Future of Downtown Seattle

Kristin Ryan a Partner in barrientos RYAN. She is a multi-family and civic project developer focused on building inspired places that promote the growth of the city of Seattle. Ms. Ryan is an astute and experienced developer having managed development projects totaling over $400mm in housing, medical offices, schools and theaters over the course of her career. She was previously Director of the Northwest Division of Jonathan Rose Companies, directing the firm’s acquisition, development and consulting activities on the west coast, and managing their west coast portfolio. Kristin has provided development advisory services to many non-profit and governmental agencies seeking to use multi-layered financing approaches to implement their projects. She specializes in implementing complex projects that serve communities with great places to live and work.

Erik is an award-winning design leader with 25 years of experience conceiving projects and places in urban and campus contexts with a focus on meaningful place making and the transformative potential of design. Erik is a holistic-minded, inventive thought leader who has demonstrated exceptional leadership as a design practitioner and engaged community advocate for design excellence. His diverse portfolio includes planning and design for higher education, civic, commercial, healthcare, science and technology, and public art. Erik’s work is distinguished by thoughtfulness and quality in conception and execution and demonstrates a broad creative range in which the opportunities of a place and program are manifested in unique and memorable solutions shaped by the focused aspirations of the client and creative team. His work has been recognized for design quality and clients enjoy his creative approach, and collaborative and engaging design leadership.

Jon Buerge is the President and Partner at Urban Villages, Inc. In this capacity, Jon is responsible for operations, real estate development, and strategic positioning for all real estate assets. He also manages the research and analysis of new company acquisitions and corporate growth strategies. Jon currently serves as the Chair of the Denver Business Improvement District and is on the Board of Directors for the LoDo District. He is also a member of Denver’s Public Realm Committee and 16th Street Mall Redevelopment Steering Committee.

Before returning to his home state of Washington from New York, Scott was with Related Urban Development (formerly The Palladium Company) and Related Lodging Group, real estate development affiliates of The Related Companies, L.P. Prior to that, Scott co-founded Cityfeet, a leading online commercial real estate network that was sold to LoopNet. While in business school, Scott was a financial analyst at MAX Capital Management Corporation, handling real estate acquisitions and financings. He was also a summer associate at Paine Webber Real Estate Securities, providing principal lending and investments for opportunity funds and other real estate clients. Before attending graduate school, Scott worked in Washington, DC, conducting property management and marketing at The JBG Companies, management and strategic consulting with KPMG, and government affairs and policy analysis with Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds. Scott received his BA with honors in government and American studies from Wesleyan University and his MBA in real estate and finance from Columbia Business School.

In his real estate practice, Matt represents local and national developers, builders and lenders in all aspects of acquisition, development, financing, construction, leasing, and disposition for single and multi-family residential, mixed-use, office, and retail projects—with a focus on creative, cost-efficient results. He creates private equity and debt funds for private regional lenders and other real estate-related companies, and assists them on completing a range of financing transactions. Matt’s work often involves large, complex projects such as assisting Chris Hansen and his affiliates in the assessment, procurement and financing of a property portfolio for development and construction of a new multi-modal use sports arena complex in the SODO district of Seattle, and representing King County in its coordinated sale and ongoing operation of real estate for the expansion of the Washington State Convention Center. As CH&’s Managing Partner, Matt leads the firm’s business success, and has successfully developed and implemented the firm’s strategic plan. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the firm, including supervision and oversight of the firm’s administrative, financial, technological, and business development functions. Matt cares deeply about Seattle and the Puget Sound region. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels appointed Matt to serve on the Council for Pike Place Market Preservation & Development Authority (PDA), a public corporation chartered by the City of Seattle in 1973 which owns, operates, and manages the properties in the nine-acre Pike Place Market Historic District. Matt is now the chair of the PDA Council.