so think about your favorite place in the city what makes it special I’ve
the city what makes it special I’ve
the city what makes it special I’ve spent my entire career on building those
spent my entire career on building those
spent my entire career on building those sort of places and these places are not
sort of places and these places are not
sort of places and these places are not perfect I don’t think we’re looking for
perfect I don’t think we’re looking for
perfect I don’t think we’re looking for perfection I think we’re looking for
perfection I think we’re looking for
perfection I think we’re looking for originality we want authenticity we want
originality we want authenticity we want
originality we want authenticity we want it to be real like us and we want
it to be real like us and we want
it to be real like us and we want romance and we’re social beings we want
romance and we’re social beings we want
romance and we’re social beings we want to be connected we want to be a part of
to be connected we want to be a part of
to be connected we want to be a part of something bigger and we want a place
something bigger and we want a place
something bigger and we want a place where people come together much like
where people come together much like
where people come together much like this except imagine it’s a whole
this except imagine it’s a whole
this except imagine it’s a whole community that comes together it’s
community that comes together it’s
community that comes together it’s possible it’s difficult and it’s worth
possible it’s difficult and it’s worth
possible it’s difficult and it’s worth it
it
it but who does this how does it work we
but who does this how does it work we
but who does this how does it work we have three separate entities that makes
have three separate entities that makes
have three separate entities that makes this work it’s really of course a
this work it’s really of course a
this work it’s really of course a private enterprise it’s the neighborhood
private enterprise it’s the neighborhood
private enterprise it’s the neighborhood and it’s the government now the private
and it’s the government now the private
and it’s the government now the private enterprise which is the development team
enterprise which is the development team
enterprise which is the development team and everything that goes with it is
and everything that goes with it is
and everything that goes with it is pressure to make a profit it’s also
pressure to make a profit it’s also
pressure to make a profit it’s also stress to reduce risk and quite often in
stress to reduce risk and quite often in
stress to reduce risk and quite often in doing so it goes by past formulas that
doing so it goes by past formulas that
doing so it goes by past formulas that were successful the mistake in that is
were successful the mistake in that is
were successful the mistake in that is that in today’s environment it takes
that in today’s environment it takes
that in today’s environment it takes about seven years from initiation to
about seven years from initiation to
about seven years from initiation to completion of a large-scale development
completion of a large-scale development
completion of a large-scale development that’s a lifetime in technology change
that’s a lifetime in technology change
that’s a lifetime in technology change and market shifts consequently the
and market shifts consequently the
and market shifts consequently the outcomes rarely are favorite places that
outcomes rarely are favorite places that
outcomes rarely are favorite places that we want to go to and sometimes fail the
we want to go to and sometimes fail the
we want to go to and sometimes fail the smart developments the ones that are
smart developments the ones that are
smart developments the ones that are successful utilize creativity along with
successful utilize creativity along with
successful utilize creativity along with the diligence and in addition to that
the diligence and in addition to that
the diligence and in addition to that they work with all three groups you have
they work with all three groups you have
they work with all three groups you have to work with the neighborhood and the
to work with the neighborhood and the
to work with the neighborhood and the government all three entities have to
government all three entities have to
government all three entities have to embrace the fact that the city is not a
embrace the fact that the city is not a
embrace the fact that the city is not a museum it’s ever-evolving it’s
museum it’s ever-evolving it’s
museum it’s ever-evolving it’s ever-changing and in fact the cities are
ever-changing and in fact the cities are
ever-changing and in fact the cities are growing for the first time in our
growing for the first time in our
growing for the first time in our history over half of the population
history over half of the population
history over half of the population actually lives in cities and that trend
actually lives in cities and that trend
actually lives in cities and that trend is going to continue projections are
is going to continue projections are
is going to continue projections are that over the next 20 years
that over the next 20 years
that over the next 20 years cities will grow by two billion
cities will grow by two billion
cities will grow by two billion residents
residents
residents so the we’re in the midst of an urban
so the we’re in the midst of an urban
