Cost: $275 per person before Nov. 15; $300 after
Please consider sponsoring an initiate by clicking the “Purchase tickets” link below:
Email Lori Horan to reserve and purchase tickets or sponsorships via check or Zelle.
Join us in welcoming our new initiates
Robert Beck | David Blackwell | Kate Conner | Bret Firebaugh | Eileen Gallagher | Jeff Gherardini | Drew Gordon | Thor Kaslofsky | Julia Laue | Clarke Miller | Karen Murray | Bob Nibbi | Audrey Pearson | Joyce Polhamus | Rod Roche | Matt Rossie | Mark Schwettman | Manan Shah | Charles Shin | Maia Small | Riaz Taplin | Abigail Thorne-Lyman | Kristy Wang
Virtual Salon: Accounting Cost Segregation 101
Our chapter is starting a new type of event: “salons” designed for smaller groups to foster discussion on a current topic of interest.
Join Tim Tikalsky, Tax Principal, Sensiba in an informal discussion of how accounting cost segregation can significantly reduce real estate income taxes through accelerated depreciation. What is it? When can it be applied (for development and existing buildings)? What is the process? What is the downside? Acquisitions officers and asset managers should be particularly interested in this topic.
Sensiba is a full-service accounting and business advisory firm..
To encourage discussion, attendance is limited to 12.
There is no event fee.
Membership dues must be current to attend. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Program - Election Aftermath
Election Aftermath: Politics and Real Estate Development in San Francisco After November 5
Unless he’s imprisoned or incapacitated from alcohol poisoning due to national election results, veteran political consultant and City Hall insider Alex Clemens will lead us on a deep dive of what transpired in the November 5 General Election.
With at least two new Supervisors joining a Board of Supervisors where the progressive/moderate balance is at stake, an election with multiple consequential ballot initiatives before the City’s voters, and a nice, fractious Mayor's race that certainly has made no headlines, he (and you) will have an opportunity to speculate about what San Francisco's politics, priorities and land use will look like in 2025 and beyond.
As Alex describes it, he will be speaking "with the asterisk of *as if anyone can really tell – given the aftermath of the pandemic and ongoing hybrid work models, shifting economic realities, inflation concerns, a wave of migration to more affordable areas, heightened awareness of social inequities, the effects of climate change, geopolitical tensions, AI disrupting industries, and (gestures broadly at everything...)"
Don’t miss out on what is always one of our most popular luncheons.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
Late Registration (after November 8): $85 each
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Alex Clemens,
Co-founder, Progress Public Affairs
Alex Clemens is a veteran political operative and communications expert who has served four elected officials in San Francisco and Washington, DC. In 2003, Alex founded Barbary Coast Consulting, which the New York Times named an elite public affairs firm. In 2016, he merged his firm with another to co-found Lighthouse Public Affairs. In 2022, he and a group of his colleagues departed Lighthouse to form Progress Public Affairs, which you can find on the internets at www.progress-pa.com.
An accomplished lobbyist, Alex has been involved in two decades of negotiations surrounding San Francisco’s favorite political pastime: debating location, height and density. Alex has helped facilitate City Hall, community and stakeholder conversations that have shaped housing and development policy throughout the region, and has served a broad range of well-known clients as a strategic advisor regarding surrounding political direction and crisis communications.
Alex is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz, holding a degree in International Politics. He serves on the boards of the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the storied Sacramento Seminar civic discussion group, was appointed by Governor Newsom to the California State Board of Optometry, and is a licensed private investigator. He is also an occasional lecturer at the University of San Francisco’s Leo McCarthy Center, where he teaches master’s candidates about advocacy, lobbying and ethics. (And most importantly, he'd like to remind you to remind everyone around you to vote.)
San Francisco October Meet Up
Wednesday, October 23, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM
You are invited to an informal wine and cheese gathering to meet your fellow LAI Golden Gate chapter members.
Members: $25 each
Your dues must be current to participate.
To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Email Lori Horan to reserve and purchase tickets via check or Zelle.
Land Economics Gathering 2024
Save the dates for the 2024 Phoenix Land Economics Gathering
Visit the LAI website for registration information and agenda.
Program - Stonestown Development Project
A Deep Dive into the Stonestown Development: Transforming 43 Acres into San Francisco’s New Town Center
We invite you to join us for an in-depth discussion on the transformative Stonestown Development Project, led by Brookfield Properties. This mixed-use, multi-phased master plan is set to convert 27 acres of surface parking into a predominantly residential neighborhood with up to 3,400 new housing units, along with parks, plazas, retail, community spaces, and office facilities. The project also integrates improvements to the street network and utilities, while maintaining the existing Stonestown Galleria as a central feature within this new "Town Center."
Our distinguished panel includes Christie Donnelly, Senior Director of Development at Brookfield Properties, Eri Suzuki, Associate Principal at SITELAB Urban Studio, and Sara Ghalandari and Mary Murphy from Gibson Dunn. They will provide insights into key aspects of the project, including the negotiation of the Development Agreement, challenges around signage, and strategies for integrating new green spaces with existing open areas.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Eri Suzuki
, Associate Principal, SITELAB urban studio
Eri Suzuki is an Associate Principal at SITELAB urban studio, a woman-owned urban design and strategy firm based in San Francisco. At SITELAB, Eri leads a multi-disciplinary planning process towards entitlement for large scale projects such as Pier 70, Stonestown, San José Downtown West, and East Solano Plan. Other projects include re-examining the role of the public realm in downtown in the post-pandemic recovery for Downtown SF Public Realm Action Plan. Eri is a licensed architect with Masters in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University and Bachelors of Architecture with a minor in Landscape Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She serves as co-chair for the SPUR Planning and Architecture Council.
