A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone that attended the ULI Toronto fishbowl conversation at MOCA on January 14th. It was wonderful to be able to begin to have a conversation around Social Purpose Real Estate which is an important aspect of development in Toronto.

Some conversation pieces included:
What’s your basic definition of Social Purpose Real Estate?
-Thinking about real estate from the perspective of mission and meaning. What are you doing with space? Ideally, create places that are more considerate and compassionate
-Push even further to mean: community homed assets, things owned by communities, clubs etc not necessarily privatized
-Non profit
-Taking the profit out of the equation so the assets can be provided for space to serve all of the needs of a thriving community

Comments on how arts organizations and not for profit organizations can begin to work with developers to take into consideration the community interest for long term development. Looking at the community and seeing what already exists, what community members want or need to make it a livable, workable community where people want to be.

More details will be shared via the ULI Toronto website

Special thanks to the folks below:

Facilitator:
Jane Farrow, Principal, Dept of Words & Deeds

Panelists:
Laura Alderson, Mount Dennis BIA
Georgia Cowan, MOCA Toronto
Diane Dyson, Director, Research & Public Policy, Central Neighbourhood House (The Neighbourhood Group)
Robert Fiorino, Vice President - Market Strategy, Lemay
Andrew Garrett, Executive Director, Real Estate Portfolio, IMCO
Ken Greenberg, Urban Designer
Lori Martin, Senior Cultural Affairs Officer, City of Toronto
Sherif Masood, VP Asset Management (Retail), Oxford Properties Group
Abigail Moriah, Senior Development Manager, New Commons Development
Michael Vickers, Co-Director, Akin
Oliver Pauk, Co-Director, Akin
Peter Venetas, Real Estate Consultant
Pru Robey, Consultant
Liza Stiff, Director, Research & Programs, TAS DesignBuild
Laura Trujillo, Vice President, Property Management, Allied REIT
Jordana Wright, Managing Director, Activate Space
And more!

Click here for more upcoming Akin events