A Developer Sets Up an Anti-Mobility Charitable Trust!

[simms3]

Got your attention?

So today received the weekly corporate update email from my firm, which is a private fund syndicator that happens to also be a very significant development firm, and this was amongst the "news":

xxxxxxx Foundation.  For xx years, xxxxxxx has been a good corporate citizen.  In an attempt to formalize our giving, we have established the xxxxxxx Foundation.  The xxxxxxx Foundation is a charity that will accept donations for charitable events that we sponsor and make gifts on behalf of xxxxxxx that represent our commitment to the communities in which we operate and issues that we support. Broadly speaking, our giving will focus on parks and green space, health and wellness, sustainable and locally grown food, design, and alternative transportation.   This Foundation is in its early stages but we are excited by its launch.   Please see xxxx xxxxxxxx with any questions or suggestions.

So, I guess I can be proud and say that I work for a development firm that actually values the communities in which we invest, and holds high many of the same principles of sound community and economic growth so espoused on this forum.

My company is an industry leader in large-scale adaptive re-use, restoration, quality development (always mixed-use), opportunity developments in smaller markets (often in the SE).  The following is a short list of where my firm has made an impact:

1) High Line in NYC (goes right through one of our buildings as a matter of fact)
2) Atlanta Beltline (practically goes right through another one of our buildings under redevelopment there, and right by another)
3) Off the Grid, the mother organization of food trucks in the Bay Area, we sponsor it and host it at our properties every week
4) Atlanta Street Food Coalition, see above, we play the same role in Atlanta for its food truck "trade organization"
5) James Beard Foundation, one principal/MD is one of the prominent board members, and so our company in nearly every city we have invested in has built up some of the country's leading restaurants...we invest IN the businesses, provide loans, etc
6) Back Bay Association, the business association for the Back Bay, tied to Boston Preservation.  Champions the continued revitalization and redevelopment of the Back Bay.
7) TSPLOST for Atlanta - As supportive as many corporations, developers and transit groups were of this bill, few were as supportive as we.


So not to brag about my own company, but just wanted to point out that there are actually responsible, involved, caring developers out there who rely on a strong community for their returns rather than whatever the hell some Jacksonville developers are relying on.  We are not alone...in all honesty I have no ties to the development world in Jax (or lack thereof), but I do get to work with JV partners on amazing deals in the Northeast, in SoFla, in Nashville, in NC, in DC, in Atlanta, and on the West Coast where I am now based.  All of the groups I encounter are very much like us...we *want* a strong sense of community, job growth in sustainable new age industries, excellent transportation, clean vibrant complete streets, strong culture, knowledgeable informed and active citizenry, etc.  All of that HELPs us all.

As you guys know, I get so sick of people lumping all developers together as being in bed with the devil.  It's only that way in Jacksonville and other less evolved cities.  It *can* be different, and it should be different.  Real developers would champion a Mobility Fee and would want stricter regulations and zoning codes and would want consistent enforcement and would want a more equal playing field and would want strong/intelligent competition (i.e. potential deal partners) and would want strong city/civic leadership.  Anything less is just not attractive.

Thoughts?

[thelakelander]

We need you to bribe your guys to come and invest in Jax.

[fsquid]

or make it profitable for them.

[Adam W]

What do you mean by "anti-mobility?"

[jcjohnpaint]

very nice!