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Redevelopment

UC Berkeley Redevelopment Courses, Fall 2008
For the 10th year, Libby Seifel will teach a one-day course on redevelopment at the University of California Berkeley Extension. The course will be held in San Francisco. After ten years of teaching, we're happy to also announce that UC Berkeley has requested that the course be retooled and become part of the University's new Sustainable Design program and be offered for academic credit starting in 2009. We will be sending out an announcement later this fall with more information about the Sustainable Design program and the new courses.

Understanding Redevelopment: Project Adoption through Implementation
Friday, September 26, 2008 -- 9am - 5pm

San Francisco: UCB Extension Downtown Center, 425 Market St., 8th Floor, Room 809, Fee: $395, including course materials.

UCB course identification number: EDP 318840

To enroll online, go to: http://www.unex.berkeley.edu/cat/course985.html

To enroll by phone, call 510.642.4111 (reference course EDP 318840) or call 510.642.4151 for more information.

The California Community Redevelopment Law, enacted in 1945, has evolved to meet the state's current economic development challenges. Today, redevelopment offers modern tools to encourage community revitalization, provide affordable housing, redevelop surplus military bases, and reconstruct deteriorating public infrastructure.

This course offers a practical understanding of the redevelopment planning process from plan inception through implementation. We will discuss the role of redevelopment in neighborhood stabilization, commercial revitalization, Brownfields reclamation, and military base conversion. The course features case studies and lectures by experts in the field.

The material is presented in three parts: redevelopment plan conceptualization and adoption, tax increment financing, and affordable housing. In the first phase of the course, you learn how to determine where and when redevelopment can be effectively used. Included is a step-by-step process for preparing a redevelopment plan that meets legal requirements and responds to a community's goals. The tax increment financing section explores how a redevelopment agency can generate its own unique source of funding. As redevelopment stimulates new growth, the resulting increase in property taxes generated from higher property values-known as tax increment-can be reinvested locally. In the last part of the course, you explore redevelopment's role as California's most effective tool for preserving, improving, and producing affordable housing.

Note: Enrollment is limited. Course fee includes course materials and optional field tour during lunch of a downtown redevelopment project.

Instructors: Elizabeth (Libby) Seifel, M.C.P., AICP, is president of Seifel Consulting Inc., an economic consulting firm, located in San Francisco, CA. She helps public and private sector clients resolve complex urban growth issues, maximize real estate assets, and achieve fiscal goals. She has advised on more than 100 redevelopment project areas in California with projected new development values from $100 million to more than $4 billion.

Joining Ms. Seifel is her noted colleague, John (Jack) Nagle, J.D. Mr. Nagle is a noted redevelopment attorney with Goldfarb and Lipman.



The Community Guide to Redevelopment
The Guide includes an overview of the redevelopment process written in "layperson's language" and addresses questions that often arise during the redevelopment process. Libby Seifel is a contributing editor.
Out of stock. Revised edition expected in the Fall of 2007.

Bloomingdales Redevelopment Project Upheld
In September, 2002, the Court of Appeal upheld the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency’s plan to redevelop the Emporium Department, including the blight analysis undertaken by the Agency. Seifel Consulting prepared the technical documents required for the Plan Amendment and performed the economic blight analysis and tax increment projections. Bloomingdales began construction in 2003. Download the opinion
Download San Franciscans Upholding the Downtown Plan v. City and County of San Francisco (PDF)

SB 211 Ordinance
In December 2001, Libby Seifel made a web cast presentation for CRA, "What are the Financial Implications of Eliminating an Agency’s Time Limit for Incurring Debt per SB 211?" Along with financial implications, the presentation includes factors to consider in deciding whether to adopt an SB 211 ordinance.
Download the Power Point presentation on SB 211 Ordinance (PDF)

Redevelopment Storytelling
At the 2005 Annual California Redevelopment Association Conference, Libby Seifel lead an interactive workshop, “How to Tell Your Redevelopment Story Powerfully.” Created in collaboration with writer Susan Sharpe, the presentation offers a fail-proof guide to developing and communicating a redevelopment narrative that is compelling, inspiring and concise.
Download the Power Point Presentation on Redevelopment Storytelling (PDF).

