Future of Downtown Boston

Larry DiCara is among Boston’s most recognized attorneys and civic leaders. A frequent speaker at colleges, universities and other venues, as well as a regular go-to source in Boston media, Larry has taught at Harvard, Boston University and the University of Massachusetts. Larry practices real estate and administrative law and has been intimately involved with the development process in and around Boston for more than 40 years.

John Conley is Senior Vice President of Portfolio Management at Equity Office Properties, a leading real estate investment, and operating company. Mr. Conley oversees the Boston Region Asset Management and Leasing. Previously, Mr. Conley held similar positions with Archon Group and Glenborough Realty Trust. Mr. Conley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Boston University and an MBA in Finance from Boston College.

David Bois, AIA, LEED AP, is a Principal at Arrowstreet with a broad range of architectural experience gained during his 20+ years of practice. David developed specialties in residential, hospitality and mixed-use projects and has also integrated multi-mode transit hubs into vibrant developments. He has led complex public/private development partnerships with multiple city and state agencies. David has a keen eye for maximizing the potential of each site and customizing the design to fit within the context of the neighborhood whether it be densely urban, uniquely suburban, market rate or affordable housing. David is intimately involved in Congress Square, Parcel K Seaport, Avalon Bay projects and several residential projects that are part of Arrowstreet’s master plan for the revitalization of the Revere waterfront. David looks at the changing way people are working, socializing and incorporating technology into their daily lives and develops living environments that make a “home” rather than a random collection of materials. He balances constructability and building performance with innovative and affordable solutions including passive house principles and material optimization to address the growing need for workforce housing.

Prior to founding KIG Real Estate Advisors (“KIG”), Mr. Krebs has over 25-years of real estate investment and development experience ranging from institutional investment management at UBS and JP Morgan to opening and leading the vertically integrated private equity firm Normandy Real Estate Partners Boston office. KIG operates under two ventures, Strategic Land Ventures (www.strategiclandventures.com) and Washington Square Ventures (www.wsvllc.com), platforms that focus on residential development from land acquisition and permitting through vertical development. KIG has a strong track record of the successful re-zoning and permitting of its sites under special permit and Chapter 40b, creating significant land value prior to the vertical development of its projects. KIG currently has 580 units in 5 apartment projects under development throughout the Boston Metro, totaling over $225 million in total development cost. Prior to founding KIG, Mr. Krebs was a Partner at Normandy Real Estate Partners, responsible for opening and overseeing Normandy's Boston office. During his 10 years at Normandy, Krebs built a $2 billion dollar office and residential portfolio with notable projects including the foreclosure, repositioning, and sale of the John Hancock Building (now 200 Clarendon), the acquisition and repositioning 99 Summer Street in downtown Boston, assembling and permitting Center 128 in Needham, a 2 million square foot mixed project which included the development of Trip Advisors Global HQ, and the permitting, design and development of Troy Boston, a 378-unit residential project in Boston’s South End, co-developed with Gerding Edlen. Mr. Krebs began his career in New York holding positions with global investment management firms UBS and JP Morgan. While at JP Morgan, Mr. Krebs held the title of Senior Vice President and team leader, responsible for more than $4 billion in real estate investment and development on the East Coast. At UBS, Krebs was an Assistant Vice President, investing more than $500 million in equity into real estate for pension funds and foreign investors. Mr. Krebs is a graduate from Providence College and has a MBA in Finance from Fordham University.

Rosemarie E. Sansone, President & CEO of the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District (BID) Corporation, has focused on business, jobs and community in a career that has spanned the private and public sectors. She has worked in government, community affairs, advertising and fundraising. Rosemarie was twice elected to the Boston City Council, where she served at large, developing a broad understanding of the relationships among city, state and federal agencies. Later she played a pivotal role in attracting businesses, tourism and conventions to the city as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Business and Cultural Development in the Flynn administration. In 1994, she joined Suffolk University as director of public affairs, with responsibilities that included collaborating with public- and private-sector partners on downtown’s ongoing revitalization. In 2007, Rosemarie transitioned to the Downtown Crossing Partnership, the BID’s predecessor organization. As its leader she spearheaded the multi-year campaign that led to the BID’s establishment in 2010. Rosemarie brought a collaborative style built upon teamwork with hundreds of business and property owners as the driving force behind the creation and success of Boston’s first BID. In leading the BID, Rosemarie is committed to serving its members through direct and immediate attention to their needs and those of the district. She works closely with the mayor’s office, the Boston Planning & Development Agency, the Boston Police Department, and a host of other city agencies to ensure the BID achieves the district’s full potential as a premier and vibrant destination. Rosemarie studied liberal arts at Suffolk University and earned a master’s degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Boston. Rosemarie has served on many boards, including the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Economic Development Industrial Board. She currently serves on the board of Revolution 250, which commemorates the anniversaries of significant events that led to the outbreak of the American Revolution. In 2013-14, Rosemarie served on Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s transition team, advising the incoming administration about basic city services. In 2016, she served as co-chair of the commission that oversaw the creation of the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park in Boston’s Seaport.

Nick Ratti is a principal with CohnReznick’s Project Finance Consulting Practice in Boston, Massachusetts. He has more than 15 years of experience in the tax credit industry. Nick is currently responsible for developing and evaluating tax credit syndication structures, providing tax compliance advice, evaluating tax credit recapture or tax-loss reallocation issues, strategizing post compliance period exits and providing syndication advisory services. Nick has extensive experience structuring a wide range of Historic, Low-Income Housing, and New Markets tax credit and Opportunity Zone transactions for his developer and investor clients. Additionally, Nick is a frequent speaker at national conferences and seminars including but not limited to; CohnReznick New Markets Tax Credit Summit, National Housing and Rehabilitation Association, American Bar Association Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development, IPED Annual Historic Tax Credit Summit and the New Jersey Governor’s Conference. Education  Providence College: Cum Laude, Bachelor of Science, Accounting and Finance Professional Affiliations  Preservation Massachusetts, Executive Committee and Chair of LLC Committee  National Housing & Rehabilitation Association