so the we’re in the midst of an urban Renaissance and at the same time
Renaissance and at the same time
Renaissance and at the same time technology and e-commerce are disrupting
technology and e-commerce are disrupting
technology and e-commerce are disrupting the very businesses that we’re building
the very businesses that we’re building
the very businesses that we’re building for so you can see the tension of urban
for so you can see the tension of urban
for so you can see the tension of urban development so how do we make that
development so how do we make that
development so how do we make that happen well there’s lots of tools but
happen well there’s lots of tools but
happen well there’s lots of tools but let me talk about a creative uses a
let me talk about a creative uses a
let me talk about a creative uses a creative uses are kind of like one plus
creative uses are kind of like one plus
creative uses are kind of like one plus one equals three their value add the sum
one equals three their value add the sum
one equals three their value add the sum is greater than the parts for instance
is greater than the parts for instance
is greater than the parts for instance if I build an office building there’s
if I build an office building there’s
if I build an office building there’s probably going to be a lot of people
probably going to be a lot of people
probably going to be a lot of people working there with young families they
working there with young families they
working there with young families they would love to have those kids nearby so
would love to have those kids nearby so
would love to have those kids nearby so next to it we build a daycare center and
next to it we build a daycare center and
next to it we build a daycare center and next to the daycare center we build a
next to the daycare center we build a
next to the daycare center we build a park because guess what those kids would
park because guess what those kids would
park because guess what those kids would love to be in a park next to the park we
love to be in a park next to the park we
love to be in a park next to the park we build a coffee shop because people who
build a coffee shop because people who
build a coffee shop because people who go to the park want to socialize and and
go to the park want to socialize and and
go to the park want to socialize and and drink coffee on top of the coffee shop
drink coffee on top of the coffee shop
drink coffee on top of the coffee shop we build an apartment building because
we build an apartment building because
we build an apartment building because everybody knows that apartment buildings
everybody knows that apartment buildings
everybody knows that apartment buildings love to have coffee shops on the first
love to have coffee shops on the first
love to have coffee shops on the first floor so then maybe the residents in the
floor so then maybe the residents in the
floor so then maybe the residents in the apartment building actually work in the
apartment building actually work in the
apartment building actually work in the office building I just gave you a
office building I just gave you a
office building I just gave you a stiching of symbiotic relationships that
stiching of symbiotic relationships that
stiching of symbiotic relationships that the whole is greater than the parts and
the whole is greater than the parts and
the whole is greater than the parts and notice I haven’t even talked about
notice I haven’t even talked about
notice I haven’t even talked about architecture architecture is important
architecture architecture is important
architecture architecture is important it inspires us architecture also must
it inspires us architecture also must
it inspires us architecture also must serve the inhabitants of the buildings
serve the inhabitants of the buildings
serve the inhabitants of the buildings and the community around it and at our
and the community around it and at our
and the community around it and at our core mission urban development isn’t
core mission urban development isn’t
core mission urban development isn’t about building a bunch of new shining
about building a bunch of new shining
about building a bunch of new shining buildings it’s about people it’s about
buildings it’s about people it’s about
buildings it’s about people it’s about developing communities that come
developing communities that come
developing communities that come together we do that the asset value
together we do that the asset value
together we do that the asset value profit goes up and the quality of life
profit goes up and the quality of life
profit goes up and the quality of life is improved for the region that is a
is improved for the region that is a
is improved for the region that is a goal that we all can be passionate about
goal that we all can be passionate about
goal that we all can be passionate about so from that end I want to talk about
so from that end I want to talk about
so from that end I want to talk about the Southwest Waterfront because there’s
the Southwest Waterfront because there’s
the Southwest Waterfront because there’s a lot of lessons learned in this
a lot of lessons learned in this
a lot of lessons learned in this development and we have to first start
development and we have to first start
development and we have to first start with history this was Lafont plan back
with history this was Lafont plan back
