Nationally Renowned Land Use and Urban Planning Experts to Present Recommendations on June 10

For more information, contact: Trish Riggs at 202-624-7086

WASHINGTON (June 2, 2016) – Next week, a panel of nationally renowned land use and urban development  experts convened by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) will visit Broward County to advise county and city officials on how to transform the Arena Site in western Sunrise into a dynamic destination that catalyzes economic development in the area, and compliments the existing sports and entertainment facility, surrounding neighborhoods, and established and future businesses. ULI is a multi-disciplinary research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use and the creation of thriving communities worldwide.

The panel, assembled through ULI’s advisory services program, will be visiting Broward County June 5-10 to provide recommendations for a comprehensive revitalization of the Arena site area. The panel will be addressing several issues, including:

• The types of design principles and sustainability practices (including density thresholds, streetscape designs, building placement, and landscape and green infrastructure) that should be used to ensure that high-quality development occurs on the site;
• The development and economic potential, including short-and long-range development challenges under current and projected market conditions, as well as environmental and political considerations;
• The feasibility of using existing natural resources, particularly the wetlands area, to create additional open space as a community amenity;
• The potential of future development to better connect the site and maximize its proximity to surrounding developments, the Everglades and the region through improved walkability and with various forms of transportation (vehicular, transit, and bicycles); and
• The phasing of development to allow for flexibility to accommodate varying market demands during the life of the project, while maintaining a balance of development density and uses to ensure success in all development phases.

The panel, which includes experts representing all aspects of land use, urban design and urban development, is being sponsored by Broward County. During the visit, panelists will tour the Arena site and surrounding area, and meet with stakeholders and other community members. After carefully analyzing the area and completing the interviews, the panel will then spend two days framing their recommendations and drafting a report that will be presented to the public.

The advisory panel is being chaired by ULI leader Richard Gollis, principal at The Concord Group, LLC, in Newport Beach, California. “We’re excited to bring ULI’s expertise to Broward County,” Gollis said. “We are aiming to demonstrate how the revitalization of the Arena site can contribute to the area’s overall economic prosperity, livability, investment appeal, and competitiveness.”

Gollis will be joined by panelists Pat Hawley, associate and senior project manager, R.A. Smith National, Inc., Brookfield, Wisconsin; Matthew Hopkins, director of architecture and sustainability, Streetsense, Bethesda, Maryland; Donna Lewis, former planning director, Mercer County, New Jersey; Rameez Munawar, financial analyst, Columbia Property Trust, Washington, D.C.; Amber L.G. Richane, senior associate and vice president, CallisonRTKL, Los Angeles; Dean Schwanke, senior vice president, case studies and publications, ULI; and Rives Taylor, director of sustainable design, Gensler, Houston.

Now in its 69th year, the ULI advisory services program assembles experts in the fields of real estate and land use planning to participate on panels worldwide, offering recommendations for complex planning and development projects, programs and policies. Panels have developed more than 600 studies for a broad range of land uses, ranging from waterfront properties to inner-city retail.

According to Thomas Eitler, senior vice president of ULI’s advisory services program, the strength of the program lies in ULI’s unique ability to draw on the substantial knowledge of its 38,000-plus members, including land developers, engineers, public officials, academics, lenders, architects, planners and urban designers. “The independent views of the panelists bring a fresh perspective to the land use challenge,” Eitler said. “The advisory services program is about offering creative, innovative approaches to community building.”

Past sponsors of ULI advisory services panels include: federal, state and local government agencies; regional councils of government; chambers of commerce; redevelopment authorities; private developers and property owners; community development corporations; lenders; historic preservation groups; non-profit community groups; environmental organizations; and economic development agencies.

NOTE TO REPORTERS AND EDITORS: The ULI panel’s recommendations will be presented at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 10, in the Chairman’s Club at the BB & T Center at 1 Panther Parkway in Sunrise. The event is open to the public.

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 38,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org  or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.