Thank you for visiting the ULI Detroit website.  Please scroll down to read about our recent news and events.

July 19, 2007

On July 13, ULI Executive Committee Members met with Eastern Market Corporation President and ULI Member Katherine Beebe to discuss the future of the district many are predicting will become the “crown jewel” of Detroit.  The formation of Eastern Market Corporation, an umbrella organization combining the efforts of local stakeholders, the Downtown Detroit Partnership and the City of Detroit, came after a 2005 Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel recommended that a single private entity take control of running the market and promoting the district. 

ULI Detroit members James C. Bieri of Bieri Company, Kevin Carter of Jones Lang LaSalle and Eric Larsonof Larson Realty Group demonstrated the district council’s continued commitment to the revitalization of the Eastern Market district by spending several hours last Friday discussing plans for its redevelopment with Ms. Beebe and a team of consultants from Chan Krieger Seiniewicz that included Harvard professor and urban planner Alex Krieger.    Among the topics discussed were the possibility of significant residential development, creating the right retail mix, appropriate programming for the sheds and joining Eastern Market to other parts of the city via the planned “Dequindre Cut.”    To find out more about the Eastern Market Corporation’s plans for creating a lively, urban neighborhood, please visit www.detroiteasternmarket.com. 

June 25, 2007

Please click here to view the latest version of ULI Detroit's newsletter. 

June 13, 2007

Making Green Work:  The Practical Side of Sustainability

ULI Detroit made its first foray into the green/sustainable building and design movement with a conference at Lawrence Technological University, a campus famous for its own USGBC LEED certified Student Services Center.  Around 90 developers, architects, builders, consultants, students and professors gathered in Lawrence Tech's architecture building for presentations by some of the green movements key players from the Detroit area and around the country.  James L. Newman of Newman Consulting Group opened the event with a "Green 101" presentation titled "What Green Means for Us."  Gary Jay Saulson of PNC Financial Services followed.  After a break, the program moved to a panel discussion moderated by Robin Boyle, featuring Dan Rappel of Valerio Dewalt Train on the Kresge Foundation Headquarters, Roger Gaudette of Ford Land on the Allen Park Clay Mine Redevelopment and Greg Ward of "Wells Fargo on the Financial Incentives for Going Green."

To powerpoint presentations by James L. Newman, Gary Saulson, Dan Rappel and Roger Gaudette, please click here. 

May 2, 2007

3rd Annual Lifetime Achievement Dinner honoring Robert C. Larson

Robert C. Larson (center) with ULI Detroit Steering Committee member Richard Burstein of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn and his wife, Gail Burstein. 

On Tuesday, May 1, Robert C. Larson was presented with the 2007 ULI Detroit Lifetime Achievement Award at a Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan that drew 550 top real estate and business professionals from both Detroit and across the country.  Honored for his work in the Detroit and national real estate communities, as well as his leadership in numerous civic, charitable adn philanthropic activities, Mr. Larson has been a leader in ULI for more than 30 years.  He currently serves as a vice chairman and trustee of ULI, and is a director and past chairman of the ULI Foundations. 

During the course of the evening, a video tribute to Larson shared messages and memories from close friends and colleagues such as Vernon Jordan, Rip Rapson, A. Alfred Taubman, John Bucksbarm, Albert B. Ratner, Sidney Forbes and Les Wexner.  Larson also received a book that included several hundred letters of congratulations from real estate colleagues, politicians and friends from around the world. 

As part of the award, ULI Detroit will donated the entire ULI Library, in Larson's name, to Carleton College in Minnesota, Mr. Larson's alma mater. 

Event attendees  included former Detroit mayor Dennis Archer, DIA Director Graham Beal, Sidney Forbes, Edsel B. Ford II, Stuart Frankel, Ron Kagen, Managing Director of Lazard Freres Matthew Lustig, ULI President Rick Rosan, ULI Chair Marilyn Taylor, David V. Johson, Robert S. Taubman, Eleanor Josaitis and Matthew P. Cullen. 

To view photos of the event, please click here. 

April 11, 2007

Young Leaders Group Project Tour @ Ford Field

YLG members and guests enjoyed an exclusive tour of the Ford Field complex.  The evening began with a talk by Ford Field architect Matt Rossetti of Rossetti Architecture.  Before opening the floor to question and answer, Mr. Rossetti focused on the benefits and challenges associated with developing a large scale project like Ford Field in an urban area and incorporating existing structures.  "It was a really valuable opportunity to gain access to someone like Matt Rossetti-- he has so much relevant experience and passion.  It was tremendously inspiring," said YLG Member Harry Pianko of Brown Communities.  After a tour of the stadium complex, the group adjourned to Cliff Bells on Park Ave. for drinks, appetizers and networking. 

Special thanks to Joe Pigott and Kevin Bopp for making the evening's speaker and facility arrangements. 

March 21, 2007

Young Leaders Group 2007 Kickoff Event

On March 21, almost 100 real estate professionals under 35 converged at Cinq in Royal Oak for cocktails, appetizers and networking. Photos courtesy of Nick Martines, D Business.  

Brittany Galisdorfer and David White take advantage of the networking opportunities (and open bar) at the March 21 event.

Please click here to view a list of all event registrants. 

February 15, 2007

"Troy Lands 21st Annual UM-ULI Real Estate Forum"

To view the full article, please click here. 

January 16, 2007

16th Annual ULI-GVA Strategis-SIOR Commercial Real Estate Forecast and Trends Conference

"Moving Ahead in a Changing Economy"

175 real estate professionals gathered at the Marriott Pontiac at Centerpoint to hear 4 SIOR members discuss the outlook for the Michigan economy in 2007 and beyond.  The SIOR panel was followed by a lunch featuring keynote speaker Arthur C. Nelson, PhD. of Virginia Tech University.

To view a meeting agenda, list of registrants and a copy of Dr. Nelson's Presentation titled "Phoenix Rising: Stories of Metro Detroit's Decline are Premature," please click here. 

December 1, 2006

ULI Detroit's Young Leaders Group partnered with Model D to host a holiday party at the brand new Park Bar in downtown Detroit, on the corner of Park Ave. and Elizabeth.  ULI and Model D were the first groups to get a look inside the Park Bar-- owner Jerry Belanger secured his liquor license only hours before the first guests arrived.  YLG Program Committee Chair Jill Ferrari handled the bulk of planning for the event, including arranging delicious catering by Traffic Jam & Snug.  Model D provided ample holiday cheer by generously sponsoring an open bar.

October 27, 2006

Almost 500 ULI Members and guests convened at Cobo Hall in Detroit for the 20th Annual UM-ULI Real Estate Forum, a two-day conference that brought together some of the nation's top real estate developers and academics to discuss one of the hot topics of 2006:  creating walkable urbanity.  Among the program participants were Sam Zell, Peter Linneman, Albert B. Ratner, Stephen M. Ross, Paul R. Levy, Robert Davis, Robert S. Taubman, Richard D. Baron, Arthur C. Nelson and Christopher Leinberger.  Proceeds from the event will help University of Michigan promote scholarship and professionalism in the real estate community.  For more information about the forum, please click here. 

Forum Committee Member Bob Berlow of Kickham Hanley P.C. with Forum speaker Sam Zell and Forum Chairman William Watch of First Commercial Real Estate and Development Company.