with history this was Lafont plan back in 1791 I don’t think his plan had a red
in 1791 I don’t think his plan had a red
in 1791 I don’t think his plan had a red square on it
square on it
square on it I think we added that for emphasis
I think we added that for emphasis
I think we added that for emphasis because that is actually where the
because that is actually where the
because that is actually where the Southwest Waterfront is Lafont gave this
Southwest Waterfront is Lafont gave this
Southwest Waterfront is Lafont gave this plan to George Washington for the new
plan to George Washington for the new
plan to George Washington for the new federal city that would be later called
federal city that would be later called
federal city that would be later called Chintan DC and so what’s exciting about
Chintan DC and so what’s exciting about
Chintan DC and so what’s exciting about this is is that the Southwest Waterfront
this is is that the Southwest Waterfront
this is is that the Southwest Waterfront was in the middle
was in the middle
was in the middle it was the Commerce intersection for the
it was the Commerce intersection for the
it was the Commerce intersection for the rest of the city and it thrived for over
rest of the city and it thrived for over
rest of the city and it thrived for over a hundred years let’s fast forward now
a hundred years let’s fast forward now
a hundred years let’s fast forward now to 1960 the shipping industry had gone
to 1960 the shipping industry had gone
to 1960 the shipping industry had gone away and the waterfront had seen its
away and the waterfront had seen its
away and the waterfront had seen its better days at that point in time the
better days at that point in time the
better days at that point in time the federal government subjected the
federal government subjected the
federal government subjected the southwest to urban renewal it was the
southwest to urban renewal it was the
southwest to urban renewal it was the first and worst of its kind in the
first and worst of its kind in the
first and worst of its kind in the country and complete neighborhoods were
country and complete neighborhoods were
country and complete neighborhoods were decimated residents were removed and a
decimated residents were removed and a
decimated residents were removed and a superhighway is put in the middle of it
superhighway is put in the middle of it
superhighway is put in the middle of it I don’t know what urban planners were
I don’t know what urban planners were
I don’t know what urban planners were thinking back then it was like people
thinking back then it was like people
thinking back then it was like people weren’t gonna walk again we were all
weren’t gonna walk again we were all
weren’t gonna walk again we were all just going to use a car to go everywhere
just going to use a car to go everywhere
just going to use a car to go everywhere it kind of isolated Southwest and it’s
it kind of isolated Southwest and it’s
it kind of isolated Southwest and it’s that fellow like this for half a century
that fellow like this for half a century
that fellow like this for half a century until about 2006 when the city put forth
until about 2006 when the city put forth
until about 2006 when the city put forth a request for proposals and this request
a request for proposals and this request
a request for proposals and this request was breathtaking what they were looking
was breathtaking what they were looking
was breathtaking what they were looking at it was a mile of shoreline 75 acres
at it was a mile of shoreline 75 acres
at it was a mile of shoreline 75 acres of water and land within walking
of water and land within walking
of water and land within walking distance of the National Mall this was
distance of the National Mall this was
distance of the National Mall this was red meat for all the large developers on
red meat for all the large developers on
red meat for all the large developers on the eastern seaboard including Chicago
the eastern seaboard including Chicago
the eastern seaboard including Chicago so I put my little team together along
so I put my little team together along
so I put my little team together along with many others and it was an arduous
with many others and it was an arduous
with many others and it was an arduous campaign on and on for months and at the
campaign on and on for months and at the
campaign on and on for months and at the end of the day I was the dog that caught
end of the day I was the dog that caught
end of the day I was the dog that caught the car we then proceeded with what I
the car we then proceeded with what I
the car we then proceeded with what I knew well which was working with the
knew well which was working with the
knew well which was working with the community and the government at that
community and the government at that
community and the government at that point we started working with a
point we started working with a
point we started working with a leadership on ways we can improve things
leadership on ways we can improve things
leadership on ways we can improve things and after five years over 800 community
and after five years over 800 community
and after five years over 800 community meetings seven council votes to change
meetings seven council votes to change
meetings seven council votes to change laws and four acts of Congress we came
laws and four acts of Congress we came
laws and four acts of Congress we came up with a plan and this plan was
