John Crossman has taken a career in commercial real estate to exceptionally contributive heights. Not content to focus solely on the success of the company he helms, the 42-year-old Floridian takes the time to speak to college students, volunteer and fundraise for non-profit and social justice causes, and all the while maintaining a focus on faith and family. In one of the online videos in which he is featured, Crossman explains his philosophy: “Some people have a perspective that if you’re a leader, you’re a king. You put a crown on, and people serve you. I remind myself that in my leadership, I’m a servant. Staying focused on serving my clients and serving my employees, serving the industry and serving Florida State, that’s my lot in life.” It sounds like a full plate, but Crossman has an impressive legacy to maintain. His father, the late Rev. Kenneth C. Crossman, was a Civil Rights leader influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. Growing up in a home where education and service were strong values was a major influence on Crossman, who has brought those principled practices into his real estate business. “There are lots of reasons to do it, but I feel morally obligated. If we weren’t helping out in the area of education within our industry, we’d really be doing something wrong,” he said in a recent interview. Yardi client Crossman & Company, co-owned by John and Scott Crossman, is a major retail leasing, management, development, and marketing firm in the Southeast, with over 20 million square feet of inventory in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Since leaving Trammell Crow in 2006 to partner with Scott, Crossman has focused much energy on educating the real estate leaders, both of the present...
Unity Shoppe
Lending a helping hand
It’s a time of transition for the Unity Shoppe, the food and clothing clearinghouse for people in need in greater Santa Barbara. In the process of moving to a new building on Sola Street, the loss of their longtime facility on Victoria (adjacent to the Victoria Hall) has been a setback. But with a clearly delineated path to recovery, it is clear that the well-known non-profit will quickly recover, aided by help from its community of friends. Barbara Tellefson, Director of Operations for the 97-year-old program, has a way of telling the Unity Shoppe story that sounds like she is talking about her own family. And in fact, Tellefson’s strong passion for the work accomplished by Unity Shoppe is rooted in her own life, growing up in the U.S. as the daughter of German immigrants. Her family didn’t have much, and her parents did not want to ask for assistance. The situation is the same for many of the families Unity Shoppe serves. With 11,000 families who make 71,000 visits to the Unity Shoppe warehouse each year, the charity helps with basic day-to-day needs like food and clothing, while helping clients keep their dignity intact. While they are receiving aid, the parents – usually mothers – who “shop” for free groceries and clothes at the Shoppe are able to remain providers for their children. A total of 24,000 local residents benefit from Unity Shoppe services annually. “We’re letting them come choose the things they need. That makes them look good in front of their children. Their children see them shopping, like a normal mother,” Tellefson explained. Tellefson explains how important it is to meet clients on their own terms; “Giving isn’t doing what I want to do. Giving is doing what a family needs...
LCOR
Expanding in Philadelphia
Though Philadelphia is a major city, on the whole, many apartment developers haven’t sought out to construct new buildings in the area. However, Yardi client LCOR, a real estate development, management and investment company, is looking to expand their pipeline in the area, which they consider to have unique attributes. “I think this is an important time in Philadelphia real estate. There’s a lot of activity, but it’s a market that has seen moderate but steady growth over the years,” Donald Tracy, vice president, LCOR, says. According to Tracy, a reason that the market in Philadelphia is growing is because the population of young professionals is growing. “So many of the college students that come here for their education stay here,” he says. “There’s an opportunity to provide quality housing for that group in an institutionally financed way that perhaps was a slow process in the past few years, but has grown over the last two years. There is a significant pipeline in the next few years that will continue to grow.” Though LCOR sees a lot of advantages in developing in Philadelphia, they are aware of some challenges. “I think there is somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 units in the pipeline to be delivered over the next several years, and while there’s fairly robust demand for that pipeline, you have to be careful to deliver the right product in extraordinary locations and create a product that meets demand,” Tracy says. “The other component of it is that when the economy gets better, the demographics get better and there’s more of a shift towards development in the region, I think there’s a fairly direct correlation in construction pricing. I think we need to continue to monitor that very closely to make sure the...
