Marvin Gaye was talking about the plight of Woodstock Nation when he sang, “What’s going on?” but he could have been foretelling the contradictions in today’s recession-hit real estate market. “What has been the chatter in the real estate community is that there’s no money, there’s no financing available. If you talk to the bankers, they’ll say there are plenty of funds available for the right project,” says Charles Landry, regional chairman of the Urban Land Institute and moderator of an upcoming seminar on real estate investing. An attorney with Jones Walker, Landry says he represents both developers and banks and hears each side lament the challenges in dealing with the other. “We’re going to have a good conversation, at least from the Greater Baton Rouge perspective, on what needs to be done to get more of these projects under way,” he says. The seminar is set to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 25, at Juban’s Restaurant. Registration is $25 for ULI members, $35 for nonmembers. Student discounts are available.
LSU economist Loren Scott will give the keynote address. On the bill are Robert Daigle, who has done mixed-use development and helmed the River Ranch TND in Lafayette; Gerald Songy of Stirling Properties; and Stephen Keller, who has developed apartment complexes and Towne Center at Cedar Lodge. On the banking side are Omer Davis, Robert Stuart and David Thompson; the six panelists are set for a Q&A hosted by Landry.
“We’ve got pretty much all of our bases covered,” he says, noting that this is Louisiana’s first Urban Land Institute conference held outside New Orleans. The institute has been involved in New Orleans’ planning issues for many years, particularly after Katrina. Landry says the national nonprofit, founded during the Great Depression, is expanding its breadth to cover Louisiana “in a more significant way,” with Baton Rouge as the next focus and with “smart growth” as a key guideline. For details on the seminar, or to register, click here.—Todd R. Brown
