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Program: Georgia Smart Growth Development - GM Plant Redevelopment
When: 01/27/09
Registration/Networking Time: 11:30am
Event Time: 11:30am - 1:30pm
Location: 103 West | Map | 103 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305 | 404.233.5993
Cost: Members $45 | Non-member $65
Domains: [TBD]
CEU Hours: [TBD]
Registration: Registration is available online through 123signup.
With the Fall 2008 closure of the historic General Motors Plant in Doraville, there will be ample opportunities for the A/E/C industry in the state of Georgia. The GM Plant Redevelopment is a 165+ acre in-fill development site located at one of Atlanta's most strategic transportation hubs. Situated in the middle of I-285 and Peachtree Industrial Blvd., directly next door to the recently redeveloped Doraville MARTA Station, the location of this project makes this site an ideal candidate for a mixed-use development. To add to the excitement of this project, Doraville recently passed an ordinance requiring all new buildings of 20,000 SF or more to be LEED certified. The chosen developer of the GM site will have to use recycled materials, install low-flow toilets and cut overall energy and water use.
Please join SMPS on January 27, 2009 for a panel discussion on Georgia Smart Growth Development - GM Plant Redevelopment. The program will discuss the issues, status and opportunities associated with this redevelopment of the GM Plant and will give attendees an opportunity to hear what is happening right here in Georgia. The program will be led by Maria Mullins with the DeKalb County Office of Economic Development.
Topics of discussion will include the following subjects:
- Plant Redevelopment Process
- Current Status of Plant Redevelopment in Georgia
- Environmental Issues
- Traffic / MARTA impact
Moderator:
Maria Mullins
Director
DeKalb County Office of Economic Development
Development Authority of DeKalb County
As economic development director of Georgia’s second largest county, Mullins’ top priority is the health and viability of DeKalb’s diverse business economy. She has created a professional department dedicated to expanding employment and investment opportunities and enriching citizens’ quality of life.
Mullins began her economic development career in the late 1980’s with the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. She was instrumental in spearheading the development of Windward, Preston Ridge and North Point, which have grown to become a lucrative part of metro Atlanta’s premiere business community.
By the mid 1990’s, Mullins’ focus expanded to the global marketplace. She developed U.S. markets for the British Enterprise System in the United Kingdom and Scotland. She also completed marketing missions in Italy, Germany, France, Canada, and Mexico.
In 1997, Mullins joined the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, where she served as vice president of economic development until joining DeKalb County Government in 2001. Since taking the reins of a business base larger than the states of Wyoming and Rhode Island, Mullins has driven DeKalb’s economic boom, generating thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments.
In 2005, Mullins joined the State of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Hemisphere, Inc. to open trade offices in Mexico City and Sao Paulo, Brazil. She was also on the team to successfully locate the Consulate Generals of Guatemala, Peru and Mexico to DeKalb County.
Mullins also serves as administrator to the Development Authority of DeKalb County, the Senior Residential Authority and the Private Hospital Authority. In addition, Mullins serves on the board of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Perimeter College Campus Advisory Board and the Capital Budget Committee of DeKalb County.
In 2009, Mullins will assume the role of chair of the Leadership DeKalb Board of Directors. DeKalb Economic Development remains focused on business retention and recruitment. It continues to foster strong economic policies that will keep the county competitive in the global marketplace.
Speakers:
Ted Tarantino
Manager of Joint Development
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit District (MARTA)
Ted Tarantino has served as Manager of Joint Development for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit District (MARTA)since 2006. Mr. Tarantino has over 20 years experience in real estate site acquisition, development, asset management, brokerage and leasing. He currently oversees the Joint Development program for MARTA, a group charged with envisioning and implementing Transit Oriented Developments (TOD) on Authority owned land at MARTA’s 38 heavy rail stations.