Sara Ghalandari
, Gibson Dunn
Sara Ghalandari is Of Counsel in the San Francisco office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. She is a member of the firm’s Land Use and Development Practice Group. Ms. Ghalandari’s practice encompasses a wide-array of land use/development matters and real estate transactions, including zoning, planning, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), public private partnerships, and matters regarding construction access, underpinning and shoring. The primary focus of her practice is the processing of entitlements for major real estate development projects in the Bay Area and throughout California, supervising the preparation and approval of environmental documentation, and negotiating transactional documents associated with land use, project development, and construction, including agreements between private and public entities. Ms. Ghalandari also advises institutional investors and lenders on land-use related matters.
Christie Donnelly
, Senior Director of Development, Brookfield Properties
Christie Donnelly is a Senior Director of Development at Brookfield Properties and is responsible for leading mixed-used development projects in San Francisco. She recently completed the successful entitlement of the Stonestown Galleria shopping center to a new town center with over 3,400 new housing units, the largest in the west side of San Francisco in half a century. In addition to Stonestown, Christie lead the company’s expansion into ground-up multifamily development in the Vancouver, BC market, and was a lead developer on the 5M mixed-use development at Fifth and Mission in SoMa. Prior to joining Brookfield, Christie worked for several leading real estate investment companies with roles encompassing development, finance, investment, and portfolio management. Christie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a Minor in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Mary Murphy
, Gibson Dunn
Mary G. Murphy is the co-chair of Gibson Dunn's Land Use and Development Practice Group and a member of the Real Estate Practice Group and Sports Law Group. Mary represents a wide variety of developers and investors in real estate transactions and land use issues, with particular experience in public and private partnerships and historic rehabilitation projects. She has strong development experience within San Francisco and around the Bay Area, including extensive experience in significant and historic public/private development deals.
Tax Credits 101 Salon
Our chapter is starting a new type of event: “salons” designed for smaller groups to foster discussion on a current topic of interest.
Our first is Tax Credits 101 (Non-housing). Suzanne Brown, Principal at Equity Community Builders (ECB), will lead the discussion on New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and Historic Tax Credits (HTC). What are tax credits, what projects do they work best for, how are they applied for, and how are they awarded?
ECB is a real estate developer and project management firm specializing in development and adaptive reuse utilizing unique tax credit solutions.
To encourage discussion, attendance is limited to 12.
There is no event fee. Please bring your own lunch.
Membership dues must be current to attend. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Tour & Happy Hour - Treasure Island
Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island Development Tour
Join Danielle Butler from the Treasure Island Development Company, and Tom Sheaff from Lennar for a Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island development tour, including the recently opened Isle House (250 apartments), Hawkins (178 apartments under construction), the Residences at Yerba Buena Island (31 condo units under construction), The Bristol (124 condo units) and a visit to the parks on Yerba Buena Island.
Happy hour to follow at Gold Bar Distillery in Building One.
*Meet at the SF Ferry Building at 3:00pm to depart to TI on the 3:20pm ferry. Tour commences at Building One on Treasure Island at 3:30pm. Return ferry departure times to SF: 5:50pm, 6:30pm, and 7:15pm.
Space is limited, so please sign up ASAP.
Tour + Happy Hour
$55 each (Members only
$45 each (Public Sector Members only)*
Happy Hour only:
$45 each (Members and guests)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Danielle Butler
Development Manager, Treasure Island Development Company
Danielle Butler has been with Treasure Island Development Group (TIDG) for several years, handling the development of various residential projects in Stage 1. She is more recently leading the “Experiences” team, focused on placemaking for new residents and visitors to the island.
Tom Sheaff
Lennar
Tom Sheaff has been involved in Lennar’s urban infill and military base conversion business for many years, resolving complex environmental and entitlement issues, and overseeing both commercial and residential development.
Virtual Program - Housing San Francisco: Unlocking Affordable Housing in the West Side
Housing San Francisco: Unlocking Affordable Housing in the West Side
San Francisco is mandated to plan for 82,000 homes over the next eight years to meet the city’s housing needs, within a built-out urban environment. Join City officials and housing developers to talk about opportunities for adapting low density, but transit rich, corridors to help meet these needs while respecting the character of established neighborhoods, and examples of new affordable housing already under way on the West Side.
The San Francisco Planning Department’s “Expanding Housing Choice” initiative aims to enhance density along transit and commercial corridors to meet the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation requirements mandated by California state law. Even as the initiative moves forward, new affordable housing developments on the West Side – facilitated by recent enhancements to density bonus legislation and streamlined entitlement processes – are starting to illustrate what this housing can look like, and what it takes to get it built. Will these 100% affordable developments lead the way towards new opportunities for workforce, middle-income, and market-rate housing in the coming years?
Join our discussion featuring Lisa Chen from the San Francisco Planning Department, Hermandeep Kaur from TNDC, and Adrianne Steichen from Pyatok Architects for updates on the Expanding Housing Choice Plan and insights into the development progress of key affordable housing projects including 2550 Irving Street and 730 Stanyan Street.
Members & Guests: No charge
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Adrianne Steichen, PYATOK architecture + urban design
A Principal at PYATOK architecture + urban design in Oakland, California, Adrianne brings expertise in permanent supportive housing, sustainability, resiliency, and affordability, as well as working with faith-based and community-based organizations to multifamily developments throughout the Bay Area. She has served on affordable and urban design award juries for the AIA, AIA/HUD Secretary Affordable Housing Design Awards, Bank of America/Merril Lynch Low Income Housing Challenge, AIA Minnesota, AIA Billings, and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA). She has spoken widely on affordable housing and walkable design at national, regional, and local conferences and seminars. Adrianne is the 2024 Chair of AIA’s Housing & Community Development Knowledge Community, served seven years on the AIA San Francisco Board of Directors, including President in 2020, and is the 2015 recipient of AIA Young Architect of the Year for her work in affordable housing. She holds a Master of Architecture from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a minor in Film Studies. She is a LEED AP BD+C and Homes, and is a registered architect in California and Oregon. In addition to leading 2550 Irving Street, Adrianne has been influential in leading Avalon Hayes Valley at Parcel P from the entitlement phase—resulting in a unanimous vote for approval by the SF Planning Commission—to construction, and in leading the schematic design phases of Orchard Park Redevelopment at UC Davis for University Student Living, and Bowles Hall Residential College Renovation at UC Berkeley for Education Realty Trust.
