Columbia, SC – On February 24-25, 2022, the ninth annual ULI Carolinas Meeting was held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.  With more than 400 attendees anxious to gather in-person, the energy and vibrancy of the meeting was felt throughout.  Below are several take-aways from the Meeting:  

Keynote speaker Gillian Tett, chief editor of the Financial Times, provided insightful comments on the current global crisis.  With her intimate knowledge about the Ukraine (from previously living in that region) she believes the war will not completely halt the current economic growth, but it will likely slow things a bit.  The supply chain disruptions will continue through 2022.  Look for more economists to incorporate climate change and other environmental impacts into their models.    

During the 15 Minute City:  Equitable & Resilient Development at a Community Scale concurrent session, panelists agreed that a 15-minute city will look different in each city (and part of a city), depending on the mix and mode of transportation, including bike, car, bus, light rail or train.  Public Private Partnerships are key to success including access to public transportation and parking requirements.  There are limitations when the market demands do not align with a business owner’s market return models (e.g. grocers need a certain sales volume and demographic to meet their operating budgets).  A question came up about converting unused office space to housing. Many agreed it is a difficult conversion as the floor plate for an office building does not lend itself to residential redevelopment.   

 The Why we Gather:  Creating Community that Endures panel emphasized new developments that are inspired by their community and incorporating placemaking features such as including art and public spaces; being intentional around design; consider every aspect of place; consider economically cultural and soulful amenities.  An important aspect of community is also preservation while adapting to people uses and creating place without excluding people. George Banks, a panelist from Revel, stated “There is no such thing as new ideas.  Steal the good ones!”  encouraging others to visit projects across the country for inspiration.    

Several other Concurrent Sessions are highlighted. Innovation Districts & the Creative Culture touched on incorporating surrounding community into the project creating a sense of place and inspiration.  There are a lot of missed opportunities for community-driven development.  New entrepreneurs may cultivate by offering expanded education to communities of color and finding avenues to find capital investments.  The Entrepreneur & the City panel discussed cultivating entrepreneurship in communities. An example is the Columbia Library offering programs and support for many clients such as offering childcare services while in the library, resume assistance, and career counseling.  The library offers the ability to “check-out” tools such as editing software and microphones, thinking about resources beyond their walls.  

And the final session Crane Watch featured nine projects from across the Carolinas.  One of the challenges most presenters mentioned was the need to navigate the supply chain by purchasing materials well ahead of time.  Project amenities included employee wellness programs, blending the project into the neighborhood where it is located, if it is an office building or student housing, and a grand project that further emphasizes great iconic city amenities and attractions.    

A special thanks to our Carolinas Meeting scholarship recipients who provided notes and lessons learned throughout the event, including:  Jennifer Morell, Habitat for Humanity, Gwen Jackson, Urbane Environments and Mike Wilen, Phoenix Commercial Properties. 

Save the Date! The 2023 Carolinas Meeting is February 22 – 24, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Click here for a photo gallery of the 2022 Carolinas Meeting.