Paint the Town Pink

The AVE motto is live better, and the team there is truly committed to delivering the best living experience possible for their residents. Apartment floor plans are designed for comfort, amenities and services are programmed for convenience and wellness, and events and initiatives are offered for community engagement. Their latest campaign “AVE Goes Pink” partners up with Susan G. Komen Philadelphia® to support its mission to reduce the number of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses in the Philadelphia Area while continuing to provide education, resources, and access to services to those who are battling the disease. AVE Goes Pink “AVE Goes Pink” (link to www.aveliving.com/pink) launched October 1st to support Susan G. Komen Philadelphia®, a respected voice in breast cancer education. “We turned all our logos on our social media channels pink to raise awareness for the cause and to let those who are currently fighting breast cancer know our thoughts are with them,” says Lea Anne Welsh, COO of Korman Communities and president of its AVE brand. “Our teams at the properties will also be wearing pink throughout the month.” “Typically, we wear black or dark grey. When a resident sees me in pink, they ask and it starts up a conversation about breast cancer awareness,” says Lauren Brauer, Leasing Manager, AVE King of Prussia. She continues, “Breast cancer awareness really hits home for me. Having had family members and friends go through the struggles of breast cancer, I want to do all I can to support them, as well as all others who have gone through it and are currently battling it.” Lights for the Fight Much of the Philadelphia skyline is getting involved. Susan G. Komen Philadelphia® and CBS 3 manage “Lights for the Fight.” The duo coordinates with city landmarks to...

Opting Outside Jan09

Opting Outside

For Rowan Diloia, the key to childhood learning wasn’t in a classroom or in the pages of a book. It was outside, in the mountains, beaches and creeks of Santa Barbara County. These were places he explored as a child, thanks to a local nonprofit called the Wilderness Youth Project (WYP). Serving kids as young as 3 and into high school, WYP is considered an early pioneer of an educational approach that’s now gaining acclaim nationwide. “It’s such a good alternative to staring at a phone, computer or tablet screen. Instead, let’s go outside, build a fort, learn how to make fire with two sticks and build a water filtration system,” Diloia said. When he was in the first grade, his parents enrolled him in the WYP, which was at that time an after-school program. They immediately noticed it made a difference for their son, who struggled with dyslexia and ADHD. “One of the grounding areas of his early life was the Wilderness Youth Project and their ability to bring him out into the wilderness and outside of his head,” said Tony Diloia, Rowan’s father. “A lot of after-school (programs) my parents tried didn’t really work for me,” Diloia said. “Most were a little too structured. But to be able to do my own thing at Wilderness Youth, go out in the dirt and climb trees, really helped.” When he entered high school, Diloia was accepted to the Visual Arts & Design Academy at Santa Barbara High School.  He is now a senior at California College of the Arts in San Francisco, where he is studying furniture design. He recently won a prestigious national award from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., for his functional art. Diloia said...

Recovery from Harvey Sep21

Recovery from Harvey

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Congress has approved a $15.25 billion disaster aid package for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). An additional package for Hurricane Irma recovery is likely under deliberation. The approved funds will contribute to, yet not cover, emergency assistance for regions of Texas and Louisiana overcome by Hurricane Harvey. The total funds needed for recovery may exceed $50 billion, according to analysts. The Gulf Coast of Texas received an unprecedented 50 inches of rain in less than four days. Homeland Security reports the loss of at least 70 lives and the destruction of more than 100,000 homes. Nearly 42 percent of Texans live in areas covered by the disaster proclamation. Beyond the Storm After Hurricane Allison, the 2014 City of Houston drainage study revealed that many of Houston’s poorest communities were inadequately prepared for “even modest storm events.” The National Community Reinvestment Coalition published a statement and map that shows the correlation between high-risk flood zones and communities of color. CNN reports that the city council approved $10 million to reduce drainage issues. Texas Housers and the Texas Organization Project claim that the City of Houston did not take action to protect its residents or mitigate the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Dam releases contributed to the devastation. On Monday, the US Army Corps of Engineers began to release water from the Addicks and Barker dams. The assumption was that the neighborhoods could better manage the water with controlled releases than uncontrolled overflow from the dams. Flood control officials in Harris County estimate that hundreds of properties flooded as a result of the controlled releases. Seeking Shelter Housing is the leading priority for disaster recovery specialists. Red Cross and partner associations opened 240 shelters in Texas and six shelters in Louisiana....