Mr. Tarantino has worked as a commercial realtor in Northeast Atlanta, and served for 15 years as a Senior Real Estate Specialist and Pacific Area Manager for the United States Postal Service Facilities Department in Windsor, Connecticut; San Francisco, California; and Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to working in real estate, Mr. Tarantino served as a land use and community planner for the cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Seattle, Washington, as well as King County, Washington and the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Mr. Tarantino holds a M.S. in City Planning from the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee, and a B.S. in Political Science and Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.
Bob Roche
Doraville City Councilman
Bob Roche has just completed his first year as a Doraville City Councilman, and is a founding board member of the Kiwanis Club of Doraville. He is a Viet Nam Era veteran, receiving an Honorable Discharge from the US Air Force. Bob enjoys riding his treasured Harley, occasional visits to the pistol range, and is learning more about woodworking, his latest hobby.
He ran for office because he believes, like most people, that too many elected officials seem preoccupied with getting and keeping power instead of working for the people who elected them. Doraville needs progress, not politics.
Bob was proud to sponsor Doraville's LEED ordinance, which used Chamblee's ordinance (sponsored by Chamblee councilman Mark Wedge) as a model. Bob believes that requiring LEED certification on future projects will enhance the long term sustainability of Doraville and the surrounding areas. He has already approached members of the Dekalb County Commission about adopting it at the county level.
The LEED Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), provides a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable construction. Since its inception in 1998, LEED has grown to encompass over 14,000 projects in 50 U.S. states and countries covering 1,062 billion square feet of development area.
“Buildings are second only to transportation in energy consumption. Passage of the LEED ordinance will promote profitable buildings in Doraville that are energy efficient, environmentally responsible, and healthy places to live, work and play. My fellow council members, the Mayor, Chamblee Councilman Wedge and our citizens deserve a lot of credit for supporting this endeavor," said Roche.
Ken Bleakly
President
Bleakly Advisory Group
Ken Bleakly is the president of Bleakly Advisory Group and has been a practicing real estate consultant and advisor for over 25 years. Ken’s areas of practice include: market and financial analysis, public/private partnerships, public finance and project implementation. He has performed over 400 market and financial studies throughout his career assisting clients on a national basis with complex real estate issues. He has designed innovative economic development strategies and assisted with corporate relocation and incentive negotiation. He also has assisted over two dozen communities in the formation of Tax Allocation Districts to support redevelopment.
From 1996 to 2001 Ken served as president of COPA. Inc., a non-profit development entity affiliated with Central Atlanta Progress. In that capacity Ken was responsible for attracting over $600 million of new development around Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta and starting Georgia’s first tax allocation district.
From 1990 to 1996 Ken was a partner with Arthur Andersen & Co, and in charge of the real estate advisory services practice of the Atlanta office.
A significant portion of Ken’s practice deals with redevelopment of major land holdings. He is currently working on redevelopment plans for Fort McPherson, In Atlanta Fort Gillem, in Forrest Park and is advising the Jekyll Island Authority on a range of real estate issues. Ken has assisted private corporations with analyzing redevelopment options for large land holdings in Hall County and Glynn County, Georgia.
Ken is the co-author of several monographs on housing and community development issues. He is a frequent speaker on real estate and development issues.
He received a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University and his undergraduate degree in History from Rollins College.
Scott W. Condra
SVP of Development
Jacoby Development, Inc.
Scott W. Condra is Senior Vice President of Development at Jacoby Development, Inc. He joined JDI in 2005 following his position as Vice President/Area Manager for MACTEC, a large civil and environmental engineering consulting firm. At JDI, Scott is responsible for all phases of design, construction and implementation for mixed-use developments throughout the United States.
Scott has more than 20 years of experience with project and business management including an extensive background in environmental remediation, civil engineering design, construction management and federal and state permitting requirements.
He has managed the remediation of several former military facilities for transfer to civilian uses as well as multiple commercial brownfield developments.
Scott is a graduate in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and Southern Polytechnic State University. He is a former board member of the Marietta Redevelopment Corporation, Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society and Local Reuse Authority, Naval Air Station (Atlanta).