Lisa Chen, SF Planning Department
Lisa Chen is a long-range planner at the San Francisco Planning Department, where she has worked with communities around San Francisco to advance more healthy, sustainable, and equitable neighborhoods. Some of her projects have included: the Central SoMa Plan, Environmental Justice Framework, Sustainable Chinatown, the Transportation Sustainability Program, and the Department’s Racial & Social Equity Action Plan. Previously, Lisa worked at community-based organizations focused on public health, education, and community development. Lisa holds a dual Master's degree from UC Berkeley in City Planning and Public Health.
San Francisco Meet Up
Thursday, June 20, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM
You are invited to an informal wine and cheese gathering to meet your fellow LAI Golden Gate chapter members.
Members: $25 each
Your dues must be current to participate.
To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Email Lori Horan to reserve and purchase tickets via check or Zelle.
Program - Revitalizing San Francisco’s Waterfront
Revitalizing San Francisco’s Waterfront: A Case Study in Public Private Partnership Development at Piers 30-32 and Seawall Lot 330
In June 2020, the Port of San Francisco selected Strada to redevelop the 13-acre Piers 30-32 and the two-acre Seawall Lot 330 sites along the San Francisco Bay waterfront. The development plan includes a mix of maritime, parks and public access, water recreation, resilience, retail, residential, and office use. The proposed project on Piers 30-32 includes extensive public infrastructure to seismically upgrade the seawall, address sea level rise, and retain and upgrade the existing deep-water berth that will allow the Port to serve cruise ships, military vessels, and emergency response ships. Additionally, a floating swim complex with an Olympic-size pool, a dedicated pool for learn-to-swim lessons, and a hot tub, plus a kayak and open water swim launch and other aquatic amenities will help create a new waterfront destination for San Francisco. The proposal for Seawall Lot 330 includes 715 residential units, including 25 percent affordable housing units, and parks and open space.
Projects of this scale take incredible teaming of public agencies and private developers to succeed. At this site in particular, decades of prior development projects have fizzled out. Come learn how the Port, Strada, and its design team have taken a unique approach this time around to chart a viable path forward that will serve as a model for other resilient waterfront development projects moving forward.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
Late Registration (after May 10): $75 each
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Clarke Miller, Principal, Strada
Clarke is a Principal at Strada. He specializes in the entitlement and development of mixed-use, office, retail, and education projects. He joined Strada in 2013 and has focused his time leading the development of complex projects such as Chase Center for the Golden State Warriors, the Uber headquarters office buildings, the Local 38 new union hall, and a new downtown campus for Samuel Merritt University in Oakland which will open in January 2026. Additionally, Clarke is leading the entitlement effort of the $1.3 billion project to redevelop Piers 30-32 and Seawall Lot 330.
Wyatt Donnelly-Landolt, Senior Project Manager, Port of San Francisco
Wyatt is a Sr. Project Manager with the Port’s Development Team. He currently leads the Port’s development projects at Piers 30-32 and Seawall Lot 330 and Fisherman’s Wharf. Wyatt previously led the Port’s novel public financing approach for the Mission Rock and Pier 70 developments, including issuing over $150 million in Special Tax Bonds. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, hiking, and laughing with his two-year-old son, Theo.
Richard Kennedy, Partner, Field Operations
Richard is a Partner at Field Operations in San Francisco and brings 20 years of expertise in landscape architecture and urban design. He focuses on creating resilient, vibrant public spaces to enhance cities. Notable projects include the Presidio Tunnel Tops Park, Pier 70's open space design, UCSF's new hospital, and Stanford University's Town Center. Richard holds a master’s in landscape architecture from Harvard University and has lectured worldwide. His portfolio features Cleveland's Public Square, Memphis' Shelby Farms Park, and London's South Park at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
East Bay Meet Up
Wednesday, May 1, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM
You are invited to an informal wine and cheese gathering to meet your fellow LAI Golden Gate chapter members in the East Bay.
Members: $25 each
Please be sure your dues are current.
To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Email Lori Horan to reserve and purchase tickets via check or Zelle.
Program - San Francisco’s Waterfront Transformation
San Francisco’s Waterfront Transformation: The New Waterfront Resilience Program
San Francisco's waterfront has seen numerous major transformations over its history. Driven by the existential crises of climate change and rising sea levels, the City has a need — and an opportunity — to transform its waterfront once again. Like many cities globally, San Francisco grapples with the present-day challenges of coastal flooding and seismic vulnerability. These threats are poised to intensify over time, putting structures, small enterprises, employment, transportation, and essential services at risk. This program will delve into the intricacies of the Port of San Francisco’s recently released Waterfront Resilience Program (WRP), a proactive initiative designed to enhance and revitalize the waterfront while concurrently mitigating the hazards of flooding and earthquakes through extensive coastal adaptations. With the recent release of The Draft Plan, a co-sponsored effort with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, San Francisco stands at a formative moment in deciding solutions to these existential issues. The discussion will shed light on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the WRP, showcasing the adaptive strategies under consideration by the WRP team and external stakeholders. Furthermore, the session will explore the amalgamation of diverse approaches necessary to address the varied vulnerabilities, topographical nuances, and historical development intricacies present along the San Francisco waterfront.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
Late Registration (after Apr. 12): $75 each
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Brad Benson, Program Manager, Port of San Francisco
Brad Benson joined the Port of San Francisco in 2005 and serves as the Waterfront Resilience Program Director. He currently oversees the Waterfront Resilience Program efforts, including the up to $5 billion Embarcadero Seawall Program and the United States Army Corps of Engineers/Port of San Francisco Flood Study. Previously, as Director of Special Projects, Brad developed the state legislation that guides two of the Port’s largest development projects at Pier 70 and Mission Rock. Additionally, he developed the state and local legislation that allows the Port to form infrastructure financing districts on Port property. He collaborated in the preparation of the Port’s Ten-Year Capital Plan to ensure an economically stable Port and he managed the Port’s role in the Golden State Warriors Chase Center development project in the central waterfront. He also served as the Port’s Pier 70 Waterfront Site Project Director to oversee a new proposed transit oriented, Type 1 Eco-District neighborhood in the southern waterfront.