Helping After Harvey Sep11

Helping After Harvey

On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in southeast Texas. The devastating tropical storm dumped more than 50 inches of rain and killed more than 50 people during its four-day rampage. Due to flooding caused by the hurricane, more than 30,000 people were displaced from their homes in Texas and Louisiana. The evacuees staying in shelters or with friends and relatives included many renters. Yardi software helps manage a significant percentage of the Houston multifamily housing market. Yardi committed $1 million to support nonprofit organizations in the rebuilding of the areas affected by the hurricane, and will match employee donations to the hurricane relief fund. But there was also an opportunity to assist those in need of temporary or permanent housing due to floodwater damage. “The state of Texas is about to undergo one of the largest recovery-housing missions that the nation has ever seen,” FEMA Administrator Brock Long said at a news conference Monday. “It’s a long process. Housing is going to be very frustrating in Texas.” Following in the footsteps of an effort to create a housing clearinghouse for Canadians who lost their homes in the May 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, our RentCafe development team sprang into action. Using the RentCafe property marketing and leasing platform, they quickly built a housing website that will help displaced residents find temporary and permanent homes. The website (RentCafe.com/HurricaneHarvey) allows housing providers to post available units and for displaced residents to search for housing.  Housing providers can visit the site to list properties at no charge. “We had experience with this kind of rush site build from our work on a housing registry website for the fire victims in Canada last spring,” said Chris Ulep, vice president of multifamily development at Yardi. “A collaborative effort got the website ready in just a couple of days. We hope that hurricane evacuees will find it useful as they search for new homes.” Yardi has also launched a hotline that evacuees looking for housing can call for housing assistance. The toll-free number is (844) 363-6317. Additionally, Yardi is offering disaster response assistance for clients on the RENTCafé platform, including nudge messaging, voice messaging and call automation to help clients communicate with their residents during the aftermath. Yardi representatives are reaching out to clients in the affected area to explain and offer these and other services at no charge. “We have many valued clients in the affected area, and it is important to us to assist those clients as well as their residents who may have been displaced. Thousands of people have lost their housing due to this devastating natural disaster, and we want to help in any way we can,” said Anant Yardi, president and founder of Yardi. The efforts to help were appreciated by those in the affected area. “Our industry is committed to housing and providing needed services like online housing portals and other resources to assist those in need.  We applaud the efforts of our supplier partners to assist those impacted by the hurricane,” said Chris Newton, executive vice president of the Texas Apartment Association. Additional resources for Yardi clients in the region include: The Texas Apartment Association has links to relevant documents and policies that may affect Houston property owners and managers. Policies for tax credit properties during federally declared disasters. An Emergency and Disaster Library from the National Apartment Association, with Hurricane Harvey content. For those who would like to help or support agencies working on the recovery effort in Texas, there are many ways to do so. A few resources include: Relief organizations assisting with evacuee support: Red Cross: donate online or by text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. The United Way Salvation Army – Text STORM to 51555 GlobalGiving Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund Greater Houston Community Foundation – Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund The Way Home Portlight Charity Navigator compiled a...

Sizzling Summer Luau

Did you know that 48 percent of California’s seniors lack sufficient income to cover housing and meals? That means two out of every five seniors have to choose between paying rent and having enough money for food. Serving Seniors is a 501c3 nonprofit that minimizes the financial burden faced by thousands of San Diego seniors. Since 1970, Serving Seniors has offered vital services including food, health care, housing, social and educational opportunities. It is the only organization of its kind in the county, and one of few in the country, to provide for the fundamental needs of seniors. Food and housing top the organization’s list of priorities. Seniors ages 60 and older are eligible for congregate meals and physical, mental, and social health services. Seniors 62 and older are eligible for those services as well as permanent affordable housing at the organization’s communities in East Village and City Heights. There is also a transitional housing program for seniors facing housing insecurity. “Meals and affordable housing are the most-needed services we offer,” says Shannon Fogg, Communications and Special Events Manager at Serving Seniors. “San Diegans can always volunteer to help serve meals or lead classes. Any kind of class is typically interesting to our curious seniors.” Serving Seniors understands that clients have needs beyond the necessities. Learning and socialization opportunities give seniors a chance to make new friends, learn new skills and develop existing abilities. To maintain mental and physical agility, seniors participate in classes for low or no costs. Yoga, Tai Chi, interactive games, art, crafts, and health education classes are just of few opportunities for mature adult learners. The Civic Engagement league empowers low-income seniors to address challenges that impact their community. They participate in volunteer opportunities, brainstorm and execute solutions to community issues....