Award Winning Programs
Improving public housing in Los Angeles
Providing high-quality, secure and supportive public housing in any major metropolitan area, as any housing provider can imagine, is a real challenge. Add on the desire to create a sense of community, offer sustainable building design, and truly change residents’ lives, and it might sounds like a task of insurmountable proportions. But the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has earned national recognition for accomplishing all of the above. Along the way, they’ve become a model for public housing programming as they achieve real results through their efforts. HACLA, a Yardi client, manages 75,400 units, has a budget of $1 billion annually, and aims to increase its capacity by 30,000 units over the next decade. Conventional public housing, Section 8, special programs and a small portfolio of asset management units are included within its oversight. Truth be told, each of the programs that HACLA has been recognized for could be worthy of an article on their own. To provide a comprehensive overview of some of the amazing things the agency is doing, HACLA staff helped us assemble the following summaries. 1. Community Safety Partnership (CSP) Safety and policing is a vital part of any public housing program. In an effort to improve the relationship between Los Angeles public housing residents and the LAPD, an agreement was struck to assign 45 permanent officers to four public housing communities that needed a law enforcement presence. Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, Nickerson Gardens and Ramona Gardens were each assigned 10 officers to work on crime reduction, programming, quality of life and communication with residents. This ongoing relationship allows residents to get to know the officers, bring them concerns, and work together to create solutions. 2. Dana Strand Senior Housing A major need within the affordable housing sector nationwide is for more senior units. A new 100-unitproject within HACLA, the Dana Strand Senior Housing Project, was recently constructed in the Wilmington neighborhood. A focus on sustainability and green features earned this project special attention. Dana Strange, which was developed through a partnership between HACLA and ROEM Development Corporation, achieved USGBC’s LEED-H Gold certification, one of the toughest in industry guidelines for sustainable building and maintenance. Dana Strand offers high-quality, affordable housing that encourages a healthy, active living environment and reduces impact on our air, water and landfills. 3. UCLA Students Contribute Building bridges between public housing and other community resources can be beneficial to both sides. HACLA partnered with UCLA to bring in energetic student volunteers for two significant community improvement projects. First, HACLA and 50 Bruins created a library in Ramona Gardens, with students painting shelves and sorting donated books. Next, 300 students helped beautify the grounds of the Nickerson Gardens community. Socially, benefits came on both sides. The students learned more about the needs and condition of public housing in LA, and residents were exposed to young university volunteers, encouraging education and community service. 4. Homeless Assistance Initiative Homelessness is a major social issue in Los Angeles County, and HACLA has been a vital participant in the Home for Good initiative, a 5-year plan to end chronic and veteran homelessness. The agency supports 8600 households within four programs: Shelter Plus Care, Project-Based Voucher, Tenant Based Supportive Housing and HUD-VASH. They’ve also reduced procedural barriers to get eligible homeless persons into available homes, and attempted to ease the transitions between the Shelter Plus Care program into standard, voucher-enabled public housing. Shelter Plus Care entails rental assistance and treatment support for persons diagnosed with a mental illness, substance abuse problem, HIV/AIDS or a dual diagnosis. The Authority’s dedication to decreasing chronic homelessness was recognized in 2012 by the United Way of the Greater Los Angeles. 5. HUD – VASH Streamlined Procedures Helping homeless veterans stabilize their housing situation and receive medical treatment and job training support are among the aims of the HUD-VASH Program, a joint national...
Walt Smith
Riverstone Residential
Dallas – Riverstone Residential is no stranger to the ranks of the nation’s largest multifamily management firms. With 174,838 units around the country, the last year and a half has been a period of steady growth for the privately-held company. As the largest 100 percent third-party apartment manager in the U.S., Riverstone’s recent growth is based on the development and expansion decisions of its clients. CEO Walt Smith took the time to tell us about what’s trending from the company’s point of view. MHN: It’s been a strong couple of years for the multifamily industry. How has Riverstone expanded as America experiences a renting renaissance? Smith: We’re focused on maximizing as many opportunities as possible, including working on strategies to appeal to members of Gen Y as they form new households, and finding ways to attract Boomer residents as they begin to downsize and realize the benefits of the flexible renter lifestyle. We’ve also dedicated more resources to analyzing local market data for the benefit of our clients. Retaining our current residents is incredibly important, and we’ve been identifying ways to expand our services so that we build value, convenience, and technological innovations to create memorable resident experiences. Finally, we’ve focused on implementing technological platforms to improve our company-wide efficiency and effectiveness as service providers. MHN: What have been the most notable aspects of Riverstone growth over the past 18 months? Smith: Although we’ve enjoyed substantial increases in our management contracts across diverse property types and markets nationwide, we’ve definitely observed some specific growth trends in the assets entrusted to our care over the past 18 months. We’ve seen a 60% increase in our management of high-rise assets as well as a 25% increase in lofts. We’ve experienced substantial growth in our Northeast region,...
