The team behind one of Baltimore’s well known redevelopment projects shares their story during an interactive on-site tour.

 

As our cities become more crowded and ground up construction costs continue to rise, more developers and investors are looking at adaptive reuse opportunities. These redevelopment projects fill costly vacancies, boost the overall economic performance of a region, and are supported by government incentive programs. Additionally, government officials recently designated 8,700 opportunity zones and an opportunity zone program that will use tax breaks to incentivize investors to invest in low-income communities. Hear from an expert speaker on the regulations driving growth in these sectors and how to interpret them, plus, how the US economy is affecting adaptive reuse and opportunity zones in 2019 and beyond.

 

James Diffley, Senior Director - Economics, IHS Markit 

On the surface there are numerous reasons to invest in an adaptive reuse or opportunity zone project, for instance, tax incentives for historic preservation, potential development cost savings, and oftentimes ideal locations in densely populated cities. However, there is still a lot regulatory uncertainty around these opportunities making some investor slower to jump on the bandwagon. This is particularly true for opportunity zones where interest is high but a lack of clarity around the rules is delaying investments whereas, adaptive reuse projects are seeing more activity from investors. Hear from some of the top dealmakers from around the nation as they share insights into the direction of the market, where metrics are headed and when we'll start seeing the money flow for opportunity zones. Plus, what common mistakes do they see made when investing in adaptive reuse projects from the failure to account for earthquake proofing in Los Angeles to the potential structural issues with older buildings in New York or Washington D.C.?

 

Nick Silbergeld, Senior Officer, Investments, Calvert Impact Capital

Craig Bernstein, Principal, OPZ Bernstein

Carrie Dewees, Managing Principal, Allstate

Since the opportunity zone program was announced in last year's Tax Cuts and Job Acts, the buzz has been non-stop within the CRE community. That is no surprise considering there were 8,700 designated communities. However, some zones stand out amongst the crowd. Hear from industry experts on how they define opportunity zones, determine the appropriate tax credits,  and avoid potential costly mistakes. Plus, once you have a plan- how do you make your project attractive to an opportunity fund and get deal flow moving? Our experts discuss what you need to know about opportunity zones whether their right here in Baltimore, a suburb of Chicago or in Downtown Los Angeles. 

 

A portion of this session will invite attendees to join the conversation via a guided opportunity zone and deal making roundtable discussions.

 

Jill Homan, President, Javelin 19 Investments

H. Blair Kincer, MAI, CRE, Partner, LEED Green Associate, Novogradac

Ben Seigel, Baltimore Opportunity Zones Coordinator, Baltimore Development Coordinator

Adaptive-reuse projects are expected to increase at least twofold over the next five years. What does the future of AdRu hold for the industry? And what is the untapped potential that will fuel growth of these projects for years to come? K.C. Conway, MAI, CRE, CCIM Institute chief economist and director of research & corporate engagement at the Alabama Center for Real Estate, will share his insights on what’s ahead and where the opportunities lie.

 

Kiernan “K.C.” Conway, Chief Economist, CCIM Institute

Hear case studies on successful reuse projects as our presenters detail the journey from beginning to end. First, we'll hear the story of the growing Capitol Hill neighborhood of NoMa. Then we'll travel to the Midwest to hear more about the collaborative process between architects and engineers to create a truly innovative project in Chicago. 

 

Robin-Eve Jasper, President, NoMa BID

Josh Dortzbach, S.E., P.E., Principal, Forefront Structural Engineers

In a market where regulations are evolving and investors are cautious, public-private partnerships are essential for success. Bringing together the vision and eagerness of the private sector with the resources of municipalities or civic organizations could help get a project off the ground with funding much faster. However, sometimes building these relationships is easier said than done. This session will cover why and how to build a winning public-private partnership in any city across the country. 

 

Michael Stevens, President, Capital Riverfront BID

Stephen Friedman, President, SB Friedman Development Advisors