Kindness Rules Jul11

Kindness Rules

To mark two decades in the senior care industry, Benchmark Senior Living recently embarked on a seven state mission to spread kindness and neighborly love in towns and neighborhoods where the company’s 54 senior living communities are located. For the month of June, residents living near a Benchmark community discovered care packages on their doorstep along with small helpful acts like a newspaper moved closer to their front porch, all with a note commemorating Benchmark’s “Radiant Acts of Kindness.” Employees committed to 1,000 such acts throughout the month. “This is Benchmark’s 20th anniversary year, and we want to give back to the communities and families that have supported our company’s growth since 1997,” Tom Grape, the company’s founder, and CEO said in a statement. “So, every one of our 54 senior living communities across seven Northeast states — and our home office in Waltham, Mass., — has committed to performing at least 20 Radiant Acts of Kindness during June in their local neighborhoods and towns.” Located in Waltham, Mass., Benchmark Senior Living operates 54 senior living communities throughout the Northeast. They offer services ranging from independent living to skilled nursing and memory care. For the last nine years, Benchmark has been recognized by The Boston Globe as one of the “Top 100 Places to Work,” and many of Benchmark’s executive directors and staff embraced the June initiative. Every one of Benchmark’s communities committed to the 1000 Acts, with many taking a creative approach that went beyond gift baskets to include washing cars, providing free tennis balls to neighborhood dogs to handing out random gift certificates. “We can’t wait to share these compassionate acts with West Chester and surrounding areas,” commented Doug Buttner, executive director, Wellington at Hershey’s Mill. “Our employees already have surprises prepared...

Team Yardi Toronto Jun29

Team Yardi Toronto

Team Yardi Toronto recently spent time at The Scott Mission in Toronto, giving back by preparing food for those in need. The Scott Mission has been serving homeless and impoverished Toronto residents since 1941, and has played a major role in helping thousands of people return to safety and stability after living on the street. In addition to meal services, the mission provides nightly shelter for up to 50 homeless men, groceries and clothing for the impoverished, summer camps and childcare, and worship services. The mission’s 100 staff members are joined by 2,500 Toronto community members each year to make these good works possible. On June 20, that included a group of employees from Yardi Canada. “This was a team building experience as well as a very humbling way to give back to the community,” said Lee Anne Lippa, an application solutions consultant from the Toronto office. “It left us with added appreciation for our surroundings of health, family, friends, colleagues, our place to work, home to live in and the food on our table.” The Yardi team, led by senior account executive Shirleen Vieira, participated in food and dessert preparation, setting tables for two lunch servings, and a final clean up. “They serve balanced meals,” Lippa noted. “We had chicken wings, baked potato, hard-boiled egg and salad.  Others that were vegetarian with baked potato, salad, hard-boiled egg, salad and grilled eggplant and zucchini.” They served lunch to the shelter guests – which included people of all ages – with courtesy and respect for those coming to eat, which is a focus of the organization’s Christian values. Drawing from the Yardi corporate values, which include giving back to the community, the Toronto offices encourages other Yardi colleagues globally to give back in similar fashion....

Helping the Hungry

According to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, one in five Cleveland kids goes hungry on a regular basis. Yardi’s Cleveland office recently teamed up in a friendly competition to do something to help. “Since 2013, we have held a non-perishable food drive and competition each year to contribute to the Food Bank’s Harvest for Hunger campaign,” said Karen Parker, a technical account manager on the Cleveland CSD team. “Each year we have topped our previous effort and raised more than the previous. We started in 2013 with 48 employees and collected 375 pounds of donations. This year we have 70 employees and managed to collect 1,735 pounds.” The theme of the effort is the “Fight Hunger Games,” a concept Parker came up with when the popular book trilogy Hunger Games, now also two films, was wildly popular a few years back. “The office is divided into Districts.  Each District is represented by a Tribute.   And the Fight Hunger Games begin,” Parker explained. “Each District brings in supplies and food donations.  These are counted and become part of the final score. The Tributes participate in a round of games.  The scores are totaled and winners announced.” It’s a fun and friendly competition but can get competitive, said Parker, leading to some spirited games of “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” Other games included Guess Who and Corn Hole. There’s also a potluck food component that everyone in the office can enjoy. “A soup kitchen is created with staff members bringing in various types of soups, dips, salads and desserts.  A donation of two cans of food will get you all the soup you can eat.  And believe me, it was really yummy,” Parker said. The Greater Cleveland Food Bank explains that the donations are badly needed, especially at...