NAHMA Education Foundation
Breaking Boundaries Through Scholarship
The National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) Educational Foundation, nearing its 20th year in service, has helped thousands of affordable housing residents overcome the odds to attain higher education. Its efforts have resulted in a demonstrated legacy of community empowerment one scholarship recipient at a time. NAHMA board members are problem solvers at heart. When an issue arises within the affordable housing industry, the group convenes to find a solution. The late 80s presented the board with two challenging dilemmas: several properties were experiencing a surge in drug use among residents and the local schools were not performing well. Bruce Solari, Director Emeritus of Affordable Housing Management Association for the Pacific Southwest, could see that children in those communities were facing obstacles in both of the environments in which they spent the most time. The youth struggled to find support for their academic goals and they faced adverse social pressures in their neighborhoods. Solari recalls, “I thought that something needed to be done about [those problems] and that was the genesis of the scholarship program.” The board initially aimed to create a scholarship program for traditional students. After discovering a greater need, they soon expanded the scope to include adults, seniors and residents living with disabilities. Regional programs began shortly thereafter. In 1994, the national association became involved to fill the void in regions that did not have the wherewithal to initiate their own scholarship program. By 2007, the organization distributed its first series of scholarships. Now, scholarship opportunities are available throughout much of the US. Scholarship recipients must demonstrate stellar academic credentials, involvement in community service and varied extracurricular interests. Dr. Bruce W. Johnson, Scholarship Program Administrator, collaborated with independent video contractor Andrew King to create From Sea to Shining Sea. The video promotes the idea that “securing a good education is the path to opportunity and success,” but it also reveals a more practical side to the mission of the foundation: the scholarships are the sort of gifts that keeps on giving. Scholarship recipients often participate in activities that give back to their communities, continuing the legacy of lending a supportive hand to others. Andres Brito, (right). a 2013 scholarship recipient, is pursuing a degree that will allow him to help local medical facilities. “I wish to dedicate my life to helping and caring for others in the community I call home,” Brito says. “I plan on utilizing my skills in kinesiology by volunteering in medical facilities that support individuals with limited financial resources or lack healthcare.” He also has plans to edify young men in his community. “I intend on becoming a mentor for youngsters in urban settings and help them attend college.” 2013 scholarship recipient Terrance Woolard (left) plans to pay it forward. “I’ve considered starting my own scholarship foundation. I believe it’s important for people to support things like this because it gives others an opportunity they wouldn’t have without it,” Woolard says. This year’s recipients stand on the shoulders of former award winners, who have set the bar high for community outreach. Recipient Aisha Johnson used the scholarship to complete her Masters degree in social work. She is now serving the community, helping other at-risk residents achieve their dreams. Scholarship recipient Natalie Samarjian is now a law student at UCLA. She began as a student mentor for at-risk middle school girls. Her goal was to create empowered women one girl at a time and the impact she has had continues on through the program she began. Stories like these are common amongst scholarship recipients. Their continued dedication to their communities long after they have received the scholarship demonstrates the true value of the Educational Foundation’s efforts; the scholarship fund creates a legacy of community empowerment through education. This award year was an exceptional year for the Educational Foundation. 59 students received grants ranging from $1,500-$2,500. Total grant distribution equaled $137,500. This year marked the...
Raymond Major
Yardi
With nearly a decade of experience in information technology, Raymond Major has some very good advice for all of us. “Rebooting your computer fixes the problem 80 percent of the time,” chuckled Major, an IT specialist for Yardi who was originally part of the Yardi CLASSIC team. It’s simple but great advice from an IT veteran. Since CLASSIC’s parent company was acquired, Major has had the opportunity to work for Yardi in a variety of roles. “Within the company I have gone from Help Desk administration, to IT server administration, to ASP datacenter administration, and now I am now focused on Network administration,” Major said. He’s now part of the team that maintains Yardi’s Corporate and ASP networks. The effort involves roughly 100 staff members, spread across the globe at various Yardi offices, who oversee activity between 29 offices and 12 data centers. Such work requires solid communication and teamwork, which is especially important when working in different time zones, on different projects, but all within the same network structure. “Everyone’s actions traverse the network. Whether you’re setting up a new Voyager website, troubleshooting a database upload/download or simply performing a Windows update,” Major noted. Amid the complexity that networking can entail, Major’s philosophy is to keep it simple. “Technology can have complex branches to it, but it’s all still a simple machine with simple working parts. So if you can go back to the simplest form of the problem, then you’ll likely find your solution there, and a whole lot quicker,” he said. One of his favorite parts of his job is interacting with the other members of the IT and ASP teams, no matter what their physical locations. “You build camaraderie, as technical professionals, as you are hammering through problems. As a...
