News
ULI-NY to Increase People Focus in 2009
December 1, 2008
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| The past year has been a busy one for the Urban Land Institute’s New York District Council, from teaching high school student s urban planning and capital markets to focusing more on sustainability in light of Mayor Mike’s PlaNYC greening program. At 2,500 members strong, it is one of the largest ULI district councils in the U.S. We sat down with chair Merrie Frankel (also a REIT analyst at Moody’s) and executive director John Parkinson to find out where they see ULI-NY going forward. |
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| Members attend a Young Leaders Group program on the financial benefits of urban parks at Bryant Park in August, one of the many put on by ULI-NY throughout the year. Although the New York council will be focusing on three of ULI’s overall subject areas—infrastructure, housing and sustainability—it hopes to bring in more programs based on the current market, such as a series honing in on careers and recruitment, and become more of a think tank for its members. “Our 2009 goal is providing information to help people in this economy,” Merrie tells us. They are also picking a chair to succeed Merrie next July. |
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| Do expect ULI-NY’s usual stalwart programs: its emerging trends outlook, which was held November 6; its annual economic forecast with Moody’s Economy.com chief economist Mark Zandi on January 15; and a “who’s who in finance” real estate investment strategies session, tentatively scheduled for March. In the meantime, John is gearing up for basketball season with hisfour sons, putting the mixed Giants/Jets fan household behind him. On top of keeping John’s sports analogies in check, Merrie also teaches a graduate capital markets course at the NYU Real Estate Institute, makes one-off presentations at other schools, and sits on committees of several associations. |
