The Evolution of LA's Arts District!

Perry Pound is the Founder and CEO of Cambridge Pacific Ventures, a real estate and green technology investment firm focused on solving the housing crisis and the climate crisis. Cambridge Pacific invests in the creation of sustainable, innovative, mixed-use, transit-oriented housing communities. While beginning his career in politics and government, Perry developed his affinity for smart growth as a way to preserve open space, reduce pollution, and create a better quality of life for residents. Perry has to-date, developed more than 5,000 homes in 30 communities, and created more than 5,000 jobs. Prior to founding his own company, Mr. Pound opened the Greystar Southern California Development Division and transformed Greystar into the LA market leader. Perry sourced, negotiated, acquired, financed, and developed a $1.5+ Billion pipeline of ten new developments totaling approximately 2,500 new multifamily housing units. Prior to Greystar, Mr. Pound led the Southern California acquisition and development efforts for Alliance Residential, JPI, BRE Properties, and The Olson Company, for a total investment of an additional $1 billion. Mr. Pound received a Masters in International Finance from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and completed his second year in Real Estate Finance and Development at Harvard Business School. He received his B.A., cum laude, from Pepperdine University, where he was Student Body President. Mr. Pound currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine Business School, a mentor for real estate technology accelerator Moderne Ventures, and a member of the Urban Land Institute, the National Multi Housing Council, and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

Kate Bartolo has been involved in the Downtown (DTLA) resurgence for over two decades. Her DTLA-centric career spans her current land use and development consulting practice. It also includes time as a land use counsel/partner at The Kor Group, where she helped develop 1,500 residential units and over 100,000 square feet of retail. Kate got her start in land use as the aide to a former LA City Councilman. Subsequently, she worked as a retail broker with CBRE, specializing in downtown Los Angeles. Then and now, it is clear to Kate that sound creatively applied entitlements are essential to redevelopment efforts. She also knows that the creation of safe, vibrant neighborhoods, promotion of great design and balance between commerce and residential living are the very definition of why the Downtown Renaissance is thriving. To that end, her pro bono commitments included serving as a founder of one Business Improvement District (BID), the President of another BID and service on the board of a major homeless services provider. Kate’s land use and development portfolio spans hotels, restaurants, ground up mid and high rise projects and adaptive reuse projects. Some of her higher profile projects include The Eastern Columbia Lofts and Barker Block Lofts. Kate graduated with honors from UCLA and has taken extensive additional coursework in land use planning and real estate.

As Managing Partner of Steinberg Hart’s Los Angeles office and leader of the firm’s Mixed-Use practice, Simon Ha has nearly two decades of experience in the planning, design and construction of large-scale award-winning mixed-use, hospitality, and multi-family projects in the City of Los Angeles and beyond. With an education in urban housing development from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Simon leverages his knowledge of functional design, placemaking, and the development process to yield the highest value for his clients while achieving the goals of the city, community and the urban environment. Prior to joining Steinberg Hart, he was the Managing Partner at TSK-LA and a Principal at TCA Architects. Simon is an engaged community leader in Downtown LA. He is active on various boards and committees, including the AIA National Housing Knowledge Community, Central City Association, Downtown Center Business Improvement District, Skid Row Housing Trust, and City of LA’s Zoning Advisory Committee.

Well recognized for his visionary expertise and business accomplishments, Mr. Chen has 20 years experience in real estate investment and development. He also has 30 years experience in creative fashion and arts. Mr. Chen is currently a participant in the Real Estate Advanced Management Development Program (AMDP) at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Mr. Chen is a member of Central City Association of Los Angeles and Advisory board member of California Fashion Association. He is a supporter of Inner–City Arts organization, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), California Fashion Scholarship Foundation, FIDM Museum of the Helen Larson Historic Fashion foundation, Red Cross, City of Hope, Methodist Hospital foundation, Society of St. Vincent de Paul non-profit organization, and Arts District Los Angeles.

John Zanetos is a Executive Vice President in the Los Angeles office of CBRE. The world’s largest real estate services firm. John’s track record with tenants and landlords has enabled him to complete a multitude of complex transactions across the United States. Major transactions have included lease acquisitions and space dispositions for Fortune 500 Companies, multi-market relocations, strategic development, advance lease renewals and occupancy cost reduction strategies. John’s primary focus is representing firms with operations in Southern California, devising creative real estate solutions and providing advice during transaction negotiations. John has received numerous CBRE recognition awards. In 2016, John successfully completed the two largest lease transactions in Greater Los Angeles including a 250,000 RSF lease with Warner Music Group and a 240,000 RSF lease with City National Bank. In addition to representing clients within the acquisition and disposition of their lease space, John advises some of the largest institutional investors of real estate on the marketing and leasing of their assets.

In his role at Lion Real Estate Group, Jeff sources transactions and manages the firm’s investment portfolio alongside co-founder and partner Mory Barak. Jeff plays a significant role in raising investment capital with high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors. Lion has over 450 investment partners that encompass over $705 million of equity investments and commitments since inception. Jeff brings 25 years of real estate experience to Lion having previously worked at top brokerage firms CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield representing tenants, investors, and landlords in commercial real estate transactions. Most recently Jeff served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of EPMI and Bayside Communities, which owns 3,097 units and manages an additional 3,500 units on the West Coast. Jeff is a board member of the Folsom Institute and a graduate of Southern Methodist University.

Jerold B. (Jerry) Neuman represents individuals and companies looking to obtain local government licenses, permits, rights or contracts. Respected for obtaining governmental approvals and public participation, when needed, for many of the largest development projects in the State of California as well as securing government rights and contracts for large and small companies, Jerry has extensive experience in complex regulatory and legislative issues. Jerry is and has been the lead negotiator and project coordinator for many of Southern California’s most important real estate, green energy, infrastructure, and governmental procurement projects. His experience includes obtaining environmental clearances pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Additionally, he has substantial experience in coordinating teams of professionals including architects, engineers, environmental scientists, community relations and communication consultants and media relations professionals. Jerry also works regularly with elected officials, organized labor and community and business leaders in connection with many of these projects and issues. Through his extensive civic and community engagement, Jerry has created a network of corporate, community and political relationships that allow him to activate a variety of resources for his clients’ benefit.  Whether connecting to the state’s infrastructure or working with a community leader who is mindful of development within the client’s area, Jerry’s ability to understand the important relationships between community, business and politics helps him promote positive solutions.  A creative and strategic thinker, Jerry often moves beyond the role of legal counsel to that of strategic advisor. Jerry is one of only a few lawyers who have served as advisor on the development of communities throughout California.  Among those communities is Fresno, where he was approached by the governor of California and the mayor of Fresno to serve on the Fresno General Plan Implementation & Infill Development Task Force, which works in partnership with the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, with technical assistance and support from the US Environmental Protection Agency through the White House Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) initiative.  In Los Angeles, Jerry has worked on the Mixed-Income Housing Technical Advisory Committee, advising on local issues at the direction of the mayor. Beyond his civic engagement, Jerry is also a founding director of Mission Valley Bank and is on the executive boards of many of the most important commercial and charitable organizations in Los Angeles.