The Brick Companies
Conserving Nature, Creating Community
The Brick Companies (TBC) upholds a longstanding history in the DC area. What began as a brick and terra cotta pipe manufacturer has turned into a staple in commercial, residential and recreational real estate management. As the company continues to grow, responsible development and community involvement serve as pillars for a promising future. Promoting Healthy Communities Shelly Ford is the Head People Person and Chief Responsibility Officer of The Brick Companies, a Yardi client. “We are passionate about our Good Works,” Ford says. “We’re committed to giving back to the communities in which our businesses operate.” There are many ways that TBC reaches out to its communities. In addition to providing grants to like-minded charitable organizations, the company also provides a matching gift program for its employees. Employees’ cash donations and volunteer hours are able to make a larger impact. The Brick Companies continually develops sustainable practices as a way of protecting and supporting local communities. As of July 2013, TBC’s Maryland properties, including six commercial office buildings, two golf clubs and two marinas are powered 100% by “Clean Steps” WindPower from Washington Gas and Energy Services. The purchase of approximately 11.5 million kWh of wind power will help reduce greenhouse gases and is equivalent to taking more than 1568 cars off the road for one full year. The offsets helped the company reach its 12×12 goal. “Last year we finished up our 12×12 program where we were committed to reducing our energy usage across our entire portfolio by 12 percent by 2012—that was accomplished,” cheers Ford. Alternative energy also powers the company’s unique property, Queenstown Harbor Golf Course. “We’ve installed a solar electric system at Queenstown Harbor Golf Course that produces 70 percent of the electric usage at our clubhouse and cart barn. 800 ground-mount panels generate 230 megawatt hours of electricity annually. That’s the equivalent of 159 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year avoided,” says Ford. Green efforts at Queenstown Harbor have not gone unnoticed. The golf course received the Environmental Leadership in Golf Award this year. Both Atlantic Marinas have also been recognized by the Maryland Clean Marina program. TBC also focuses on waste reduction, minimizing the amount of trash that fills local landfills. “We’re encouraging ourselves, our tenants, and our employees to participate in the 50/50 program in which we will aspire to have over 50 percent of our trash recycled,” Ford says. Ford wants to look at the dumpster outside of the headquarters building and see that more than half of the office waste is in the recycle bin. The idea spread beyond the headquarters, appealing to employees who want to do their part for the environment outside of the office. Integrating sustainable practices into the office culture has proved easy enough for the company. Many employees participate because the environmental challenges are fun and rewarding. The headquarter’s green roof, for example, is a spot that encourages spirited competition. Many contests are lighthearted; “Some of the events are strictly for fun like our bubble blowing contest or the putting competitions on the miniature green,” says Ford. Other competitions serve a broader purpose. “We have a competition going right now where we have earth boxes on our patio. Employees have planted their own vegetables. At the end of the season, everyone who grew vegetables will cook a dish for the rest of the employees using the vegetables that they’ve grown in the earth boxes. Then we choose a winner. It gets pretty competitive,” says Ford. In addition to fostering a community atmosphere within the office, the cook-off serves to remind employees of the possibilities of urban gardening and the pride that can come from supporting local markets. No one is complaining about the home-cooked lunches, either. “Last year’s tomato growing contest was a lot of fun,” says Ford. Tomatoes were judged based on size, sweetness, and overall taste. All tomato growers then prepared a...
Kris Panks
Yardi
Right after college, Kris Panks could be spotted in a local car commercial but she knew acting was not her calling. “Oh Gosh,” she sighs. “I think I’m standing near a car, excited, saying ‘I found it!’ I have the tape on VHS somewhere…but I’m no actress.” After receiving her degree in Marketing Sales Management, Kris worked with a software company that created products for civil engineers, land surveyors, and photogrammetrists. She sought a change in pace, taking on a series of independent consulting jobs. One of them was with CLASSIC Real Estate Systems. CLASSIC was very successful, specializing in fully integrated software for property management and accounting. Yardi acquired CLASSIC in 2006. After working part-time for a while, Kris joined the Yardi team full-time, becoming the Marketing Campaign specialist for affordable housing, public housing and senior housing with Yardi in 2011. “The most challenging aspect of my job is staying current with what’s going on in my industries, “says Kris. There is certainly a lot to keep track of, as Kris balances everything from product marketing and rollout to ads, website management, press releases, email campaigns, and beyond. Last year, Beacon Affordable and Beacon Public Housing Authority hit the market. The products were greeted with applause, giving Kris and her team the green light to promote the software more aggressively. She is also working to rebrand ALMSA, a transition that is slated to take a year. The web-based resident health care management system integrates with Voyager and provides a very powerful solution for the senior living industry. “There is a lot going on and sometimes I’m buried in my day-to-day duties,” Kris says. “Fortunately, I do have many talented people I can reach out to.” Kris fits well into her fast-paced roll. “I...
