On September 4th 2008, Dave Leland delivered a presentation at Portland’s Central City Commercial Development Symposium titled “Downtown Portland Retail: the most visible part of the city’s heart” (available here). Portland is known for its active downtown and progressive urban planning—but Dave pointed out that while downtown’s retail remains healthy, it is also vulnerable. Rents remain strong, vacancies are relatively low, and new residential, office, and hotel development will support retail expansion. But like other American cities, downtown Portland must contend with stiff competition from suburban lifestyle centers and big boxes, perceptions that the core is unsafe, and the challenges of maintaining a cohesive marketing strategy.

On September 25, Dave Leland received a “Leadership of Distinction” award from the Urban Land Institute’s Oregon / SW Washington Chapter. The awards honor people, places and programs that epitomize the group's mission of “providing leadership in the responsible use of land an in creating and sustaining thriving communities.”

In presenting the award, committee leader John Hartsock stated that, “Dave Leland has proven to be a leader in the field and worthy of recognition. For many Dave is a role model who is living the ULI mission. He sends a consistent message and is an outside the box thinker with a unique set of skills – part real estate market whisperer, part designer, part story teller.”

Indeed, Dave has been involved in a number of developments throughout the Portland region that have set the standard for creative place making in a part of the country know for the quality of its built environment, including River Place, Tualatin Commons, Murrayhill, and Lake View Village. Through his career, Dave has also advised public and private development organizations throughout Oregon and the nation.

Leland Consulting Group welcomes Tina Mosca as an Associate in our Portland office. Tina, with a master's degree in Urban Planning from Portland State University, also serves as assistant project manager. Tina previously operated her own research firm. At Leland Consulting Group she is involved with projects in Tigard and Springfield, Oregon, with market research, development analysis and programming, and stakeholder interviews and analysis.

On September 14, 2007 Dave Leland made a presentation to commercial brokers as part of Ticor Title's Continuing Education Series. The presentation entitled, "Downtown Portland Retail: Opportunities, Constraints, & Weaknesses".

On March 8, 2007, Dave Leland was the morning keynote speaker at the 2007 ICSC Oregon Alliance Program. Dave's presentation, "Corridors and Centers: Finding Common Ground," explores the frequent disconnect between planning visions and what has actually been built in urban corridors. The presentation includes ten principles for corridor revitalization that help join smart growth visions with market-based investment decision making. 

Dave Leland gave a talk to the College of Architects in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, on the subject of Developing and Redeveloping Centros (Downtowns) and Place Making. Centros in Mexico are the hearts of cities, as they are for many American cities.

LCG welcomes Brian Vanneman as an Associate in its Portland office. Brian leads a range of research disciplines at LCG and supports the team by preparing demographic analyses, market research, and physical and cultural assessments for project areas. Brian recently finished his course work at Portland State University's Master of Urban and Regional Planning program, and is completing a final project for his degree there. His past experience includes work at Metro, Portland's regional government; with neighborhood and business associations; and at an international urban planning collaborative, Urbanists International.

LCG is continually taking on new strategic advisory engagements including:

• Industrial development advisory services for the City of Hillsboro, Oregon
• Market analysis and strategy for a close-in urban mixed-use / residential project in Portland, Oregon
• Public-private negotiation services for resolving multiple private interests in Vancouver, Washington
• Negotiation services for resolving public-private entitlement matters in Forest Grove, Oregon
• Downtown revitalization strategy for Twin Falls, Idaho
• Downtown plan review and implementation recommendations for the City of Kirkland, Washington
• Downtown streetcar plan and strategy for the City of Everett, Washington
• Development advisory services for a mixed-use project in Goodyear, Arizona
• Market and analysis and development evaluation for a mixed-use project in Springfield, Oregon
• Development strategy for the OHSU/AmberGlen Area Plan in Hillsboro, Oregon
• Research, strategies and public-private negotiations for a mixed-use development in McMinnville, Oregon
• Market strategy for a new urbanist residential community in New Braunfels, Texas
• Downtown redevelopment strategy for Midland, Texas
• Developer selection and negotiation assistance for a transit-oriented development in Gresham, Oregon
• Impact analysis for downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado
  
• Corridor plan for Abilene, Texas
• Development programming and financial analysis for the North Bethany area in Washington County, Oregon
• Advisory services for the City of Fort Worth, Texas
• Financing strategies for a new streetcar system between Sacramento and West Sacramento, California
• Urban renewal conditions survey for Pueblo, Colorado
• Urban corridor analysis and redevelopment strategy for the City of Boise, Idaho
• Airline Corridor Plan for Houston, Texas
• Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy for the City of Boise, Idaho
• Downtown redevelopment strategy for Casper, Wyoming
• Urban renewal plan for Windsor, Colorado
• Downtown/Comprehensive Plan for San Angelo, Texas
• Concept plan and development strategy for the Third Street corridor in Bend, Oregon
• City Center redevelopment strategy for Dillon, Colorado
• Regional Center development for Oregon City, Oregon
• Urban renewal plan for Longmont, Colorado
• Implementation assistance for multiple urban housing projects in downtown Boise, Idaho
• Public-private partnership strategies for a new convention and cultural center in downtown Boise, Idaho