Painting it Pink Nov24

Painting it Pink

This October, Bozzuto enlisted its staff and residents to #PaintOurTownPink – and came up big in the battle against breast cancer. The Maryland-based developer and apartment manager is well known in the real estate industry for its stellar social media marketing, and the company used its reach online to produce a very successful campaign. The philanthropic effort is a great example of how property management firms can bring together residents as they rally to support a cause. When all donations were tallied, more than $21,000 was raised for the cause. The #PaintOurTownPink effort had multiple access points, documented on the website http://bozzutopink.com/ Social Media: The hashtag #PaintOurTownPink was promoted and used on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to document the many different ways that Bozzuto communities, residents and employees were participating in the campaign. On Wednesdays We Wear Pink: Both residents and employees were encouraged to “pink out” on each Wednesday in October to show support for breast cancer awareness and fundraising. Pennies for Pink: Bozzuto offices and community front desks collected spare change to be donated to Susan J. Komen Passionately Pink. Donation Portal: A link on the website led directly to the Bozzuto fundraising page for the Susan J. Komen Passionately Pink campaign. The Instagram photos posted demonstrate the breadth of participation and particular creativity that Bozzuto communities brought to the fundraising effort. With a month to put on creative events, encourage residents to drop off spare change and get the word out to the general public,  wide variety of images were posted. See them here. Yardi salutes longtime client Bozzuto for their efforts on behalf of this very worthy cause....

#GivingTuesday Nov23

#GivingTuesday

The highly anticipated in-person deals and online exclusives of Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just around the corner, marking the biggest sales of the season. From gadgets and gizmos to furniture and vehicles, these are two of the year’s busiest shopping days. According to the National Retail Federation, sales in November and December account for as much as 30 percent of annual sales. In 2015, more than 74 million shoppers ventured out on Black Friday, spending an average of nearly $300 per person. For the crowd-opposed or time-strapped, Cyber Monday offers online discounts the Monday after Thanksgiving. Nearly 90 percent of online retailers had Cyber Monday sales, and 45 percent offered coupons or discounted deals. For many, the holiday season also inspires a sense of altruism. After the spending splurge, #GivingTuesday kicks off a movement of paying it forward worldwide. Now in its fifth year, this celebratory event is a global day of giving powered by social media and the spirit of collaboration. #GivingTuesday was created by the 92nd Street Y, a New York City cultural center that has been celebrating diversity and service since 1874. The movement has grown and gone global with the help of influencers from all sectors and walks of life. #GivingTuesday takes place on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States. This year, the fifth annual event will be celebrated worldwide on November 29, 2016. Here’s how it works, according to its website: “#GivingTuesday harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring about real change in their communities; it provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents to address local challenges. It also brings together the collective power of a unique blend of partners—...

Standing Up for Seniors

For plenty of people, running a business with your sibling, no matter how amicable your relationship, might sound like a daunting – even undesirable – challenge. Identical twins Robert  (Bob) and William (Bill) Thomas of Tulsa, Oklahoma, the co-founders and managing principals of Senior Star, talk about it differently. “It’s just a thing of joy. We’re pretty blessed; we’ve been partners for life,” says Bob Thomas. “It’s been one of the most delightful pleasures of my entire life,” says Bill Thomas. Both brothers give much of the credit for their extensive community service and close sibling relationship to their parents, the late William and Gretchen Thomas. “We just had the good fortune that our parents instilled this sense of comradeship and wanting the other to excel. We were partners in little businesses since we were mowing lawns when we were 9 years old,” says Bob. The collaboration and relative lack of competition (both say, “Neither one of us wants to be CEO”) has aided the brothers as they have built their business, which now includes  13 senior communities located  in 6 states, and is hoping  to double in size over the next 3 to 4 years. In 2011, Senior Star, a Yardi client, forged a partnership with Health Care REIT, which has aided in the expansion efforts. And in the process, the Thomas’ have delegated all day-to-day management responsibility to their executive team, freeing up Bill and Bob to focus on community, advocacy and other personal passions. With nearly 40 years in the real estate industry and the last 25 spent focused exclusively on senior housing, the Thomas’ have grown their company at the same time that American elder care facilities have been front line witnesses to the huge growth in patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Bob Thomas, a national volunteer, former board member and now fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, compares it to an impending tsunami. As of 2013, the Alzheimer’s Association reported that 1 in 3 American seniors died with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and the disease had moved into the No. 1 spot as the nation’s most expensive. In 2014, direct costs for caring for the 5 million Americans living with the disease are estimated at $214 billion, including $150 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Approaching the scary wave from two different angles, Bob has focused on fundraising to find a cure and awareness and advocacy work at the local and national level. Bill has tackled it on the ground, encouraging the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) involvement and pushing forward a high standard of care for every Senior Star community, one that emanates equally from every employee. Both Thomas brothers describe themselves as passionate about helping others and engaging diverse groups of people to support their cause – from their employees, to resident’s families, to members of Congress whose decisions will support research funding. “They view the community not only thru the lens of today, but what we need to be doing to make sure that our community thrives and grows and prospers. They’re very strategic thinkers. They’re looking beyond the here to what can be,“ said Mark Graham, President/CEO of the Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW). In 2002, the brothers raised $25 million for TAUW, a fundraising record that wasn’t bested until 10 years later. The campaign jump-started the Thomases’ efforts into running major donation drives. A personal commitment Bob Thomas isn’t just committed to putting his own money toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. He vows to stick to the cause for the long haul. “I didn’t know, initially, that I would never leave it until it is resolved,” he said. “There’s not a waking day that I have that I don’t think about this cause.” He travels regularly and frequently to Washington, D.C. and to Senators’ home districts to push for allocating more funds...