Working on a Cure
Sansum Diabetes Research Institute
The Sansum Diabetes Research Institute might be better known outside of Santa Barbara than in its own hometown, where the historic medical research facility has a long history of making real strides in the treatment of diabetes. Founded by Dr. William D. Sansum in 1944, Sansum Diabetes was the place where Dr. Sansum continued his revolutionary work on the disease. He was the first doctor in the U.S. to produce and inject patients with insulin, starting in 1922. The pioneering treatment saved lives and ultimately became the insulin-replacement approach used worldwide for patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. “Dr. Sansum’s work changed the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes from being a death sentence, to a manageable chronic disease,” said Sarah Ettman-Sterner, Director of Communications. Today, programs include scientific research and development of exciting new diabetes treatments, as well as education and outreach to local patients. Here is a look at the non-profit’s current work: -Development of an artificial pancreas, which will be a ground-breaking treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes, who do not produce any insulin. Essentially the creation of a “smart” insulin pump that automates the laborious process blood glucose monitoring and insulin delivery, Sansum researchers are partnering with UC Santa Barbara’s Department of Chemical Engineering. The scientific team devised the algorithm that regulates the device’s decision-making. Now in clinical trials, the hope is that early versions of the artificial pancreas could be approved by the FDA and available for mass production in the not too distant future. “The artificial pancreas will take the guesswork, thinking, and a lot of the stress that comes with diabetes management, away from people who have diabetes,” Ettman-Sterner said. So far, the clinical trials are showing that the system is very effective in automating insulin delivery and blood glucose monitoring. It’s being tested using different types of insulin and insulin pumps to determine what will be most efficient and effective for the widest range of diabetes patients with unique lifestyle and medical needs. -Continuing research on diabetes and pregnancy. Dr. Lois Jovanovič, Chief Scientific Officer, is known in the international medical community for her pioneering work on diabetes and pregnancy. Dr. Jovanovič is a researcher whose work has helped thousands of women with diabetes deliver normal, healthy babies. Maintaining strict control of blood glucose throughout pregnancy is the key to her treatment strategy, and the work has “changed the world of diabetes and pregnancy” over the last three decades. Today, Dr. Jovanovič continues to conduct important studies of women whose pregnancies are complicated by diabetes. An upcoming study, to be held in Santa Barbara and named CONCEPTT, will focus on continuous blood glucose monitoring of patients during pregnancy. The long term project is using technology to provide real time measurements of blood glucose via a device about the size of a quarter with a thin wire that goes underneath the skin. Readings are collected every five minutes and transmitted back to a receiver. The study will help answer the question, “Will knowing blood glucose levels throughout the day and night, using a continuous glucose monitoring device, improve the health of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes and their babies.” -Local education and outreach. Collaborating with the County of Santa Barbara Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Sansum Diabetes is also a social safety net for pregnant diabetic women and others with diabetes who have little to no health insurance. With a variety of grant-funded efforts that are a grass-roots solution to diabetes prevention and treatment, the goal is to prevent and treat diabetes with self-care programs in Spanish that reach people where they live. In addition to crucial care and monitoring for women who have diabetes and are pregnant, health education efforts include developing “Promotoras,” bilingual community health educators who work with women at risk for diabetes before, during and after pregnancy. Another program, named...
Meredith Hoffman
The Sembler Company
Meredith Hoffman once commented on her Facebook page: “I’m trying to save the world, one walk at a time.” With an impressive commitment to fundraising for a cure for breast cancer, Meredith has walked thousands of miles while training and helped her teammates raise more than $100,000 to support the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. This month, she’ll participate in her sixth straight 3-day, 60 mile Komen walk event in Boston, Ma. As Director of Human Resources for Yardi client The Sembler Company, Meredith’s passion for philanthropy also shows through in the workplace. Sembler, a privately-held commercial real estate firm, enthusiastically encourages its employees to give back whenever possible, and the company has four opportunities to participate in volunteer day-style activities. Supported organizations for 2013, chosen by a committee of employees, include Habitat for Humanity, a local food bank, the Salvation Army, and Ronald McDonald House. Other non-profits that have received assistance and volunteers hours from Sembler include the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease, Junior Diabetes’ Research Foundation, and the SPCA, among others. A group from Sembler endeavors to walk in as many local charity events as they can fit into their schedules. “It’s something we’ve been doing for as long as I am aware of,” Meredith said. “Even when we’re not actively going out to complete a project we’re sponsoring tables at lunches and breakfasts for benefits and participating in other community events.” With strong local ties to its home city of St. Petersburg, Florida, Sembler has been a major developer of local shopping centers. Its owners and board of directors are all active in non-profits and causes that are important to them. The company is celebrating its 50 year anniversary in 2013. “We understand that it is imperative to give...
Kolluri Joins Pennrose...
Former HUD Deputy
Philadelphia-based development company Pennrose recently hired former HUD Deputy Chief of Staff Lopa Kolluri as their vice president of operations. In this position, Kolluri plans to bridge the relationships between government and private stakeholders, particularly in terms of affordable housing. According to Kolluri, budgets and resources are being tightened, and because of this there is uncertainty regarding the low income tax credit program. Bridging these affordable housing gaps is a priority for Kolluri, who plans to have Pennrose work to make a positive impact in these affordable communities. Despite the challenges facing affordable housing development, Kolluri insists that there is innovation and creativity in the federal sector, which is spurring the creation of programs such as the rental assistance demonstration program and the ability for public housing authorities to convert public housing units to a Section 8 platform. Additionally, Kolluri lauds the formation of Choice, a neighborhood-based community development program, which is also focused on the development of affordable housing and other aspects of community development. Overall, after working in the government and private sectors, Kolluri is excited to bring her talents and expertise to Pennrose. Read the entire interview at...
Learn, Earn and Return...