Kevin Conger, Founding Partner, CMG Landscape Architecture
Kevin Conger is a Founding Partner of CMG Landscape Architecture and is involved in many innovative public realm projects in the Bay Area including the redevelopment of Treasure Island, Bay Meadows, Moscone Center, De-Pave Park at Alameda Point, and the Port of San Francisco’s Waterfront Resilience Program. Kevin’s mantra is that all his work is part of “One Project”, which is to improve social and ecological wellbeing through artful design in our community. Kevin is a family man and surfer with his partner Nancy and young adults Ren and Claire.
Abby Granbery, Associate Urban Designer, SITELAB urban studio
Abby Granbery is an associate urban designer and planner at SITELAB urban studio. She believes that well designed public spaces, whether in the form of streets, parks, or urban plazas, have a powerful role in not only building communities but also helping to address some of the defining issues of our time. She has led the SITELAB team in developing the design alternatives and Draft Plan for the Port’s Waterfront Resilience Program. Her technical background in integrating resiliency, mobility and urban design has spanned the city design scales and subjects; from regional network plans and adaptation plans to detailed multimodal street design. She has practiced urban design in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia.
Tour & Happy Hour - Mission Rock
Join LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of the Mission Rock development, 1023 3rd Street, at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, March 12th. Meet us afterward for happy hour at 5:00 pm at Mission Bay Wine & Cheese (114 Channel Street).
Tuesday, March 12, from 3:30PM - 6:30PM
Join LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of the Mission Rock development, 1023 3rd Street, at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, March 12th. Meet us afterward for happy hour at 5:00 pm at Mission Bay Wine & Cheese (114 Channel Street).
3:30 pm - Tour - starting from The Canyon (1023 3rd Street)
5:00 pm - Happy Hour at Mission Bay Wine & Cheese (114 Channel Street)
Mission Rock is the transformation of nearly 28 acres of parking lots into a new mixed-use waterfront neighborhood. The project is a public-private partnership with the San Francisco Giants, Tishman Speyer and the Port of San Francisco. Phase One consists of four buildings – two residential (537 units, including below market rate units for middle-income households), two commercial (approximately 550,000 square feet), a five-acre waterfront park and 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. In 2024, the project will deliver the final building in Phase One and welcome retailers, Visa and Capgemini as the first commercial users and additional residents.
Space is limited, so please sign up ASAP.
Tour + Happy Hour
$45 each (Members and guests)
$35 each (Public Sector Members only)*
Happy Hour only:
$45 each (Members and guests)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Carl Shannon,
Tishman Speyer
Carl Shannon is responsible for Tishman Speyer’s portfolio in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. He is responsible for all aspects of the business while driving new initiatives such developing office product for tech and life science markets. He has developed many signature properties and is currently overseeing Mission Rock, partnering with the San Francisco Giants to create a new neighborhood on the waterfront. Residential projects have included both market and affordable homes, with the most recent project Mira, overlooking the Bay Bridge. Carl also oversees Tishman Speyer Communities, the firm’s affordable housing platform across the U.S. He is a member of the Investment Committee. Before joining Tishman Speyer in 1998, he worked for both GE Capital and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Carl received an AB, magna cum laude, and graduated with an MBA, with high honors, from Harvard University.
Maggie Kadin,
Tishman Speyer
Maggie Kadin joined Tishman Speyer in 2016 as part of the Leadership Development Program and currently oversees the Mission Rock development in San Francisco. She joined Tishman Speyer in New York before moving to San Francisco, initially working on the LUMINA and Mira condo developments before transitioning to Mission Rock. Prior to Tishman Speyer, Maggie worked at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division, concentrating on industrial companies, and the Merchant Banking Division, focusing on global capital raising and equity syndication for the firm’s direct private investment platform. Maggie holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago.
Program - State of the Market
State of the Market: What does 2024 hold in store for Bay Area residential, commercial and retail markets?
Please join us on Tuesday, February 13, from 11:45-1:30 pm, to hear about recent and anticipated trends in the region’s residential, commercial, and retail real estate markets. How are hybrid work and rising interest rates affecting where people choose to live, work and shop? What is the outlook for commercial leasing and building performance? What variation do we see across the region? Is a “new normal” in sight?
Three leading brokers will discuss today’s market dynamics, as well as their thoughts on market evolution we can expect in the foreseeable future.
Residential: Eve Myers Loecher, Senior Vice President, Eastdil Secured
Commercial: Chris Roeder, Executive Managing Director, JLL
Retail: Julie Taylor, Executive Vice President, Colliers
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
Late Registration (after Feb. 9): $75 each
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Eve Myers Loecher, Senior Vice President, Eastdil Secured
Eve, based in San Francisco, is currently a Senior Vice President at Eastdil Secured, where she has worked since 2012. As a leader within the firm’s multifamily advisory practice covering the West Coast, Eve advises clients on strategic sale, recapitalization, and joint venture executions for single assets and across geographically diverse large-scale portfolios. Over the course of her career, Eve has executed over $50 billion in transaction volume. Eve is an active member of Urban Land Institute (ULI) and serves on the boards of Stern Grove Festival and the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Eve earned a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons, and loves to travel, enjoys the outdoors, and is an avid hiker and skier.
