Development Management Associates, LLC.

Green Talk in Aggieland

Jason Westrope recently gave a pair of invited lectures to "Aggies" in the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. Speaking to graduate students in the Master of Real Estate program and undergraduates in the university's Department of Agricultural Economics, Jason discussed the broad market trend toward more sustainable development practices and the fundamental importance of bottom-line considerations. He provided an overview of green projects around the nation and their documented returns on investment. He also outlined forces propelling interest in green building, including the changing economics of green projects, current and imminent legislation at local, state, and federal levels, financial incentives for energy efficiency, and evolving code standards in many construction markets.

Jason described the USGBC LEED program in particular and how Development Management Associates, LLC and others are advancing highly successful projects by employing this point system for certifying achievement in green building. With academic backgrounds bridging the planning, environmental, economic, and real estate disciplines, many of the students were intrigued by DMA's growing experience with green roof installations on high-end retail and mixed-use projects in Chicago. For more information, email jason@dmassociates.com.

Green experts gather at DMA roundtable

At its Chicago offices on April 3, Development Management Associates hosted a group of exceptional professionals active in green building design and development. These individuals gathered to share ideas about green building practices, the state and future of the industry, and how to improve results for clients, collaborators, and the community.

For a detailed overview of the event, click here.

DMA is grateful to the following roundtable participants for sharing their time and insights:

• Sachin Anand, PE, LEED AP, Principal, dbHMS
• Chad G. Harrell, AIA, President, Griskelis Young Harrell
• Helen J. Kessler, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal, HJKessler Associates
• Paul Knight, Principal, Domus Plus
• Pat Meara, Sr. Vice President, JMB
• Erik Olsen, PE, Green Projects Administrator, City of Chicago
• Maria Pellot, AIA, LEED AP, Project Manager, Urban Works Architecture
• Grace Rappe, AIA, LEED AP, Sr. Vice President Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects

The Green Roundtable is the first in a series of ongoing discussions planned by DMA to address topics relevant to the design, development, and construction of high-quality projects. For more information on the DMA Green Roundtable discussion or future roundtable plans, please contact Jason Westrope at DMA.

The Domino Effect

In experienced hands, the Tenant Coordination process can drive your shopping center project to an exciting and profitable end. Lose control at the wrong time, and the domino effect can undo a good deal of hard work. Martha Spatz, a principal at Development Management Associates, LLC, used this analogy at the ICSC University of Shopping Centers, where she recently co-taught a course on Managing the Tenant Coordination Process.

As she shared with a group of industry leaders, a tenant coordination team can be an important source of project success and stability:

•		Serving as a hub between the development, leasing, design, construction, legal, and management teams
•		Balancing the creativity and identity standards of tenants with the design goals of the center
•		Enabling tenants to open faster, bringing in rent at project opening or sooner

For more information on how to align your dominos for maximum impact, email martha@dmassociates.com.

Sharing the Wealth - High-Value Renovation

How do you maximize net operating income during and after a mall renovation? At the 2007 ICSC Fall Conference, DMA Principal Charles Porter offered his insight as part of a five-member panel of experts addressing "Redevelopments: Passionate about The Economic Upside."

Porter highlighted income opportunities beyond adding space — for example, securing incremental revenue from ATMs, retail merchandise units, and advertising and sponsorship opportunities. He noted the potential for financial assistance from local municipalities. He also stressed the importance of redevelopment experience among project leadership to effectively manage tenant and customer expectations.

As a faculty member at ICSC University in March, Porter detailed renovation management and operational issues. For more information, email charles@dmassociates.com.

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