ULI CHICAGO PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:  Cindy McSherry, Executive Director, ULI Chicago, 773-549-4972

Urban Land Institute Chicago Announces 2015 Vision Awards Finalists – Recognizing Visionary Developments, Programs and Young Leaders in the Land Use and Development Fields

Chicago – (April 30, 2015)  Twenty-seven projects, programs, and young professionals were named as finalists in the 2015 ULI Chicago Vision Awards, the district council’s unique recognition program. Winners will be announced at the 2015 Vision Awards, June 3, 2015, 6 – 9pm, Redmoon Theater, 2120 S. Jefferson, Chicago, IL.

“I was impressed with the quality of the finalists in each category.  As jurors, we saw innovative work worthy of emulation in the program and project categories and were able to meet and talk with the remarkable individuals responsible for such exciting work”, said Mary Ludgin, Director of Global Investment Research, Heitman, and jury member for the Vision Awards.

The Awards Committee encouraged a broad spectrum of project and program types, including non-traditional and small-scale projects, to find those passionate people and exciting ideas that might not qualify for traditional awards programs.

The 2015 Vision Award Finalists were named in three categories:  project, program, and young visionary.

PROJECT CATEGORY
1611 W. Division
Borders Building Transformation & Re-Use, 1539 E. 53rd Street
CTA Morgan Station, CTA Green & Pink Lines
Dorchester Art & Housing Collaborative, 1465 E. 70th Street
Eataly, 43 E. Ohio
Heartland Health Center – Devon, 1300 W. Devon
Indian Boundary Park Nature Play Center, 2500 W. Lunt Avenue
Infinite Chicago, 28 E. Jackson Boulevard
Method, 720 E. 111th Street
Midtown Square Apartments, 998 Church Street, Glenview
OneEleven, 111 W. Wacker Drive
Ping Tom Memorial Park Fieldhouse, 1700 S. Wentworth Avenue
Thalia Hall, 1215-25 W. 18th Street
The Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron Street
The Shops and Lofts at 47, 747 E. 47th Place
Town Hall Apartments, 3600 N. Halsted
Wheaton 121, 121 N. Cross Street, Wheaton

PROGRAM CATEGORY
Cedar Street – FLATS Chicago Program
Chicago Large Lots Program
Chicago River Boat House Initiative
Chicago Single Family Affordable Housing Fund 1, LLC
GROW Community
RTA Community Planning Program
Woodlawn Park

YOUNG VISIONARY CATEGORY
Nick Anderson, Vice President, Development, Related Midwest
Aaron Joseph, Deputy Sustainability Officer, Office of the Mayor, City of Chicago
Kyle Smith, Economic Development Project Manager, Center for Neighborhood Technology

The Vision Awards, now in its fourth year, honor those projects and programs that have used creative development practices, inventive partnerships or sharing of resources, imaginative problem solving, or visionary ideas contributing to the growth of vibrant communities. The relative size of a program or project, whether square footage or total budget, is secondary to the innovative characteristics contributing to its success.  The Awards recognize the full development process in order to promote best practices in real estate development and uphold the guiding principles of ULI.

In addition to project and program categories, the Vision Awards honor a Young Visionary, an outstanding young leader in the land use and development fields. This younger professional exemplifies career advancement, goal-setting, community service and a strong commitment to ULI’s principles of land use.

Nominees were evaluated by a Jury of peers in the industry.  In addition to review of written materials, the jury conducted site visits and interviews.  Winners will be announced at the Awards event on June 3, 2015, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Redmoon Theater, 2120 S. Jefferson St., Chicago.

To learn more about the 2015 Vision Awards or to sponsor or purchase individual tickets, contact ULI Chicago at 773-549-4972 or visit chicago.uli.org.

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ULI Chicago, a District Council of the Urban Land Institute, has more than 1,300 members in the Chicago land area. Organized in 1986, ULI Chicago provides expertise and guidance on land use and development issues to local communities through comprehensive technical assistance services, our two-year retail initiative, and coordinated Great Lakes initiative.  The district council hosts monthly meetings, trends conferences, policy forums, and networking opportunities for its members and professionals in the real estate industry.

Urban Land Institute is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.