Julie Taylor, Executive Vice President, Colliers
Julie works exclusively to serve the needs of retail real estate property owners, investors, and retailers. Julie is highly active in the Downtown San Francisco trade area leasing flagship properties and representing luxury and urban retailers. She has leased almost 850,000 square feet over 90 transactions with an aggregate lease value of over $900 Million in the Union Square market. Her area of expertise spans the regional retail markets of the Bay Area and urban retail in San Francisco. Julie also leases the 100,000 square foot Salesforce Transit Center in Downtown San Francisco. Julie has had extensive experience representing chain stores expanding throughout Northern California.
Chris Roeder, Executive Managing Director, JLL
Chris is a corporate real estate advisor who leads the 45+ person brokerage team at JLL in San Francisco. He primarily represents institutional landlords and tenants throughout the city’s 90 million square foot commercial office sector. Since joining the firm in 2007, Chris has consistently been considered and awarded as one of the top brokers in the United States. He has over 25 years of experience with devising strategic leasing plans for San Francisco’s largest and most active institutional investors, helping create new submarkets such as Mid-Market, The Presidio and SOMA, and executing some of the largest and most complicated transactions over the last two decades in San Francisco. Chris is consistently recognized for his expertise in commercial real estate advisory and transaction execution and was recently awarded the Champion of Excellence award by JLL for his lifetime achievements.
New Initiate Reception
Thursday, February 8, from 5:00PM - 7:00PM
Please join the 2023 nominators and Board Members in welcoming the new initiates at the 2023 New Initiate reception!
2023 Initiates & their nominators: No charge
Other members: $45 each
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Tour & Happy Hour - UC Law SF
Join LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of UC Law San Francisco’s newest addition to the Academic Village, 198 McAllister Street, at 3:30 pm on Thursday, January 18, 2024. Meet us afterward for happy hour at 5:00 pm at Chambers, 601 Eddy Street.
Thursday, January 18, from 3:30PM - 6:30PM
Join LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of UC Law San Francisco’s 198 McAllister Street, part of its Academic Village at 3:30 pm on Thursday, January 18th. Meet us afterward for happy hour at 5:00 pm at Chambers (601 Eddy St.).
3:30 pm - Tour, 198 McAllister Street
5:00 pm - Happy Hour at Chambers, 601 Eddy Street
UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) completed the second phase of its Academic Village plan, having successfully constructed a 14-story, campus housing and mixed-use complex at 198 McAllister Street which opened in August 2023. With 356,000 square feet, the new building includes academic and retail space plus 656-units of housing for students and trainees from UC Law, the University of California, San Francisco, and other institutions of higher education in the Bay Area. The developer for the project was Greystar, the architect was Perkins & Will, with Build Group serving as the general contractor.
This project completes the second phase of UC Law’s long-range plan to transform its two-block campus into a vibrant Academic Village at the nexus of San Francisco’s Civic Center, Mid-Market, and Tenderloin neighborhoods. The first phase concluded in 2020 with completion of the Cotchett Law Center at 333 Golden Gate Avenue. The college’s first new academic building in 40 years, it was designed to Platinum LEED standards with six stories and 57,000 square feet of smart classrooms, offices, and a Sky Deck overlooking City Hall.
Space is limited, so please sign up ASAP.
Tour + Happy Hour
$45 each (Members and guests)
$35 each (Public Sector Members only)*
Happy Hour only:
$45 each (Members and guests)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
David Seward
Chief Financial Officer, UC Law San Francisco
Since 1994, David Seward has served as the Chief Financial Officer of UC College of the Law, San Francisco where he is responsible for financial and business management functions, state intergovernmental relations, risk, investment and real estate management. He also oversees the development and implementation of the school's Long Range Campus Plan and its strategic centerpiece, the development of an Academic Village, providing a platform for shared campus housing and academic functionality.
Rhiannon Bailard
Chief Operating Officer, UC Law San Francisco
Rhiannon Bailard is a veteran administrator in higher education, having served at three different institutions of higher education over twenty years. As the UC Law San Francisco Chief Operating Officer, Rhiannon oversees construction, facilities, sustainability, safety and emergency preparedness, retail, events, space allocation, and housing. Her most recent accomplishment was opening the Academe at 198 on August 3, 2023. This mixed-use campus housing project successfully realized the College’s Academic Village vision by providing 656 residential units to house residents from multiple institutions of higher education including UC Law San Francisco, UCSF, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, University of the Pacific Dugoni School, and University of San Francisco.
Program - Capital Markets & Real Estate Outlook for 2024
Looking Forward: The Capital Markets & Real Estate Outlook for 2024 and Beyond
It’s been a year! For the January 9, 2024 program we welcome LAI member Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions at StepStone. StepStone is a global allocator investing in numerous asset classes, including $180 billion total capital responsibility for real estate (as of 9/30/2023). Margaret will provide StepStone’s perspective on capital markets, the impact of potentially stabilizing interest rates and preferred property types for investments. Join us and bring your good questions about what to expect in 2024.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Margaret McKnight, Partner and Head of Portfolio Solutions
, StepStone
Margaret is a member of the real estate team at StepStone and focuses on various investment and portfolio management activities. She is also a committee member of the StepStone Charitable Giving Program and on the Global Allocation Committee.
