By Maria Nelson, ULI San Antonio Young Leaders Group Chair As I sat in a room of over 400 attendees committed to creating resilient communities in San Antonio, one statement that was said by Former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros when discussing equity stuck with me, “San Antonio is better prepared and we are the right city to do it.” I processed that statement and others and asked myself, what can we do as a regular San Antonians to ensure that every neighborhood is an opportunity neighborhood? An opportunity neighborhood – … Read More

At the Urban Land Institute’s Developer Shark Tank, “sharks” hear pitches for two mixed-use development concepts in 1920s-era structures. Two groups of aspiring real estate developers pitched redevelopment projects in San Antonio’s urban core hoping to capture the attention of a four-person panel of investors – or perhaps someone in the audience assembled at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on Monday. The Urban Land Institute’s Developer Shark Tank on Monday featured two mixed-use development concepts in 1920s-era structures the developers are aiming to rehabilitate and revitalize with the help … Read More

If it’s true that an urban renaissance is taking hold across the country, how can the city of San Antonio, among the fastest-growing and changing of them all, ensure that the good times benefit its entire population? That’s the question Henry Cisneros, former mayor and U.S. Housing and Urban Development secretary, posed to the “urban advocates” – architects, builders, financiers, and city leaders – who attended a meeting of the Urban Land Institute in San Antonio Tuesday. ULI hosted Cisneros, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and a panel presentation for the event at the Pearl. Cisneros … Read More

On July 1st, long-time ULI member Madison Smith began his two-year term as San Antonio District Council Chair. He succeeds Steve Yndo, President of Yndo Urban. As senior principal with Overland, a San Antonio-based architecture firm, Madison merges real estate and design thinking into a wide range of projects. He is also a principal with Headwaters Urban, a real estate firm concentrating on urban properties. Madison is highly engaged in the revitalization of San Antonio’s urban core. Most recently, he served as Chairman of the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation, … Read More

Apply now to participate in ULI San Antonio’s Mentorship Program, a popular year-long professional development forum designed for Young Leader members who are under the age of 35. Selected participants develop a broader understanding of all facets of the real estate environment; connect with ULI peers and a senior-level Mentor; and gain personal and professional development. The 2018-19 Mentorship Forum will consist of small groups, each consisting of 5-8 Young Leader members paired with a single Mentor. Applications will be open thru August 31. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM APPLY FOR THE MENTORSHIP FORUM … Read More

Joe Riley, former Mayor of Charleston, shares his experiences with members of the Urban Land Institute and guests. Photo credit: Scott Ball / Rivard Report UPDATED MAY 16, 2018 Should cities be designed for mothers walking hand-in-hand with their children or for beer delivery trucks and buses?For Joe Riley, who was mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, for 40 years, the answer is obvious.“I love beer,” Riley said Tuesday to a packed house at the Pearl Stable, but cities should focus on people. He pointed to a photo of a “human-scale” … Read More

ULI SPRING CONFERENCE Detroit, Michigan / May 2018 “The intersection of Depression and Inspiration” Having heard about Dan Gilbert, Quicken Loans and the Renaissance in Detroit, I was excited to see it all firsthand. Truth is I only knew there was something special happening there but I didn’t know much of the story. I do now. The opening of the conference featured a welcome speech first from Dan Gilbert and second from Chris Ilitch. Gilbert is a Detroit native who sold his mortgage company to Intuit and then bought it … Read More

ABOUT DEVELOPER SHARK TANK The Urban Land Institute (ULI) of San Antonio proudly presents the 2018 Developer Shark Tank, an interactive event that aims to entertain, educate, advise, and empower aspiring real estate developers. This year’s Shark Tank will be held on September 17 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as part of the Mayor’s Housing Summit. Developer Shark Tank brings together aspiring real estate developers, veterans in the real estate community, and a group of investors seeking real investment opportunities. Two (2) submission will be selected as finalists … Read More

ULI San Antonio and LISC recently co-hosted a Lunch & Learn with a panel of experts in alternative building materials and methods in building affordable and sustainable residential homes. Presented covered manufacturing and processes of using rammed earthen bricks, recycled plastic blocks, fly ash panels and modern modular homes systems. Representatives from the development community and the City of San Antonio Development Services and also presented their opinions and concerns to the panelists which was followed by a Q&A. FEATURED PANELISTS PRESENTATIONS David Komet, CEO / Alternivest Investment & Development / Urban … Read More

Downtown San Antonio has added another new hotel to its portfolio just in time for the Final Four. On Thursday morning, Baywood Hotels CEO Nick Naik gave members of the Urban Land Institute San Antonio a peak at his company’s newest and 100th hotel, a 125-room Hilton Garden Inn at 408 E. Houston St. View slideshow to tour the downtown hotel. The hotel features modern interiors, a gym, meeting rooms, a Garden Grille & Bar, and a rooftop deck and pool overlooking downtown. Maryland-based Baywood Hotels has developed 18 hotels in San Antonio and … Read More