up with a plan and this plan was
up with a plan and this plan was beautiful it actually got better and
beautiful it actually got better and
beautiful it actually got better and which is not often the case we were very
which is not often the case we were very
which is not often the case we were very careful not to go ahead and just take
careful not to go ahead and just take
careful not to go ahead and just take brilliant ideas and dilute them down
brilliant ideas and dilute them down
brilliant ideas and dilute them down through groupthink and arrive at an
through groupthink and arrive at an
through groupthink and arrive at an outcome that wouldn’t have been worthy
outcome that wouldn’t have been worthy
outcome that wouldn’t have been worthy we took certain issues that we could be
we took certain issues that we could be
we took certain issues that we could be flexible on and certain issues we had to
flexible on and certain issues we had to
flexible on and certain issues we had to stand to our principles and at the end
stand to our principles and at the end
stand to our principles and at the end of the day I think everyone
of the day I think everyone
of the day I think everyone is a line on the outcome which is very
is a line on the outcome which is very
is a line on the outcome which is very exciting so let’s look at the scale this
exciting so let’s look at the scale this
exciting so let’s look at the scale this is a 1946 depiction and I’ve just
is a 1946 depiction and I’ve just
is a 1946 depiction and I’ve just overlaid the scale of phase one this is
overlaid the scale of phase one this is
overlaid the scale of phase one this is phase one alone we call it the Big Bang
phase one alone we call it the Big Bang
phase one alone we call it the Big Bang Theory we knew that if we only did one
Theory we knew that if we only did one
Theory we knew that if we only did one building at a time we couldn’t change
building at a time we couldn’t change
building at a time we couldn’t change the paradigm so we had to do it all at
the paradigm so we had to do it all at
the paradigm so we had to do it all at least phase one at once a whole
least phase one at once a whole
least phase one at once a whole neighborhood several hotels several
neighborhood several hotels several
neighborhood several hotels several apartment buildings condos concert hall
apartment buildings condos concert hall
apartment buildings condos concert hall several office buildings over 20
several office buildings over 20
several office buildings over 20 restaurants on and on you get the idea
restaurants on and on you get the idea
restaurants on and on you get the idea so we did that we went forward to
so we did that we went forward to
so we did that we went forward to executing our plan and that is that this
executing our plan and that is that this
executing our plan and that is that this place is for everyone everyone can come
place is for everyone everyone can come
place is for everyone everyone can come to this place and enjoy it this is not
to this place and enjoy it this is not
to this place and enjoy it this is not just exclusive resort type thing this is
just exclusive resort type thing this is
just exclusive resort type thing this is a whole community so we have housing we
a whole community so we have housing we
a whole community so we have housing we have affordable housing we like to joke
have affordable housing we like to joke
have affordable housing we like to joke we have unaffordable housing we have
we have unaffordable housing we have
we have unaffordable housing we have market rate housing we have fine dining
market rate housing we have fine dining
market rate housing we have fine dining we have casual dining we have something
we have casual dining we have something
we have casual dining we have something for everybody here it’s a true community
for everybody here it’s a true community
for everybody here it’s a true community and that’s what makes it strong and we
and that’s what makes it strong and we
and that’s what makes it strong and we also go forward to maximize our
also go forward to maximize our
also go forward to maximize our resources I look at everything that we
resources I look at everything that we
resources I look at everything that we do on the urban format and look at every
do on the urban format and look at every
do on the urban format and look at every other neighborhood it has a story to
other neighborhood it has a story to
other neighborhood it has a story to tell it has a history there’s something
tell it has a history there’s something
tell it has a history there’s something in the DNA actually on the waterfront is
in the DNA actually on the waterfront is
in the DNA actually on the waterfront is quite simple it’s the water and don’t
quite simple it’s the water and don’t
quite simple it’s the water and don’t screw it up the water is magic there’s
screw it up the water is magic there’s
screw it up the water is magic there’s something with the water that makes us
something with the water that makes us
something with the water that makes us happy I don’t know what it is it makes
happy I don’t know what it is it makes
happy I don’t know what it is it makes us more friendly to if you’re on a boat
us more friendly to if you’re on a boat
us more friendly to if you’re on a boat and you pass another boat what do you do
and you pass another boat what do you do
