Urban Land Institute, Los Angeles, Names David P. Waite New Chair

Los Angeles, CA (July 22, 2013) – ULI Los Angeles, a District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), has named David P. Waite its new Chair. A Partner with the law firm Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP, Waite assumes the chairmanship of the land-use organization for a two-year term, commencing July 1, 2013.
 
The Los Angeles District Council of ULI, whose international headquarters are in Washington D.C., will benefit from Waite’s over 20 years experience in real estate, land-use and environmental law.  David's practice at Cox, Castle & Nicholson focuses on all of the major land use issues facing the region, including entitlements, CEQA, climate change, transit- and corridor-oriented development, mixed use, public-private partnerships, master-planned communities, retail, infrastructure, creative office, mixed-income and small-scale housing, and energy projects. In addition to Waite’s extensive land-use and environmental litigation practice, he regularly appears before planning commissions, city councils, and other federal, state and local government agencies on land use and regulatory matters.

“As the economy improves and the real-estate industry heals, I am excited about the tremendous opportunities that ULI Los Angeles extends not only to our members, but to the entire community of Los Angeles,” said Waite. “No other organization offers such collaboration and leadership among colleagues who share a passion for thriving communities. And no other organization offers this level of personal engagement and commitment to the health, vitality and sustainability of the urban environment, which is essential for the livability and livelihood of our region.”

Waite has been an active member of ULI for over 16 years.  He is a Governor of the ULI Foundation, the philanthropic extension of ULI that supports the Institute’s research and education initiatives.  He has served for the past 10 years on the ULI Los Angeles Advisory Board, and he is the outgoing Chair of the Program Committee.  He is a member of the ULI’s Community Development Council (Blue Fight), where he serves as the membership Chair.

“It is an honor to pass the ULI Los Angeles baton to David Waite,” said outgoing Chair Ronald A. Altoon. “This is an exciting time for the city, our organization and its members, and David has presented a breadth of vital ideas and programs that that will continue to expand ULI Los Angeles’ unique role of providing best thinking and best practices.”

Among the primary goals Waite has articulated for the next two years are vigorous outreach efforts: “We will attract, retain and engage existing and new diverse members by increasing the opportunities to collaborate and lead in ULI Los Angeles’s extensive program of work,” Waite said.

Specifically, Waite has outlined several new initiatives, including:

1. Establishing ULI Los Angeles local “product councils.” Built on the organization’s national model, product councils provide a forum for professional development, industry collaboration, leadership and networking within industry segments.  “We currently have three emerging local product councils (Capital Markets, Infrastructure and Housing),” said Waite. “Our goal is to have no less than six active product councils with distinct leadership and programming.  We will consider, for example, new local product councils for mixed use, transit-corridor development, and small-scale development.”
2. Initiating ULI Los Angeles “sub-regional councils” focused on land use issues facing sub-regions. “Each sub-regional council will have its own distinct leadership and programming,” said Waite. “We will consider, for example, sub-regional councils for the South Bay and Beach Cities region, the San Fernando Valley, Ventura and Santa Barbara, the San Gabriel Valley and perhaps Newhall, among other sub-regions.”
3. Expanding Technical Assistance Panel (“TAP”) and other ULI advisory service offerings throughout the Los Angeles region. TAPs are among ULI’s most valuable services for addressing land-use challenges in specific areas. “Our TAPs provide unparalleled member talent and expertise to local communities, and our goal is to present no less than eight TAPs and other advisory events annually to serve the region.”
4. Expanding participation in unique grant programs. Recent successful building reuse and corridor studies grants have charged ULI Los Angeles with exploring crucial issues such as improving transportation corridors and exploring the successful reuse of buildings.
5. Initiating a member outreach and engagement program with “high-touch” events that bring together sponsors, advisory board members, and strategic advisors.
6. Launching the ULI Los Angeles Healthy Communities Initiative.  “There is tremendous focus and interest in the development of healthy places,” said Waite. This focus on the connection between health and land use may include enhancing access and connectivity to open space, and improving walkability and bikeability.

Prior to joining Cox, Castle & Nicholson, Waite was a Partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from New York University. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Southern California Real Estate Alliance and a member of the Westside Urban Forum. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the California Infill Builders Federation.

Waite is joined in his efforts by ULI Los Angeles Executive Director Gail Goldberg. Goldberg has served in this role for two years and is the former Director of the Los Angeles Planning Department and Director of the Planning Department of the City of San Diego.

About ULI Los Angeles
The Urban Land Institute (www.uli.org) is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 40,000 members representing all aspects of the land use and development disciplines. ULI Los Angeles has an active membership drawn from the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, and is composed of groups and individuals united in their pursuit of improving land-use policies.