Prior to joining StepStone, Margaret spent more than a decade at Carlyle’s Metropolitan Real Estate, where she served as the co-Chief Investment Officer and was the fund head for Metropolitan’s Global Funds series. She was a Consultant with Cambridge Associates and held various roles with JP Morgan. Margaret sits on the Investment Committee for Sutter Health, the fifth largest US non-profit community-based healthcare provider and the Real Assets Investment Subcommittee for Swarthmore College. She recently served as a Senior Advisor to Juniper Square, focused on Capital Markets applications of their investment management software.
Margaret graduated with high honors from Swarthmore College and earned an MBA from New York University.
Faye Beverett, Retired Principal
, Bard Consulting
Faye has worked as a consultant and principal in real estate since 1984. She joined Bard Consulting in 2004 and became a principal in 2006. While at Bard, Faye helped primarily large pension funds with investment manager due diligence, real estate investment analysis, transaction structuring, negotiation, legal documentation review and asset valuation. Prior to Bard, Faye had her own consulting and investment firm, served as a vice president for Catellus Development Corporate (prior to its acquisition by Prologis) and worked as a real estate consultant for Deloitte. Faye is a member of the Urban Land Institute and a board member for the Lambda Alpha Golden Gate Chapter.
Faye has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis, and an MBA from UC Berkeley.
Tour - IKEA San Francisco Meeting Place
Get a Behind the Scenes Tour of the San Francisco Meeting Place (IKEA) Before It Opens in 2024! Space is Limited!
Thursday, December 14, from 2:00PM - 4:00PM
Ingka Centres (which we know as IKEA) acquired the iconic six-floor building at 945 Market Street in 2020 and is developing a unique mix of retail, office space, food & beverage, entertainment, and of course, the IKEA store. They are building a much needed “Meeting Place” for this diamond in the rough Mid-Market neighborhood.
IKEA City San Francisco opened in August of this year to rave reviews. Together with the Meeting Place, the new development will offer a flexible co-working space Hej!Workshop with Industrious (3rd largest co-working space company in the U.S.), Saluhall– (food hall), and other uses such as digital experiences and wellness. The Meeting Place is expected to open in Spring 2024.
Ingka Centres is part of the Ingka Group (which also includes IKEA Retail and Ingka Investments). Ingka Centres has 50 years of experience in shopping centers and today works with over 3,000 brands across its portfolio of 33 shopping centers in 13 markets. The company hosts and serves more than 370 million visitors each year at its IKEA anchored meeting places. Ingka Centres creates its meeting places by collaborating with local communities, as well as its tenants and partners, to ensure they are destinations with emotional meaning that add value and build social connections.
Tour
Cost: $10 (Members only*)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
*Please contact us if you’d like to bring guests
Miia Kautovaara, Meeting Place Manager, Ingka Centres North America
Miia Kautovaara is a global retail and real estate professional, strategic business developer and change leader with more than 20 years of professional experience. Her professional background spans a broad range of retail sectors--food, fashion and home furnishings. In 2012, Miia joined IKEA and opened the first IKEA-anchored shopping center in Finland. In 2017 she moved to Sweden and was part of Ingka Centres global team in various roles within Expansion, Concept, Strategy and Sustainability.
In her current role as Meeting Place Manager she will create, drive, and develop the new Meeting Place in San Francisco. As the first Meeting Place Manager in Ingka Centres North America, she also leads setting up the business operations in the new market and oversees all assets in North America (US and Canada).
Besides her job, Miia is actively contributing to the business community as Business Advisor, Board member, Speaker and Mentor. She has huge passion for sustainability and growing the business responsibly. She lives in Marin County with her family and enjoys yoga and hiking during her free time.
New Initiates Gala
Lambda Alpha International Golden Gate Chapter's 2023 New Initiate Gala
Date: Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023
Time: 6-9:30 pm
Location: Four Seasons Hotel, 757 Market St.
Cost: $250 per person before Nov. 15; $275 after
Please consider sponsoring an initiate by clicking the “Purchase tickets” link below:
Email Lori Horan to reserve and purchase tickets or sponsorships via check or Zelle.
Join us in welcoming our new initiates
Daniel Adams | Laura Barr | Mike Buhler | Tina Chang | Ed Conlon | Ramie Dare | Jennifer Devlin-Herbert | Marc Fisher | Alicia Guerra | Christine Haas Georgiev | Kristen Jensen | Maggie Kadin | Jon Lau | Ted Lieser | Paul Moran | Judi Mosqueda | Eric Newberg | Bob Nibbi | Chris Rivielle | Natalie Sandoval | Ann Silverberg | Sujata Srivastava | Richard Sucre | Benedict Tranel | Anna Van Degna | Tim Vrabel | Marcel Wilson | Malcolm Yeung
Land Economics Weekend 2023
Save the dates for the 2023 Los Angeles Land Economics Weekend
Visit the LAI website for registration information and agenda.
Program - Revitalizing Downtown: Part 3
Revitalizing Downtown San Francisco Series, Part 3
Adaptive reuse of vacant office, ground floor activation, neighborhood programming – all are important approaches discussed for revitalizing Downtown San Francisco. But how do these and other strategies come together to produce a coherent vision for the future? What is required to ensure the future neighborhood is resilient, economically vibrant, and socially inclusive? And what policy changes, financial incentives, or other actions should the City prioritize to achieve this vision? In May, the City and County of San Francisco and the Urban Land Institute partnered to bring together a national and local Advisory Services Panel to consider these questions for the Financial District. Representatives from the City and from the ULI Panel will share the resulting recommendations and will discuss the work the City is advancing to revitalize Downtown.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Anne Taupier, Director of Development, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development
Anne Taupier serves as the Director of Development overseeing the management and entitlement of large private and public mixed-use development and affordable housing projects on behalf of the City of San Francisco. Her projects include Hunter’s Point Shipyard, 2013 America’s Cup Host City, 5M, The Plumber’s Union Development, The Conservatory of Music student housing, India Basin, the Flower Mart, Potrero Power Station and Balboa Reservoir. Prior to working in the Mayor’s Office, Anne was an investigator for the San Francisco Office of the City Attorney. Anne is a life-long trail runner and former competitive cyclist and tri-athlete.
