What is ULI Detroit?
The Urban Land Institute is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members. Founded in 1936, the institute now has more than 30,000 
members worldwide representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines, working in private enterprises and public service. As the pre-eminent, multidisciplinary real estate forum, ULI facilitates the open exchange of ideas, information and experience among local, national and international industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating better places.
The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide responsible leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.
District Councils are ULI at the local level. By providing educational forums, community outreach programs and industry expertise to community leaders, the opportunity to influence local land use policy continues to be the focus and achievement of the District Councils.
The Detroit District Council of ULI (ULI Detroit) was formed in 1999. Starting with just a few members, ULI Detroit has grown to more than 420 members.
The current chairmen, Jim Bieri and Robin Boyle, head a group of Executive Committee members comprised of the Detroit area’s leading developers, academics and public officials. In bi-monthly meetings they discuss the future of Detroit and its surrounding areas, as well as how ULI Detroit can reach out to the community and bring quality programs and other networking opportunities to other real estate professionals.
In February 2008, ULI Detroit held a highly regarded half day conference on “Surviving the Michigan Economy.” ULI senior vice president of District Councils, Mike Horst, President of Detroit Renaissance, Doug Rothwell, and lead architect for Gensler Detroit, Bill Hartman were among the keynote speakers, followed by a panel discussion consisting of the heads of eight Michigan based companies with varied focuses that have endured the Michigan recession by retaining business deals in other states. After the success of the 21st Annual UM-ULI Real Estate Forum in Troy covering Detroit Transit, the forum will be moving to Grand Rapids, October 15-16 to cover a success story of regionalism titled West Side Story: Grand Rapids, Grand Vision, Grand Region.”
Recently, ULI Detroit offered its resources to the community by sponsoring a major study on the Eastern Market. After a weeklong review and analysis of the Detroit landmark, a ULI advisory panel concluded that the Eastern Market is an unpolished gem capable of becoming one of the region’s crown jewels. City of Detroit Chief Development Officer, Walt Watkins, praised ULI’s work as “a very comprehensive presentation” from which many of the recommendations, including the Market’s privatization, have been implemented.
New Members
June, 2008
LenaAgree
Brian Robert Ellison
Jospeh Hooker, The Christman Company
Daniel Kinkead, Hamilton Anderson Associates
Shaun Smakal, ROWE Incorporated
May, 2008
Timothy J. Kalil, Fifth Third Bank
Robert W. Kirk, Kirk and Huth PC
Molly M. McFarland, Hobbs & Black Associates, Inc.
April, 2008
Brian Monczka, Finsilver Construction and Development Corporation
Brendan Robert Moriarty
Stephen D. Schmier, DeMattia Group
March, 2008
Michael Mark Alef
Todd Holloway, Civil & Environmental Consultants
Brooke Smith, SmithGroup, Inc
Trevor Ian Woollatt, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
February, 2008
Eric Beckett, University of Michigan
Chelsea E. FitzPatrick, MayfieldGentry Realty Advisors, LLC
Deirdre Lorraine - Greene Groves
Stephen Guerra, Dickinson Wright LLC
James Hall, Atwell-Hicks
Kevin Nystuen
Thomas Sherry, Hamilton Anderson Associates
C. Michael Snyder, Kotz, Sangster, Wysocki & Berg, P.C.
Heather Thomas, Hamilton Anderson
January, 2008
Rebecca Baker, Wade Trim, Inc.
Jeremy M. Crane, Friedman Real Estate Group, Inc.
Sharlan Douglas, Douglas Communications Group
Jerome Drain, HP Devco, Inc.
Perrin T. Emanuel, HP Devco, Inc.
Matthew J. Haran, Ludwig & Seeley Real Estate
Michele Hodges, Troy Chamber of Commerce
Joseph S. Kopietz, Clark Hill PLC
Melanie Piana, Michigan Suburbs Alliance
Linda Reynolds, 4Insights
Frank Ross, Wayne County
John Tagle, Troy Chamber of Commerce
Kay Veen, Grissim Metz Andriese Associates
Ted Wilson, Troy Chamber of Commerce
December, 2007
Sean Avery Lederman
Elisabeth Polizzi
David Struck, St. Clair County Metro Planning
Cole M. Young, Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C.
November, 2007
Kevin D. Hart, AIA, Hart Seifer Partners, LLC
Therese Houlahan, Hayes Lemmerz International
Jonathan Nawrocki
Rushad Zareer Pavri
Barry S. Seifer, FRSA, Hart Seifer Partners
Arissa Soper
October, 2007
Joshua John Brugeman, University of Michigan
Andrew Carroll, REDICO
Jeffrey Cohen, Rock Companies
Emily Fleury, University of Michigan
Paul Kang, University of Michigan
Maureen Krauss, Oakland County
Melanie Ann Markowicz, REDICO
Robert Edward Mattler, Armada Real Estate
ArnoldMikon, Yamasaki Associates
Ann Natunewicz
Doug Smith, City of Troy
Kurt R. Strehlke, Comerica Bank
James C. Sutherland, Jr., Eastern Market Corporation
Brian Swett, Ross School of Business, University Of Michigan
Dennis Toffolo, Oakland County
September, 2007
Luke Heilman Bakalar, University of Michigan
Russell Arthur Baruffi, Jr., University of Michigan
Michael Decoster, Hamilton Anderson Associates
Michael Dempsey, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Meryl Dillon
Ryan D. Dunning, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Doron M. Elliott, Anew Detroit, LLC
Sterling Howard, Silver Capital Group, LLC
Katie M. Miller, University of Michigan
Robert Tutag, Michigan State University
Valerie Vig, JSVIG
Mike Woods, Wayne State University
Linlin Zhang