Yardi Pune employees give back
Corporate philanthropy and personal volunteerism are vital components of Yardi’s corporate culture, which reaches around the globe. In Pune, home to Yardi’s India office, two teams of employees from the YES and rcash divisions of the company selected a local non-profit organization to benefit from their efforts. Green Hills Group is a volunteer-based effort to turn more vegetation and healthy landscaping to the open spaces around Pune in an effort to combat pollution, poor air quality and global warming. Focusing efforts on rain water harvesting and tree planting, Green Hills Group needs significant volunteer power to carry out the work at hand at a low to no cost. Employees from Yardi were committed to helping out. “Many times, we see that we quickly contribute in terms of financial assistance, but we do not give up our personal time. We found this as great opportunity to contribute in terms of giving of our personal time for social cause,” said Pratima Deshpande, one of the Yardi employees who participated in the project. Each team member contributed two hours per month to the project. The Hanuman Hills and the Chatushrungi Hills, two of the areas that Green Hills Group is working to restore, happen to surround Yardi’s Pune office. So those contributing their time are able to see the result of the project efforts when they arrive and depart from work each day. Work includes development of a Continuous Contour Trench to be used for rainwater harvesting, preparing soil beds for planting, building tanks and drip-irrigation to self-water the trees in the future, after they reach more than 500 in number. A portion of the trees in the project are fruit trees, and produce from the trees is harvested by volunteers to deliver to needy Pune children and...
Black Oak Associates
Spearheading sustainable
For Black Oak Associates, sustainability is a means of providing tenants with affordable commercial spaces while offering local residents a cleaner, healthier community. Black Oak Associates has adopted a policy of sustainability that applies to the corporate office and its properties. Heberto Alanis specializes in the company’s green initiatives: “We believe that sustainability is a really good strategy. It promotes value, drives returns, and defines our organization,” Alanis says. “It will be an ongoing strategy for us that will help the community and our tenants.” Black Oak has approached green building as a two tier endeavor, considering the needs of its tenants as well as the needs of the communities in which Black Oak properties are located. The site of Eldersburg Commons, for example, had been an eyesore for years. During the hardest times of the recession, tenants vacated the shopping center, leaving the 330,000 square-foot building as a concrete shell. Black Oak soon stepped in with plans to reinvent the site as a thriving community center. “It is brownfield land that we are developing, which in itself is a green project,” explains Alanis. “We’ve been meeting with the architects and finding ways to integrate LED lighting, TPO roofing, and exploring our solar options. We will make use of more efficient HVAC units and energy saving programs to power the building.” Once the green upgrades are in place, the shopping center will welcome its tenants. The project has piqued interest from many retailers. WalMart will serve as the shopping center’s anchor. Additional vendors will be selected with local residents in mind; Black Oak has reached out to residents to determine what stores and restaurants they would like to have in the center. The company established a Popularise page that allows residents to leave feedback...
Stacy Blanchard
Helping tornado victims
When a devastating tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma in May, Yardi’s Stacy Blanchard, a strategic client account executive in the Dallas, Texas, office, was moved to act. She thought of raising funds to donate to a clearinghouse aid agency like the Red Cross or United Way, but decided that what she really wanted to do was help a family, face to face. Utilizing the power of social media, Stacy reached out to a friend in Moore who hadn’t lost her home, but knew many people who had. An estimated 1,150 homes were lost, 24 people died, and $2 billion in damage was incurred in the storm. For Keri and Mike Wilson and their family, losing their home was awful, but the safety of their teenage children, who were home when the tornado touched down and decimated most of their neighborhood, was paramount. Drew and Sydney, their children, took shelter in the laundry room during the storm. It was the only part of the house that remained standing. Sydney’s car ended up upside down in the back yard. Keri Wilson described her home as reduced to “bricks and sticks.” Mobilized to action, Stacy spent time talking to Keri and learning the details of her story. As a mother of two, she was moved by the terror of a fellow mom who wasn’t able to learn for more than two hours whether or not her children were OK. Keri described how when she was finally able to make contact with her parents, who had been able to reach her home, she collapsed in sobbing relief. Once the stress of survival had passed, the Wilsons had to scramble to figure out where they would sleep and how they’d begin replacing a lifetime of household goods and valuables. Focusing...
Mentors Matter
Big Brothers Big Sisters
For Yardi programmer Alexander Graf, spending time each week with his “little brother” should probably not be described as volunteer work. As he talks about his mentee through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Santa Barbara County (part of the nonprofit Family Service Agency), Alex tells stories as though he is talking about his own sibling. Hanging out with Jerry, his 10-year-old “little brother”, is clearly not a chore to him at all. Jerry came into Alex’s life just two years ago. Despite a very busy schedule filled with work and community activities, Alex makes time to see him every week. With four siblings and a large extended family, Jerry might not always have the chance to have an adult’s undivided attention focused just on him. During his outings with Alex, that changes. “It’s nice to be a positive influence on someone’s life. And it’s great to see the happiness in kids’ eyes when they get to do something they have never been able to do before. Most of the mentees are from low-income families, and they don’t always get a lot of individual attention,” Alex said. Alex and Jerry enjoy spending time together at the Santa Barbara Zoo, the batting cages, local parks, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Alex has realized that Jerry might not respond if he simply tells him a story, but if you show him how to do something, like a chemistry experiment or how to make a balloon animal, he will be curious and probably want to participate. In turn, Jerry might not ask his Big Brother many questions about his own life, but he loves to tell Alex long, complicated stories that he makes up. Alex’s experience with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program...