Kate Collignon, Partner
, HR&A Advisors
Kate Collignon helps communities implement inclusive economic growth and real estate development strategies. Her practice at HR&A Advisors – a nationwide consulting firm that has worked to create more equitable, resilient, and dynamic communities for nearly 50 years – has spanned management of some of the most complex public and private development initiatives in New York City, to cultivation of economic turnarounds in small and mid-sized cities across the Midwest and Northeast, to collaboration with cities across the country around downtown revitalization pre- and post-COVID. Kate previously served as Development Director with Brookfield Properties, as Senior Vice President for Development at the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and on the faculty of the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Mike Grisso, Senior Vice President, Development and Land Planning,
Kilroy Realty Corporation
Mike Grisso is a Senior Vice President at Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC), a developer and operator of high-quality commercial properties on the West Coast for more than 65 years. Mike has over 20 years of real estate development experience and leads KRC’s planning and entitlement efforts in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Prior to joining KRC in July 2014, Mike was a Senior Project Manager at the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and its successor, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure. Mike serves on the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of the Bay Area Council, on the Executive Committee of the East Cut Community Benefit District, as a Member of ULI’s Urban Development Mixed Use Council, and is Former President of LAI’s Golden Gate Chapter.
Daniel A. Sider, AICP
Chief of Staff, San Francisco Planning Department
Dan’s career in public service has spanned more than two decades, serving four planning directors and five mayoral administrations. As the Chief of Staff, he is responsible for department-wide efficiency and accountability, complex interdivisional and interagency projects, and executive-level policy guidance. In partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Board of Supervisors, and other City departments, Dan works to improve San Francisco’s built environment and increase the production of housing at all levels of affordability for current and future San Franciscans. Dan has served the Planning Department in a variety of capacities, including as the Director of Executive Programs, Assistant Zoning Administrator, Department Ombudsman, Manager of Legislative Affairs, and as a Principal Planner. He also served as the Director of City Greening under Mayor Gavin Newsom. A native San Franciscan, Dan holds a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego and a Master in Urban Planning degree from Harvard University. He lives halfway outside the fog-belt in Cole Valley.
Program - Residential Conversion Panel
Office to Residential Conversion in Downtown SF: Promise, Problems, and Pathways
Please note venue change - Wells Fargo Penthouse, 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco
Downtowns across the country are seizing on residential conversions to remedy office vacancy and lack of activity resulting from the rise of remote work. Are conversions in Downtown San Francisco sufficiently attractive – physically and financially – to property owners and developers to merit investment? Can recent legislation designed to enhance the appeal of conversion build momentum? What else needs to happen to strengthen Downtown San Francisco? Panelists representing the development, architecture, and policy making communities will discuss the economic and physical prospects of office to residential conversion in San Francisco, and opportunities to fuel activity and investment Downtown.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Members & Guests: $65 each
Public Sector Members: $55 each*
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Members must be current with their dues to attend the program. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Sujata Srivastava, SPUR
As the San Francisco Director for SPUR, Sujata works with stakeholders and community members to implement policies that will advance equity, sustainability, and prosperity in San Francisco. She is currently leading SPUR’s policy research and advocacy for San Francisco’s downtown revitalization, as well as improving housing affordability and sustainable transportation choices in the city. Sujata has over 20 years of experience directing research and policy analysis for cities and regions across the United States and in Latin America. Before joining SPUR, she was a principal at Strategic Economics, a Berkeley-based urban economics consulting firm. Sujata holds a Master’s degree in City Planning from the University of California at Berkeley and a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College.
Eric Tao, L37
Eric brings more than 20-years of leadership experience in the real estate industry managing over $1 billion in new developments including 2,000 multifamily units and mixed-use assets in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a founding principal at Avant Group (AGI) he managed multifamily development investments for two CalPERS funds and several smaller family offices. Eric is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, CA and received his Juris Doctorate from UC Hastings College of Law. He currently serves as the Chair of the San Francisco ULI District Council and on the Board of SPUR.
Jack Sylvan, SDG LLC
Jack is founder and principal of SDG, LLC, a San Francisco-based development company delivering exceptional value to investors, partners and clients on complex and innovative mixed-use development opportunities. Prior to forming SDG, Jack served as Senior Vice President of Development for Forest City Realty Trust and Brookfield Properties and spent eight years in the San Francisco Mayor’s Office overseeing large public-private real estate development projects. Jack currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Fisher Center for Real Estate at UC Berkeley and the Board of Directors of SPUR. He holds a Masters in Urban Planning from the University of California at Berkeley and a dual Bachelor of Arts and Sciences from the University of California at Davis.
Ben Tranel, Gensler
Ben Tranel is an architect focused on the transformational power of design. As a Principal with Gensler, over his last 17 years in the San Francisco office, he has grown the firm’s practice, refined its working methods, and strengthened relationships locally and abroad. Notable projects include his work on the 632-meter Shanghai Tower, the Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, Burlingame Point development, and 200 Park in San Jose. Ben is a graduate of Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, and he resides with his family in San Francisco.
Tour - Presidio Tunnel Tops
Join us in the sequel to the fabulous Tunnel Tops presentation by Michael Boland, Chief Park Officer of The Presidio Trust.
Thursday, June 8, from 3:30PM - 5:00PM
Join us in the sequel to the fabulous Tunnel Tops presentation by Michael Boland, Chief Park Officer of The Presidio Trust.
