LOCUS

The latest developments, events, and resources from LOCUS:

Federal Realty Trust and Lucas Thornton recognized with 2015 LOCUS Leadership Awards

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Since 2012, LOCUS has presented the national LOCUS Leadership Awards to developers and investors who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to public leadership, smart growth development, and furthering LOCUS’ mission.

This year, we received a record-breaking number of nominations from all over the country, and our decision was more difficult than ever before. That said, we are pleased to announce the following winners of the 2015 LOCUS Leadership Awards.

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Join the 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit for walking tours that highlight infrastructure in action

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It’s Infrastructure Week here in Washington, and everyone inside the Beltway is talking about the benefits of investments in roads, bridges, and transit. In two weeks, as part of the 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit, we’ll hold three walking tours that showcase neighborhoods transformed by investments in infrastructure—and you’re invited to join us.

hstreet2 H Street NE
One of the Washington, DC’s most historic neighborhoods, H Street has been home to legendary performance venues such as the Atlas Theatre and the H Street Playhouse. Now the center of a redevelopment renaissance—including construction of a new streetcar line—H Street NE is fighting to maintain affordability for residents both old and new.
brooklnad Brookland
This once-small neighborhood has grown steadily over the last few decades, and more recently boomed with the construction of large mixed-use development project, Monroe Street Market, one of the most prominent examples of transit-oriented development in the DC metro area.
tysons Tysons, VA
Once an “edge city” of primarily office and retail space, Tysons has taken a leap into new residential and commercial markets. The Silver Line, Metro’s most recent addition to its system, has garnered interest in mixed-use development and walkability in Tysons. Explore the newest investments toward this goal, including the Greensboro Park Place.
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Secretary Anthony Foxx to deliver keynote address at 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit

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Great, walkable neighborhoods are stronger when people of all income levels can afford to live there. Next month, real estate developers from across the country will gather to talk about how they can help make that happen as part of the 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit.

Transportation is a crucial part of this discussion and no one is more important in this arena than the U.S. Department of Transportation. The good news is that USDOT will join the Summit to speak frankly about how developers and transportation advocates can work together to build walkable, equitable communities.

We are excited to announce that U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will deliver the keynote address at the 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit. Under Secretary Foxx’s leadership, USDOT is working to make sure transportation investments support working families and America’s broader economy. Foxx’s keynote will provide insights into USDOT’s current programs, its plans for the future, and how real estate developers can be part of the national effort for more equitable, walkable communities. Register today to join the event:

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Join us for a live Twitter chat on the future of equitable, walkable development

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Can real estate developers prevent displacement and gentrification? Are there ways to pay for critical infrastructure without burdening taxpayers? How can the public and private sectors better work together to create equitable, walkable development?

We’re currently putting together the agenda for the 2015 LOCUS National Leadership Summit, and we want to hear from you about the topics you are most interested in.

Join us for a live Twitter chat on Thursday, April 16 from 1–2 PM EDT to discuss what should be on the agenda of the 2015 LOCUS Leadership Summit. Tweet your questions at @LOCUSdevelopers, or join the conversation at hashtag #LOCUSsummit.

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Are you having trouble with the new Fannie Mae appraisal process?

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LOCUS is calling on developers across the county to be apart of this discussion to share their experience with the Fannie Mae’s secondary market appraisal guidelines for small multi-family properties. With enough responses, LOCUS will convene a working group charged to develop a list of recommendations to improve Fannie Mae’s appraisal guidelines.

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Tell Congress to support transit oriented development

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Communities across the country are eager to build more homes and offices near transit stations. These projects can create walkable neighborhoods, and great returns on public investment, but are often complicated and difficult to finance. 

A new bill in Congress could make financing these projects easier. The Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure Financing Act would add new provision to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) to include financing for transit oriented development projects. 

TIFIA already provides loans, not subsidies, to eligible transportation projects. The new provision would go a step further to make loans available for transit oriented development infrastructure projects as well. 

The Senate needs to hear your support for this program. In the coming weeks, Congress will consider whether or not this provision should be included in the next federal transportation bill.

Send a letter to your Senators now >>

Transit oriented development is a fiscally sound way to leverage private sector dollars and create new homes and office space near transit. These projects can revitalize neighborhoods and support broader economic growth, but we need innovative programs like this to make it happen.

As Congress prepares to consider the next federal transportation bill, now is the time to voice your support for development near transit. Send a letter to your Senators today.

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Senators Schatz, Markey, and Merkley introduce Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure Financing Act

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A new bill introduced today in the Senate would help local communities better capitalize on development opportunities near public transportation by providing financing support in the form of loans or loan guarantees under the highly successful the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program.

Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure Financing Act, a bill which would add a new provision to TIFIA to include financing for transit-oriented development projects. In response, Christopher Coes, Director of LOCUS, released the following statement.

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First regional LOCUS Leadership Summit brings deals and groundbreaking research to New England

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On March 11, more than 175 real estate professionals from the greater Boston area came together for the 2015 LOCUS New England Leadership Summit: Closing the Next [Smart Growth] Deal.

Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash kicked off the day’s events with an opening plenary on the future of housing in Massachusetts. Secretary Ash discussed the state’s successes and challenges when it comes to creating walkable communities. “We ought to make sure to prepare communities for success,” Ash said. “There are opportunities across the Commonwealth, and my challenge to developers is to think big.”

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