On June 9 at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, the first in this year’s Los Angeles Headquarters Real Estate Connections series focuses on the future of development and the economy in the San Fernando Valley.  In a focused program beginning at 2 pm and followed by  a speaker, sponsor, and attendee cocktail reception, key decision makers from local government, business, and non-profits present up-to-the-minute information along with their often differing perspectives and opinions on key issues facing the San Fernando Valley and possible solutions.

In a panel discussion moderated by METRO’s Chief of Real Property Management and Development, Roger S. Moliere, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Brad Cox (Principal, Trammell Crow Company), Tom Wulf (Senior Vice President, Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group), and Cliff Goldstein (Senior Partner, J.H. Synder Company) examine the opportunities and challenges of Transit Oriented Development and whether it represents a dream or a nightmare for the Valley’s future.  Nowhere does transportation-oriented development (TOD) affect the future of the real estate industry and economic development more than in the San Fernando Valley Region.  It is the vehicle which brings with it to the Valley all of the major issues that developers, builders, financiers, local governments, and the community must face.

Brendan Huffman (President, Valley Industry and Commerce Association – VICA), moderates Councilwoman Wendy Greuel, Steve MacDonald (President, FilmLA, Inc.) and Bruce Ackerman (President and CEO, Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley) in a wide-ranging discussion of why businesses come to, stay in or leave the San Fernando Valley and what we can do to maximize inflow and retention and minimize outflow.  Specific issues to be addressed in the context of the Valley include lack of room for manufacturing sector expansion, competition from localities near and far which claim to offer lower costs, better infrastructure, and better services to businesses, opportunities for affordable housing close to available jobs, government support of development and requirements for obtaining government funding, and significant and continuing changes in population demographics.

Special Reports precede and follow the afternoon’s panels.  The first Special Report is presented by Tom Smith (Senior Vice President, NBC Universal) and Tom Ricci (Executive Vice President, Thomas Properties Group, Inc.) on “Red Line Development: The New NBC Headquarters at Universal City in the San Fernando Valley,” one of the San Fernando Valley’s most important projects, the relocation of NBC’s West Coast headquarters from Burbank to an $800 million “green,” state-of-the-art, high-definition complex at the MTA Red Line station, right across the street from Universal Studios theme park and the adjacent CityWalk attraction.

The second Special Report features Westfield Corp., Inc.’s Senior Vice President of Development, Larry Green, on “Retail Expansion: New Development in the San Fernando Valley.”  In an effort to change the Valley’s retail landscape, Westfield has invested over $330 million to redevelop its Topanga shopping mall, adding more than 140 stores.  The renovation provided over 1,500 construction jobs and over 3,000 retail jobs in the completed center and is projected to bring in over $605 million in annual sales.  For Sherman Oaks, Westfield has filed a proposal to add 280,000 square feet of retail space including new shops, restaurants and other amenities, a renovation that will increase the mall’s size by more than 32 percent and cost about $200 million.

More information on the conference and online registration are available at the Los Angeles Headquarters Association’s website, www.laheadquarters.com.  REAL ESTATE CONNECTIONS represents one of the key missions of Los Angeles Headquarters Association – to provide businesses in Greater Los Angeles with the information, tools, and connections necessary for success in the ever-changing real estate industry and economy.