R.W. Selby & Co.
Modern living, people who care
For Yardi client R. W. Selby & Company, Inc., 37 years of providing the highest quality experience for residents and exceptional opportunity for investors is a tradition on which to build. With over 3,500 units located at thirty-one properties, the company has become well established in the Southern California multifamily marketplace and more recently has become a prominent player in the Class A and B Las Vegas market. “While our emphasis on prime multifamily properties in class ‘A’ locations throughout Southern California and Nevada has been the basis for our reputation for over four decades, our successful multifamily construction experience has enabled us to expand our franchise to include the renovation of A, B and C properties in quality suburban neighborhoods with strong growth potential,” said Christopher Greenspan, Director of Asset Management. “We are active in all phases of multifamily real estate, including the identification, acquisition, construction, renovation, management, and disposition of properties.“ Greenspan recently took the time to answer a few questions about R. W. Selby & Company, and its current projects and initiatives. TBS: How would you describe your investment philosophy? Greenspan: Our executive leadership has a combined 90 years of multifamily experience working together. The executive leadership of R. W. Selby & Company, Inc. has long maintained consistent and conservative acquisition behavior. This consistency is a result of an exhaustive process of locating and selecting superior investments, in high barrier to entry markets with proven demand drivers, most often on a principal-to-principal basis, and adding value to those investments by repositioning, rehabilitating and re-branding the assets. We further enhance value through the efficient operation of the assets in a fiscally responsible manner, based on its strong operational controls, and ultimately return superior investment results to its Investors through the successful refinance or sale of our projects. TBS: What are some of the outstanding features of your apartment communities? Greenspan: Our in-house construction team specializes in cosmetic renovation, tailoring all upgrades and rehabilitation with our tenants in mind. As a result, our apartment homes undergo significant improvements, often including upgraded common areas, revitalizing fitness centers, re-plastering and resurfacing pools and spas, as well as performing in-unit upgrades. The end result culminates in a property and units that provide the level of comfort and luxury that our tenants have come to expect. Burton Way Luxury Apartments is just one of the properties where we saw incredible potential, both structural and operational. The fitness-center now rivals some of Los Angeles’ premier sports clubs. The kitchens and bathrooms now reflect the modernity and style you would expect to find in Los Angeles’ swankiest hotels. Every one of our apartment communities boasts luxury amenities, but Burton Way is exceptional down to the very last detail. TBS: Many of your communities are located in the greater Los Angeles area. What current multifamily market trends are you observing there currently and how is the company responding to those trends? Greenspan: New supply has been delivered to the market at a very tepid pace, while demand for quality units in Southern California remains at an all-time high. Specifically, with increasing amounts of the local population being either removed from, or choosing to delay joining, the home-ownership ranks, we are experiencing one of the largest renter pools in the history of Los Angeles. Furthermore, as it becomes more difficult for individuals and families to qualify for home loans, those desiring to become homeowners are instead being forced to rent apartments. Finally, many Southern Californians are finding the relative flexibility and affordability of renting an apartment as being a desirable alternative to home ownership. Viewing the Los Angeles multifamily market from a long term perspective, the demographic trends favor the multifamily market as an increasing number of young people are choosing to delay marriage and household formation. The trend of continued education is another factor influencing the multifamily market. Furthermore, it is our belief that an...
#NAAEduConf
First Time Thoughts
The 2013 NAA Education Conference & Exposition is just around the corner. Next week at this time I’ll be in sunny San Diego, listening to the wisdom of business virtuosos like Richard Branson, Erik Wahl, and Bert Jacobs. If Lauren Boston is right, I may see a few tears shed into lunch napkins. For me, NAA is a big deal because it will be my first chance to represent my company outside our self-hosted conferences, and I want to make the most of it. Perhaps the experience will be similar for you. Conferences can be invaluable learning experiences, but they do require an investment of resources to attend. If you’re the only attendee for your company, you want to return to work with knowledge gained, providing value for your colleagues and clients. But there’s so much to do and just two days to accomplish it, so where to start? Here are 4 steps I’m taking to make the most of my first NAA I hope you’ll consider sharing what steps you’ve taken too. Prepare goals and questions. What are you hoping to get out of the conference? If you’re representing an office, what would your colleagues hope to learn if they were going? What solutions, on-site or in-office are you hoping to identify this year? Create a list and make that a focus while you’re there. It will help give you conversation topics during networking events, as well as help keep you focused as you move through the expo center and sessions. Created a schedule. There are loads of resources for doing this throughout the NAA website and the App. If one of the solutions you’re looking for deals with revenue management then make time at 9:00am Thursday for “Integrating a Revenue Management System...
