Nationally Renowned Panel of Land Use and Urban Planning Experts to Visit Houston December 14-19

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

WASHINGTON (December 11, 2014) – A group of nationally renowned land use and urban planning experts has been convened by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to make recommendations regarding the redevelopment and reuse of the NRG Astrodome to the Harris County Sports & Convention Corporation (HCSCC). ULI is a global, multidisciplinary research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use.

Conducted through ULI’s advisory services program, the panel, which will be visiting Houston December 14-19, will be evaluating repurposing possibilities for the NRG Astrodome.

The panel will spend the first part of the visit evaluating the site and meeting with a variety of stakeholders in preparation for the development of its recommendations later in the week.

Now in its 67th year, the ULI advisory services panel 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 the redevelopment of waterfront properties to sports stadiums.

The panel assisting the HCSCC is being chaired by longtime ULI member and widely renowned industry expert Wayne Ratkovich, president of The Ratkovich Company, based in Los Angeles, and which specializes in urban infill and rehabilitation projects primarily in Southern California. Ratkovich, who has been involved in urban design, development and redevelopment for nearly 40 years, is a life trustee of ULI and has chaired or served on numerous ULI advisory panels. “ULI looks forward to bringing the expertise of its members to Harris County,” Ratkovich said. “We are aiming to demonstrate how the NRG Astrodome can be revived to become a facility that adds to the economic, environmental and social well-being of the entire community.”

In addition to Ratkovich, other panelists are: Amy Barrett, vice president, Permar, Inc. Charleston, South Carolina; Peter Hasselman, owner, Peter M. Hasselman, FAIA, Orinda, California; Cary Hirschstein, partner, HR&A Advisors, Inc., New York City; Todd Mead, LEED, ASLA, PWP Landscape Architecture, Berkeley, California; Robert Mills, AIA, CID, principal, Commonwealth Architects, Richmond, Virginia; Tom Murphy, senior resident fellow, ULI/Klingbeil Family Chair for Urban Development, ULI, Washington, D.C.; David Panagore, executive director, New Haven Parking Authority, Hartford, Connecticut; Douette Pryce, president, Pryce Resources, Sewalls Point, Florida; and  Kevin Rieger, senior vice president for real estate development, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), Los Angeles. California 90015

According to Thomas Eitler, 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 32,000-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.”

NOTE TO REPORTERS AND EDITORS: The ULI panel’s recommendations will be presented at 9 a.m. CST on Friday, December 19, at the NRG Center in Room 600-601. The event is open to the public.

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute (www.uli.org) 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 32,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.