This sequel was worth the wait! Join us in the sequel to the fabulous Tunnel Tops presentation by Michael Boland, Chief Park Officer of The Presidio Trust. Michael will lead members on an intimate tour of the newest edition to the Presidio—The Tunnel Tops Park! He’ll also provide us with the inside scoop in developing the must-see San Francisco attraction. It’s not just us who think it—over 600 national and international publications agree!
Tour
Cost: $5 (Members only*)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
*Please contact us if you’d like to bring guests
Michael Boland
Presidio Trust, Chief Park Officer
Since 2001, Michael Boland has played a key role in transforming the historic Presidio army base into a world class national park site. As Chief Park Officer, he leads an interdisciplinary team that has created comprehensive visitor infrastructure, restored the Presidio’s mosaic of natural and cultural landscapes, established national park experiences serving urban youth and their families, and reinvented the site as a unique financially self-sufficient national park for all. Michael has a B.A. in Architecture and a Masters in Landscape Architecture and City Planning, all from UC Berkeley. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Tour - Pier 70, Building 12
Join LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of Pier 70, Building 12, at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, May 24. Meet us afterward for happy hour at 5:00 pm at The Plant Cafe Organic.
Wednesday, May 24, from 3:30PM - 6:00PM
Join LAI Golden Gate Chapter for a tour of Pier 70, Building 12, at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, May 24. Meet us afterward for happy hour at 5:00 pm at The Plant Cafe Organic.
3:30 pm - Building 12 tour
5:00 pm - Happy Hour at The Plant Cafe Organic
Built in 1941 for the Word War II shipbuilding effort, Building 12, a football-field-sized steel structure is a focal point for a new generation of making and industry with an eclectic mix of maker spaces accessible to the public, local artisan retail, neighborhood serving retail, commercial office space and event space.
Brookfield Properties is the developer of Pier 70, a new 28-acre neighborhood at a historic shipyard property along San Francisco’s Central Waterfront adjacent to the Dogpatch neighborhood. The project is a public-private partnership with the Port of San Francisco. The plans, created with the community, are a natural extension of Dogpatch. New elements include housing across the spectrum of affordability, waterfront parks and open spaces, commercial office and life science space, a waterfront arts building, light industrial space for local makers and manufacturers, and rehabilitated historic buildings.
Space is limited so please sign up ASAP.
Tour + Happy Hour
Cost: $45 (Members only)
$35 each (Public Sector Members only)*
Happy Hour only:
$45 each (Members and guests)
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
*Public sector members must pay by Zelle (recipient name: info@laisf.org) to receive the discount.
Tim Bacon
Brookfield Properties, Sr. Director, Development, Commercial
Tim applies 20 years of urban retail and mixed-use real estate development experience in San Francisco and other west coast markets leading Pier 70's development team. He oversees the rehabilitation and reuse of Building 12, the primary historic asset at Pier 70. He also directs Pier 70's horizontal development, the historic rehabilitation and reuse of Buildings 2 and Building 21 and the overall Pier 70 strategy for retail and maker leasing.
Transportation information
Address to type into GPS if you are driving or calling a Lyft: 999 Michigan St. San Francisco, CA 94107. Note: if you are calling an Uber, the address is “The Noonan Building”. Parking is available next to the fences.
Facing east, you will see a silver metal sliding gate (cross hatched below). This is where we will meet before heading in for the tour.
Program - Union Square Strikes Back
Please note venue change - Wells Fargo Penthouse, 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco
The Union Square Alliance is playing a central role in the recovery and resurgence of Union Square and all of downtown San Francisco. In November 2022, the Alliance released its new Strategic Plan (click here for link to the plan), which imagines a bustling, complete downtown neighborhood with shoppers, visitors, workers, and residents and includes key components highlighting Clean and Safe, Economic Development, Marketing and Advertising and Public Realm. Marisa Rodriguez, CEO, and Ken Rich, COO, from the Union Square Alliance will share an overview of the Plan and talk about the vision for Union Square and how it fits into the future of downtown as a whole.
Guests are welcome. Can't make it to the luncheon? Please consider sponsoring a speaker at the "Purchase tickets" link below:
Luncheon: $65 per person (Members & Guests)
To pay by check or Zelle, please contact Lori Horan (info@laisf.org) to RSVP. Please mail your check written to "LAI Golden Gate" to Lori Horan at PO Box 1471, Galt, CA 95632.
Please be sure your dues are current. To pay your dues, please visit lai.org/profile, and click the "Renew" button under "My Membership."
Marisa Rodriguez, CEO, Union Square Alliance
Marisa is a collaborative and mission-driven leader with over 15 years of experience in public policy, regulatory and legal affairs, community relations, and the public realm. Her breadth of knowledge in the public domain allows her to empathetically communicate with diverse constituents, uplift voices, and forge lasting partnerships with key stakeholders. Her expertise lies in her ability to develop deep and lasting relationships between government, private sector, and community partners.
Marisa has a background as an Assistant District Attorney and as a San Francisco City Department Head (for the Office of Cannabis) that speaks to her extensive experience with public policy and ability to bolster communities. She has an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business and a JD from USF School of Law.
Ken Rich, COO, Union Square Alliance
Ken Rich is a city planning and real estate development leader with 25 years of experience working on planning and development projects and policy in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. Ken served as Director of Development for San Francisco Mayors Ed Lee and London Breed from 2010 to 2020, where he led the real estate team within the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Projects approved under Ken’s direction focused on low- and middle-income housing, waterfront revitalization, workforce development and the arts.
Prior to working as Director of Development, Ken worked for more than 10 years on land use planning at the San Francisco Planning Department, where among other projects, he led the City’s initiative to adopt the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan, which rezoned a large portion of southeastern San Francisco in order to encourage more housing while protecting industrial businesses.