Honoring Gene Glick Oct08

Honoring Gene Glick

He was a member of the Greatest Generation who exemplified its values so wholly that Tom Brokaw featured him in the definitive book by the same name. His success in real estate development changed and improved the state of Indiana post-World War II, but that success never went to his head. He and his beloved wife, Marilyn, gave away several fortunes to improve the lives of others and make their state a better place. Yardi would like to recognize and honor the legacy of Eugene Biccard Glick, who passed away in Indiana at age 92 earlier this month. Glick leaves behind not only his family and apartment management company, Gene B. Glick Co., but a legacy of community service and philanthropy. According to his official obituary, he and Marilyn established the Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the state, in 1982. They funded the Glick Eye Institute at the Indiana University School of Medicine, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, the Indiana Authors Award, and projects in arts, education, public health, and aid organizations throughout the state. The pair also established The Glick Fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and The Glick Fund of the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). One of Gene’s favorite philanthropic projects was the Pro-100 mentoring program, administered by the Children’s Bureau. Created by Glick in 1981, Pro-100 offers paid summer internships for disadvantaged youth. As his business thrived, he gave even more back in return. “Gene Glick was an entrepreneur in the truest sense of the word,” said David Barrett, President and CEO of the Gene B. Glick Company.  “He started with very little and built a successful company that is respected throughout our industry.  He was an inspiration to many of...

CBRE Cares Apr09

CBRE Cares

Delivering a birthday cake to a child celebrating their special day at a homeless shelter seems like a simple act of goodwill. For the CBRE real estate professionals who make time for such volunteerism regularly, it is much more. “By the time I got to my truck I was crying and extremely shaken.  I made that little boy’s day and let me tell you it was the most rewarding experience I have EVER had,” said Cathy Carone, a CBRE employee from Illinois. “It seems like such a small charity project, but they were so appreciative.  Suddenly the time we take to pick up and deliver those cakes seemed like a whole lot more — we are touching individuals who really need a little joy in their lives,” said Jeanne Olcott, who works for CBRE in Arizona. Making a big difference in large and small ways is a hallmark of the CBRE Cares program, a nationally recognized effort by the commercial real estate firm that encompasses much more than just birthday cake delivery. Over the last three years, CBRE has rapidly grown its corporate philanthropy efforts nationwide with a new housing-focused effort. To date, over 4,000 employee volunteers have participated, contributing over 27,000 hours of service. And that’s just the beginning. “We wanted to give back to the community in a very real way,” said Kathleen Thompson, Director of the CBRE Foundation. Focusing attention on the communities where their  people work and  live made great sense for one of the world’s largest full service real estate companies. CBRE has approximately 160 offices in the U.S. and around 20,000 employees in the Americas. Designing a charity outreach effort that could effectively harness the hearts and hands of so many was no easy task. Employee energy is at the heart of the program, and giving back financially is also encouraged through CBRE’s Community Outreach program. Offices that raise funds for philanthropic causes – both from internal employee donations and external community effort – receive a partial match of their monies from the company. Then they decide as an office what local organizations they’d like to benefit with 75 percent of the funds raised. The other 25 percent is used for company-wide donations to causes like shelter housing and the environment. Investing Sweat Equity With this multi-faceted approach, the CBRE contributes both financially and through sweat equity to shelter services around the country. Employee participation in an annual volunteer work-service day, part of CBRE’s Shelter Program, has recently taken off. CBRE office teams, comprised of everyone from C-level executives to administrative staff, have completed 70 remodeling and building projects for underserved and at-risk populations since 2010. September and October are the company’s designated “Build Months,” and employees can use a paid day out of the office to participate in a local project. Shelter Program projects are coordinated in conjunction with two partner agencies – Rebuilding Together and HomeAid. Rebuilding Together completes renovations and repairs for low-income homeowners, often disabled adults, who are unable to afford to hire someone to help with maintenance needs. HomeAid builds facilities to help homeless Americans. One CBRE office, in Atlanta, completed builddays  for both non-profits this year. “We knew that people were giving back to the community in their offices, that they were volunteering, but that they wanted to do more. We wanted to give them the opportunity to give more as a group with their colleagues, and have specific days where they could go out and give back to their community as colleagues together,” Thompson said. Calvin W. Frese Jr., CBRE CEO – Americas, wanted to create a day of service for CBRE employees and helped conceptualize much of the Shelter Program vision. Along with other executives, he’s worked alongside CBRE employees on Build Day projects. Recently, 280 CBRE volunteers spent the day refurbishing the Mt. Calvary Youth Center and Food Pantry on Chicago’s South Side.  Vendors...