and you pass another boat what do you do you wave you don’t do that in a car
you wave you don’t do that in a car
you wave you don’t do that in a car I mean people are mean or on the land
I mean people are mean or on the land
I mean people are mean or on the land they’re friendlier in the water I don’t
they’re friendlier in the water I don’t
they’re friendlier in the water I don’t know why so we embrace it I don’t try to
know why so we embrace it I don’t try to
know why so we embrace it I don’t try to question it embrace it so we have peers
question it embrace it so we have peers
question it embrace it so we have peers that go out onto the water
that go out onto the water
that go out onto the water we have cafes and terraces they look at
we have cafes and terraces they look at
we have cafes and terraces they look at each other and they look out on the
each other and they look out on the
each other and they look out on the water even on the land side I added
water even on the land side I added
water even on the land side I added fountains
fountains
fountains so we’d have water over there it was a
so we’d have water over there it was a
so we’d have water over there it was a it was obvious I suppose and then we
it was obvious I suppose and then we
it was obvious I suppose and then we look to also curate with purpose we’re
look to also curate with purpose we’re
look to also curate with purpose we’re very careful what we bring in so we have
very careful what we bring in so we have
very careful what we bring in so we have artisan retail this is retail you can’t
artisan retail this is retail you can’t
artisan retail this is retail you can’t find in a shopping mall this makes it
find in a shopping mall this makes it
find in a shopping mall this makes it special makes it authentic we also have
special makes it authentic we also have
special makes it authentic we also have lots of food and music all three of
lots of food and music all three of
lots of food and music all three of those groups are very social that’s what
those groups are very social that’s what
those groups are very social that’s what we were looking for and we made two
we were looking for and we made two
we were looking for and we made two blocks very small so it’d be walkable a
blocks very small so it’d be walkable a
blocks very small so it’d be walkable a normal block is about 600 feet long
normal block is about 600 feet long
normal block is about 600 feet long these are 270 feet long and so there’s a
these are 270 feet long and so there’s a
these are 270 feet long and so there’s a whole city grid inside of this
whole city grid inside of this
whole city grid inside of this waterfront and by the way the streets
waterfront and by the way the streets
waterfront and by the way the streets are cobblestone it creates this sort of
are cobblestone it creates this sort of
are cobblestone it creates this sort of village type environment and provides
village type environment and provides
village type environment and provides this human scale that I think we all
this human scale that I think we all
this human scale that I think we all long for and then we had make it organic
long for and then we had make it organic
long for and then we had make it organic we don’t want this to look contrived and
we don’t want this to look contrived and
we don’t want this to look contrived and the only way we could do that was to put
the only way we could do that was to put
the only way we could do that was to put an architect on every building so each
an architect on every building so each
an architect on every building so each building has its own expression even on
building has its own expression even on
building has its own expression even on the outside on the landscape front they
the outside on the landscape front they
the outside on the landscape front they have different architects we had I think
have different architects we had I think
have different architects we had I think 20 architects overall in phase one and
20 architects overall in phase one and
20 architects overall in phase one and then build great spaces outdoors this is
then build great spaces outdoors this is
then build great spaces outdoors this is actually out on a pier right here what
actually out on a pier right here what
actually out on a pier right here what I’m actually most impressed about this
I’m actually most impressed about this
I’m actually most impressed about this is these little kids are playing
is these little kids are playing
is these little kids are playing Scrabble who are these parents these
Scrabble who are these parents these
Scrabble who are these parents these kids are enjoying themselves spelling
kids are enjoying themselves spelling
kids are enjoying themselves spelling words so anyway we have a variety for
words so anyway we have a variety for
words so anyway we have a variety for everything unit you could this can be
everything unit you could this can be
everything unit you could this can be date night this can be family day it’s
date night this can be family day it’s
date night this can be family day it’s all good and then we have something with
all good and then we have something with
all good and then we have something with all this technology what people are
all this technology what people are
all this technology what people are really attracted to is a fire we’re
really attracted to is a fire we’re
really attracted to is a fire we’re attracted to fire and water what is