RDA Issues
In February 2004, Libby Seifel presented to CSMFO, “Emerging Trends II: RDA Issues—Should We Amend our Redevelopment Plan?” Answering such questions as, “What is a merger amendment?” and “What would different types of Amendments do?” the presentation simplifies and facilitates informed decisions about existing redevelopment plans in light of redevelopment legislation, including AB 1290, SB 211, SB 1045, and SB 1096.
Download the Power Point Presentation on RDA Issues (PDF).

Intro to Redevelopment
At the 2005 Annual California Redevelopment Association Conference, Marie Munson presented “Plan Adoption, Amendment, and Merger.” In clear language and simple terms, this presentation begins by explaining what redevelopment is and goes on to explore a variety of redevelopment concepts, CRL definitions, and the ten basic steps to plan adoption.
Download the Power Point Presentation on Redevelopment (PDF).


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Real Estate Economics

We are excited to announce that UC Berkeley Extension has launched a new sustainable design program and selected “Designing Effective California Public-Private Partnerships” for this program. This course has been expanded to a two-day course and will be eligible for academic credit and continuing education credit for planners and attorneys (AICP and MCLE).

Designing Effective California Public-Private Partnerships  

Thursday and Friday, May 13-14, 2010, 9am - 5pm

Location: San Francisco UCB Extension, Room 206, Art and Design Center, 95 Third Street, San Francisco

Information and Registration: http://extension.berkeley.edu/

Guest Lecturers: John (Jack) Nagle of Goldfarb & Lipman and Joseph (Joe) Coomes of McDonough, Holland & Allen

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) provide a unique way for the government and private developers to work together to create sustainable and profitable urban infill developments. This two-day course offers practical techniques for designing, evaluating and negotiating effective PPPs. It describes how to effectively utilize California's unique legal and financial tools to accomplish a broad range of projects, from the redevelopment of surplus public properties and brownfields sites to the creation of mixed use developments that incorporate green design and mixed-income housing next to public transit.

Case studies and lectures by experts in the field offer practical techniques to understand and structure effective PPPs. Students will learn about the unique objectives and contributions of the public and private sectors in a PPP, the laws governing redevelopment-sponsored PPPs, and best legal practices in negotiating and documenting PPPs. They will also learn how to solicit, evaluate and select the right development team. The most successful PPPs effectively balance the financial objectives and needs of the public and private sector, so the course will present key fiscal and real estate concepts critical to understanding how the deal will be evaluated from both the public and private perspective. Participants will also learn how to encourage PPPs by using the unique tax increment financing tools of redevelopment, as well as other public financing techniques.

ELIZABETH (LIBBY) SEIFEL, M.C.P., AICP, is president of Seifel Consulting, an economic consulting firm. She helps private and public sector clients resolve complex urban growth issues, maximize real estate assets, and achieve fiscal goals. She has advised on more than 100 redevelopment project areas in California with projected new development values from $100 million to more than $4 billion.

Cultural Districts as Catalysts for Downtown Redevelopment
In October 2006, Libby Seifel led a panel on the importance of cultural districts in downtown redevelopment at the Urban Land Institute Fall Conference. She presented the “Ten Tips for Building Successful Arts and Cultural Districts” with panelists Kevin McMahon, CEO of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Susan Eastridge of Concord Eastridge, the master developer for Pittsburgh’s RiverParc, and Jack Finlaw, Denver’s Director of Theaters and Arenas.
Download the presentation “Cultural Districts as Catalysts for Downtown Redevelopment.” (PDF)
  >  Download the “Ten Tips for Building Successful Arts and Cultural Districts.” (PDF) 

How to Make the Most of $12 Billion in New Market Tax Credits
In October 2006, Libby Seifel coordinated a panel on how to use new market tax credits to stimulate new commercial, industrial and residential development in inner-cities at the Urban Land Institute Fall Conference. She orchestrated panel presentations by Linda Davenport of the CDFI Fund, Charles Werhane of Enterprise Community Investment, Gwen Knight of The DESCO Group and Charles Loveman of Heritage Housing Partners.
Download the presentation “How to Make the Most of $12 Billion in New Market Tax Credits.” (PDF) 

