Urban Land Institute to Host Global Spring Meeting in Detroit

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The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global real estate organization with 40,000-plus members dedicated to responsible land use and creating thriving, sustainable communities, will hold its Spring Meeting on May 1-3 at Cobo Center in Detroit.

ULI’s Spring Meeting routinely draws around 3,000 members, including industry experts from around the world who will shars insights on all aspects of real estate. A major focus for the gathering will be the reinvention of urban areas into thriving places that are drawing talented workers and businesses as well as becoming magnets for investment.

ULI officials say metro Detroit, and especially the city, is experiencing an extraordinary renaissance, and is a prime example of the urban evolution. As part of the program, local ULI officials will show off The District Detroit, a 50-block area that spans downtown and Midtown and includes Little Caesars Arena, Comerica Park, and Ford Field.

The meeting’s host committee is co-chaired by ULI Michigan leaders Eric B. Larson, founder, president, and CEO of Larson Realty Group in Bloomfield Hills; Mark LoPatin, president of LoPatin and Co. in Farmington Hills; Robert Schostak, CEO of Schostak Brothers and Co. Inc. in Livonia; and Robert S. Taubman, chairman, president and CEO of Taubman Centers Inc. in Bloomfield Hills.

“Transformative development is happening throughout Detroit in what has become a living laboratory that is changing the way we think about the possibilities for our built environment,” says Larson, CEO of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. “The ULI 2018 Spring Meeting presents a unique opportunity to showcase many exciting opportunities to our members in the Americas region and around the globe.”

ULI has a strong history of involvement in Detroit, which has been demonstrated with recognition through its awards programs, engagement with Detroit’s local officials and business community on major land use and urban development issues, and through the leadership of ULI Michigan in the city’s evolution.

“We are very excited to bring ULI’s Spring Meeting to Detroit,” LoPatin says. “Everyone heard of the difficulties Detroit faced resulting in the largest municipal bankruptcy.  We are excited to show the transformation and how Detroit is on the road to again becoming the great city it was in the 1950-60’s.”

Sponsors include Quicken Loans Inc., Olympia Development of Michigan, Bedrock Detroit, The District Detroit, Taubman Centers Inc., City Club Apartments, Atwell, DTE Energy, and local offices of Gensler and UBS.