attracted to fire and water what is
attracted to fire and water what is really cool about this is it’s a real
really cool about this is it’s a real
really cool about this is it’s a real wood-burning fire pit you can make
wood-burning fire pit you can make
wood-burning fire pit you can make s’mores on what actually I find very
s’mores on what actually I find very
s’mores on what actually I find very enjoyable enjoyable just watching these
enjoyable enjoyable just watching these
enjoyable enjoyable just watching these forty five-year-old me
forty five-year-old me
forty five-year-old me making s’mores on the pit it’s a real
making s’mores on the pit it’s a real
making s’mores on the pit it’s a real great gathering a place and then we go
great gathering a place and then we go
great gathering a place and then we go to other areas and we’ve added a twist
to other areas and we’ve added a twist
to other areas and we’ve added a twist to it after the landscape architects
to it after the landscape architects
to it after the landscape architects were completed with their concepts we
were completed with their concepts we
were completed with their concepts we brought in an interior designer and said
brought in an interior designer and said
brought in an interior designer and said to them I want you to pretend you’re in
to them I want you to pretend you’re in
to them I want you to pretend you’re in a living room you’re an interior
a living room you’re an interior
a living room you’re an interior designer
designer
designer how can we take this to the next level
how can we take this to the next level
how can we take this to the next level what detail can you put on here to make
what detail can you put on here to make
what detail can you put on here to make people feel better to make them feel
people feel better to make them feel
people feel better to make them feel more social and it was amazing the
more social and it was amazing the
more social and it was amazing the detailing that I was created now a lot
detailing that I was created now a lot
detailing that I was created now a lot of this is sort of subliminal and maybe
of this is sort of subliminal and maybe
of this is sort of subliminal and maybe not that noticeable except when you look
not that noticeable except when you look
not that noticeable except when you look out here we have lampshades on or posts
out here we have lampshades on or posts
out here we have lampshades on or posts or lights outside like you’re inside a
or lights outside like you’re inside a
or lights outside like you’re inside a living room these lampshades diffuse the
living room these lampshades diffuse the
living room these lampshades diffuse the light and they put a really cool glow on
light and they put a really cool glow on
light and they put a really cool glow on the people and on the streets and it
the people and on the streets and it
the people and on the streets and it creates this urban theater with
creates this urban theater with
creates this urban theater with everything around it that you see and
everything around it that you see and
everything around it that you see and everybody participates in this theater
everybody participates in this theater
everybody participates in this theater I’m going to leave you with this one
I’m going to leave you with this one
I’m going to leave you with this one last image this just came over social
last image this just came over social
last image this just came over social media three days ago I don’t know who
media three days ago I don’t know who
media three days ago I don’t know who these girls are I’m going to imagine
these girls are I’m going to imagine
these girls are I’m going to imagine they’re sisters it’s beautiful
they’re sisters it’s beautiful
they’re sisters it’s beautiful when we first started when we opened it
when we first started when we opened it
when we first started when we opened it up a couple of weeks ago we had 75,000
up a couple of weeks ago we had 75,000
up a couple of weeks ago we had 75,000 people come and visit the waterfront the
people come and visit the waterfront the
people come and visit the waterfront the crowds have persisted ever since but you
crowds have persisted ever since but you
crowds have persisted ever since but you know life is made up of moments that
know life is made up of moments that
know life is made up of moments that sound like a Hallmark card I apologize
sound like a Hallmark card I apologize
sound like a Hallmark card I apologize this is a special moment so if you look
this is a special moment so if you look
this is a special moment so if you look at these two sisters I’m going to
at these two sisters I’m going to
at these two sisters I’m going to believe that this is their favorite
believe that this is their favorite
believe that this is their favorite place in the city at this moment and I
place in the city at this moment and I
place in the city at this moment and I cannot think of a better image to
cannot think of a better image to
cannot think of a better image to explain why it is that we do this in the
explain why it is that we do this in the
explain why it is that we do this in the city and build these great places this
city and build these great places this
city and build these great places this is why we do it thank you
is why we do it thank you
is why we do it thank you [Applause]
”
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