NAIOP Upstate New York Chapter to hold 16th Annual Awards

This year the NAIOP Upstate New York Chapter will host its Annual Awards for the 16th straight year in a row! This event is the highlight of the year for NAIOP members and for the award winners. John D'Amanda, program director, explained that given the current economic times, the chapter decided to change the theme of the awards this year in order to keep current with development trends in our area. The committee was calling on "bright spot" projects - those that could be credited with changing the current economic climate to the better, starting with the city centers that ultimately drive upstate prosperity in our cities of Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Factors that were given added consideration to project winners, for example, were unique architectural features and amenities, creative solutions to various problems, including transportation, impact to surrounding areas, use of underutilized or blighted property, retention or creation of new jobs, positive impact on the real estate tax base, sustainability and energy efficiency (LEED criteria), adaptive or converted uses of existing buildings and land, planned integration of combination of mixed uses, including retail, office, residential, hotel, recreation or other functions. The projects being submitted were to have final approvals from local agencies for construction, or in construction in 2008-2009. In addition this year, a Developing Leader Award will be given. This award will honor the commercial real estate professional (a NAIOP member age 35 and under) whose work has made a significant impact on the office and industrial markets, as well as have an impact on the community during. There will be two categories of awards - Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit presented to our winners. Winners will be announced the evening of the event. During the evening, attendees will have the pleasure of having congressman Christopher Lee as a guest speaker. Prior to the event, a private reception will be held with the congressman. For those interested in attending this special session, advance reservations must be made through the Upstate New York Chapter. The evening's events will be held at The Embassy Suites in Buffalo, one of the award winners' mixed-use development projects. Sponsors for this event include Uniland Development Co., Gallina Development, Ticor Title Insurance, Northmarq Capital. There are more sponsorship availabilities. With each sponsorship, admission to the private reception with congressman Lee will be included. For more info, contact Karen McCready at (585) 249-9232, or at [email protected].