Bay Area Models of Urban Infill Housing
The September 2003 issue of Urban Land contained Libby Seifel’s article describing Bay Area examples of new higher density housing in the urban core.
Download the reprint Bay Area Models of Urban Infill Housing (PDF)
 
Capital Markets: How do Developers (and Agencies) Raise equity?
In a July, 2003, Community Redevelopment Agency seminar, Libby Seifel led a panel presentation on how developers and redevelopment agencies raise capital, using the Hunters Point Shipyard as a case study.
Download the presentation Capital Markets (PDF)

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Affordable & Market Rate Housing

Housing Program Implementation
Libby Seifel’s presentation on "Housing Program Implementation under AB 637" at CRA’s October 2002 Housing Conference includes suggestions on how to develop action plans to meet a community’s housing needs and redevelopment agency’s obligations.
Download the Power Point presentation Housing Program Implementation ( PDF)

CRA Affordable Housing Handbook
The “California Affordable Housing Handbook”, edited by Libby Seifel, introduces the reader to the redevelopment housing law, policy choices and strategies, program types, program administration and cases studies of numerous residential projects.
View a description/order the publication from the CRA website

City and Agency Inclusionary Housing
In this 2005 Annual California Redevelopment Association Conference presentation, “Inclusionary Housing: How to Make City and Agency Inclusionary Housing Programs Work Together Effectively,” Libby Seifel examines Inclusionary Housing policy and implementation from the perspective of cities, redevelopment Agencies, and developers.
Download the Power Point Presentation on Inclusionary Housing (PDF).

CRA Housing Set-Aside Article
Marie Munson wrote “Agencies Spend 80% Funds on Affordable Housing in Addition to 20% Low and Moderate Income Housing Fund Deposits” published in the November 2004 issue of CRA Journal. The article observes that many communities, such as San Jose and Santa Monica, have found the mandated 20% housing set aside is not sufficient to meet their affordable housing needs. Munson identifies one solution.
Download the CRA Journal Article on Set Asides (PDF).

CRA Inclusionary Housing Article
“How to Design a Successful Inclusionary Housing Program to Help Your Agency Meet its Affordable Housing Requirements,” by Elizabeth Seifel was published in the January 2005 issue of CRA Journal. The article outlines key policy considerations and economic principles to be explored, including alternative methods of compliance.
Download the CRA Journal Article on Inclusionary Housing (PDF).


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Economic Analysis & Strategies


Economic Development Techniques
Libby Seifel presented an overview of economic development techniques at the April 2004 League of California Cities Planner’s Institute. She discussed how planners can encourage economic development in their communities using various economic development tools.
Download the the Power Point presentation - Economic Development (PDF)

Property Rights Initiatives in Oregon and California
In response to recent property rights ballot initiatives in Oregon and California, Jessica Zenk and Libby Seifel wrote an article for Northern News of the California chapter of the American Planning Association. The article highlights the complex fiscal and planning consequences of compensating property owners for changes in land use regulations, as required by the Napa County Measure A, Nevada County Measure D, and California Proposition 90. Although all of these California ballot measures were defeated, Oregon’s Ballot Measure 37 passed and has created a significant fiscal liability for cities and counties from pending compensations lawsuits. The article was informed by the economic analysis that Seifel Consulting conducted for the Election Code Section 9111 reports in both Napa and Nevada Counties.
Download the article on property rights initiatives from Northern News (PDF)

Public Incentives Without Using Tax Increments
At a an October, 2003 California Association of Local Economic Development seminar, Libby Seifel presented federal, State, and local funding programs and tools to promote economic development.
Download the presentation Public Incentives Without Using Tax Increments (PDF)

Urban Form and Design
In March, 2001, Libby Seifel presented a witty musical interpretation on current urban design and form at the American Planning Association conference. Download the notes notes
Aesthetics, Banality and Style, A Musical Interpretation (PDF)

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