Our annual event was held this year on May 24, 2012 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Two-hundred and fifty affordable housing leaders spent the day hearing from an insightful keynote speaker, engaging in an inventive policy discussion, and honoring five industry veterans who have made a profound impact in the affordable housing field.
The day began with an inspiring keynote address from Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti. With the loss of redevelopment in 2011, we are constantly looking to innovative leaders to continue to promote and protect affordable housing in California. Councilmember Garcetti is currently running for LA mayor and has been a champion for affordable housing throughout his career. In 2002, he led the effort to fund the nation’s largest Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
As the statewide big tent organization for affordable housing, we strive to provide a forum for provocative ideas to be discussed and debated in the hopes of striking upon new ideas and reaching common ground. This year’s discussion was unique because instead of a forum on the challenges facing the affordable housing industry, we engaged in a lively discussion with solutions for “What Now?” The first challenge explored ways to build affordable housing without soft debt; the second was ways to cut total development costs by 33%; and, the third was ways to turn foreclosures into affordable units.
Our panel, moderated by David Smith, CEO of Recap Real Estate Advisors, included Laura Archuleta of Jamboree Housing, Jonathan Klein of Union Bank, Bill Pavao from the CA Tax Credit Allocation Committee, Ronne Thielen of R4 Capital, Inc and Bill Witte from Related California.
Finally, we had the privilege of honoring a distinguished group of inductees into the California Housing Hall of Fame. To be inducted, an individual or organization must demonstrate a substantial contribution toward advancing the cause of affordable housing in California.
This year we were pleased to recognize the following affordable housing industry all-stars:
Private Sector: Natalie Gubb of Gubb & Barshay, LLP
Nonprofit Sector: LifeSTEPS
Public Sector: Leslye Corsiglia, City of San Jose &
Cathy Creswell, formerly of HCD
Lifetime Achievement Award: Margaret Schrand, formerly of Wells Fargo
The success of our event would not be possible without our great group of sponsors. We sincerely appreciate your support and look forward to having you all back next year!
Presenting Sponsor: Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Policy Forum Sponsor: Union Bank
Breakfast Sponsor: US Bank
Luncheon Sponsor: AmCal Multi-Housing, Inc.
Program Sponsor: Turner Construction
Board Dinner Sponsor: Citi Community Capital
Table Sponsors: Chase, BRIDGE Housing Corp, Jamboree, NPH, Novogradac & Co., Mid-Pen Housing, Related, Wakeland Housing & Development, Eden Housing, USA Properties Fund, Reznick Group, Affirmed Housing, National CORE, Nixon Peabody, Wells Fargo, Barker Management, WNC & Associates and Riverside Charitable Corp.