Helping Hands Dec18

Helping Hands

‘Tis the season of goodwill towards our fellow man, the time of year when many of us pull ourselves away from our desks, away from our daily routines, and remember to lend a helping hand to those in need. Industry leaders throughout the nation are also taking a time-out from regular operations to give back to their communities. These outreach efforts extend beyond the necessary yet temporary solutions of food drives and  soup kitchen into an arena with long lasting and potentially life changing benefits: housing. By creating safer, greener, and more accessible housing for those in need, industry leaders have found a way to make lasting impact by simply doing what they do best. Virginia-based Clark Realty Capital, a Yardi client, initiated The Wounded Warrior Home project which creates accessible homes that are also beautiful and family-friendly.  The idea came after Clark Realty Capital real estate developer A.J. Caputo took a tour of Fort Belvoir Virginia with project leader Casey Nolan. As the two explored the premises, they noticed an absence of housing accommodations made for injured veterans. They instantly become interested in a way to address the needs of returned heroes. The solution was called The Wounded Warrior Home project. Low- to zero-cost alterations to house plans make the spaces more accessible and accommodating: Oversized windows and contrasts between floors and walls make sight easier for those with visual impairments or brain injuries. Broadening hallways; lowering windows, microwaves, and countertops promote wheelchair friendly access. Such changes make a world of difference for a wounded veteran without adding to building costs. The changes simply require a reimagining of how a home should be built and what it should look like.   To come up with these plans, Caputo and Nolan contacted noted architect...

Lucy Billingsley Apr26

Lucy Billingsley

Lucy Billingsley’s distinguished career in real estate development ranks her among the nation’s leading female industry executives.  In the fourth decade of her career, she maintains great passion for the next project to command her attention. “My favorite deal is always the next one,” she told us during a recent interview. Billingsley Company, the Dallas-based company with land, office space, industrial, retail, single-family, multi-family, mixed-use and master-planned developments that she and her husband Henry founded in 1978, is flourishing. New phases of 10,000 unit master-planned rental communities The Neighborhoods of Austin Ranch and Cypress Waters are currently underway, and Billingsley is excited about changing the face of the multifamily experience. The company is also expanding its office and industrial holdings. Billingsley also devotes much of her time and energy to charitable work, and her philanthropy has included The Chiapas Project, Grameen Foundation USA, Women for Women International, National Geographic Society Council of Advisors, World Affairs Council (Dallas), Brain and Creativity Institute at USC, Council of Foreign Relations, The Hockaday School, and The Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity Advisory Board. In a short conversation, she filled us in on few views of the current marketplace, how she chooses philanthropic causes, and the lessons that her father, famed developer Trammel Crow, imparted to her. TBS: It’s been a challenging climate for real estate sales, investment and development over the last several years, although Texas come through the down economy very strongly. What do you see as the most pivotal focal points for property executives as the financial climate nationally continues to improve? LB: I think the multifamily world is a world that has made a significant and permanent shift in its role in America today – the shift is because the American...