Project for Pride in Living
Affordable Innovation in the Twin Cities
You may think you know what affordable housing looks like. Until you’ve taken a look at the amazing variety of projects developed by Twin Cities non-profit Project for Pride in Living, you may be wrong. PPL, serving lower-income families and individuals in Minneapolis and St. Paul for over four decades, has an impressive array of social services programming (we’ll feature these efforts in a forthcoming article) and affordable housing options that have improved lives for thousands of Minnesotans. With a current portfolio of 1,056 affordable housing units, since 1972 PPL has developed or renovated 2,000 housing units during its history. And great projects just keep on coming. Recently we had the opportunity to speak with Chris Wilson, PPL’s Director of Housing and Development, about some of the interesting work that is in the development pipeline for PPL right now. Here are brief snapshots of each of the three projects he shared. Project 1: Rising Cedar, supported living facility, in partnership with Touchstone Mental Health Touchstone Mental Health’s clients are suffering with serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. The Rising Cedar facility will be a supportive residential environment for 40 individuals, and also house Touchstone Mental Health’s offices and a public Health and Wellness Center focused on the treatment of mental illness. But Rising Cedar will be more than just a multi-use facility. “The project we’re doing is an attempt to marry the latest findings in neuroscience with housing and what we are able to do with the build environment,” Wilson said. Before design of the structure began, Touchstone conducted extensive research into healing environments, and what kind of permanent indoor physical spaces might best benefit their clients. During the design process, potential future residents gave feedback to the PPL team about what features would or would not work for them. Resulting features incorporated into the Rising Cedar design include natural light in every room of the project, even meeting rooms and hallways, constant access to natural surroundings through large windows, and spaces that can be transitioned from open-to-confined to meet residents’ health needs. “They can adjust their environment to suit what they need at that moment,” Wilson said. Rising Cedar is located in Seward, with easy access to the city’s light rail. Its’ Health and Wellness Center services will include psychiatric care, acupuncture, massage therapy, recreation space and other resources. Project 2: Hamline Station, transit-oriented, potentially car free workforce housing The harsh Midwestern winters might lead you to assume otherwise, but Minneapolis/St. Paul ranks as the city as the most bike-able city in the nation, according to Bike Score. Cycling’s prevalence here for commuters, coupled with the expansion of the city’s light rail system between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, are leading to new opportunities to live a carless life in the Twin Cities. The Hamline Station project will include 108 units of workforce and family housing in two buildings along University Ave, very close to the Hamline Station. “You could pretty reasonably not have a car and live there, if you take the light rail to work. You could work in either downtown, too, because it’s about halfway in between,” Wilson said. Adding to the potential for a car-free life, the project will feature a bicycle maintenance station and convenient bicycle storage in the underground parking area, there will be an HOURCAR car share vehicle stationed on site, and there is convenient walkable access to shopping, parks and schools. The neighborhood receives a 91 ranking from Walk Score, which equates to a “walkers’ paradise,” according to its standards. The hope is to break ground on the new units in spring 2014. Project 3: Hawthorne EcoVillage, redevelopment with an environmental edge The Hawthorne EcoVillage is a long-term, ongoing project for PPL, partnering with the City of Minneapolis, the Family Housing Fund, the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council, Hennepin County, the Northside Home Fund, and Twin Cities...
Music Matters
SB Youth Symphony
Amy Bassett, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Santa Barbara Symphony, knows how much difference music can make in the life of a child. She has experienced its power first-hand. Growing up in a very small town in Massachusetts, Amy was exposed to the power of music via television broadcasts of the Boston Pops, performing every Fourth of July at the Fireworks Spectacular on Boston’s Esplanade. The concert was televised statewide, and she would watch every year. Drawn to their performance, she became a musician, mastering the bassoon, and eventually earned a doctorate in musical arts. “For me, music was something that came into my life and helped me define and figure out who I was, and decide where I wanted to go,” said Bassett. Her musical talent and drive has taken her all over the United States, introduced her to interesting and accomplished people, and now allows her to play a role in sharing world-class music with the next generation. The Santa Barbara Symphony’s youth programs have a strong legacy that dates back a half-century. They expose local schoolchildren to the beauty and power of classic compositions, bring them to the historic Granada Theatre for performances, and offer participatory opportunities to children who have the talent and desire to take up an instrument. Over 100 volunteers help make the programming possible. “They are very excited,” Bassett said of the students who participate in the Symphony programs. “Many of them haven’t been exposed to it before, but with a little preparation and explanation, it goes a long way.” The Symphony’s education programs, which reach 4,500 students each year, include: The Music Van, which visits nearly 60 elementary schools across Santa Barbara County each year and gives 2200 third-graders the chance to learn...
