Fred Waks, President & CEO, Trinity Development Group Inc.
Garnet Watchorn, Chairman, Graywood Developments Ltd.
With special attention to the development market including residential and commercial, Benjamin Tal will offer his insight on global and domestic issues that are driving the broader economy. He will also comment on monetary policy, rate trends, demographic trends and how geo-political and geo-economic trends will impact economic growth. What is the outlook for employment and spending growth and what are the key economic engines driving job creation? Benjamin consistently receives very positive feedback as a speaker at our conferences and we are pleased to welcome him back to share his leading edge opinions and well formulated conclusions.
Speaker:
Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC World Markets Inc.
After a decade of operating under an intensification policy framework, the GTA property markets are experiencing unprecedented extremity conditions and have entered a new era of complexity. Commercial real estate and residential development have now been completely fused together and operating as one without an understanding of the other, which will be dangerous. The surge in new purpose-built rental is presenting challenges to condominium development and the scarcity of new low-rise development in the GTA is pushing some traditional home buyers into the GGH region. George Carras’ presentation will provide an important explanation of market conditions and provide insights that will be critical to successful navigation of these markets in the future.
Speaker:
George Carras, President, RealNet Canada Inc.
From October 2013 to January 2014, the government undertook province-wide consultations on the land use planning and appeal system. The government has subsequently responded to the comments received and has announced proposed legislative amendments to the Development Charges Act, 1997 and the Planning Act. It is said that if passed, Bill 73 (the proposed Smart Growth for Our Communities Act) would give residents more input into how their communities grow, set out clearer rules for land use planning, give municipalities more independence to make local decisions and make it easier to resolve disputes.This session will review the major notable elements that could impact a developer’s daily life and possibly present opportunities and challenges to their planned and underway projects.
Speakers:
Mary Flynn-Guglietti, Partner, Co-Chair, Municipal Law Group, McMillan LLP
Mark Tutton, Vice President, Land Development, Dorsay Development Corporation
Many media sources continue to point to a crash or soft landing in Toronto and Vancouver, while others predict a growing population as justification for the continued growth of high/mid-rise housing. Some are concerned with the increased development in the purpose built residential sector while others are encouraged by government policy that is mandating developments to go upwards and not outwards. This session will look at the current and planned supply, as well as what our major developers plan on building in 2015.
Moderator:
Jeanhy Shim, President, Housing Lab Toronto
Panel:
Jared Menkes, Director, Development, Menkes Developments Ltd.
Jim Ritchie, Senior Vice President, Tridel Corporation
James Tadeson, Founder, Carttera
Alan Vihant, Senior Vice President, Great Gulf
Join this session as a panel of industry experts specializing in land sales and valuations discuss current market conditions across Canada. What deals have been completed over the past 12 months and what sites are on the market, or coming to market, in the near term? How has the market shifted over the past year in terms of investor profile, deal structure and capital sources?
Moderator:
John Sarotta, Senior Vice President, Development, Eastern Canada, Bentall Kennedy (Canada) LLP
Panel:
Casey Gallagher, Senior Vice President, CBRE Limited
John Galluzzo, Senior Director, Research, Valuation & Advisory, Altus Group Limited
Steve Keyzer, Vice President, Colliers International
Kevin Meikle, Senior Vice President & Managing Director Canada, Capital Markets Group, Cushman & Wakefield Ltd.
Jeff Thomas, Managing Partner, Ashlar Urban Realty Inc.
What lessons can our evolving cities learn about development, infrastructure, transportation and emerging centers that can be leveraged today? What shifts have other markets completed and what subsequent lessons have they learned? As our cities evolve and shape over the near term, what can be borrowed and amended to enhance our current vision?
Moderator:
Leor Margulies, Partner, Robins Appleby LLP
Panel:
Tom Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Peter Halsall, President & CEO, Canadian Urban Institute
Johann Schumacher, Vice President, Development, Oxford Properties Group
Gwendolyn Tillotson, Deputy Director, Economic Development, City of Houston
What type of debt is available today for an experienced or novice developer? What are the available rates, terms and ratios? This session will explore the construction and development debt market over the past 12 months and take a forward look at what changes are pending. What are the different considerations between commercial and residential debt and small and large developers? As non-traditional or alternative lending sources start to emerge, what are the implications, if any, for traditional lenders?
Moderator:
David Dinniwell, Chief Financial Officer Graywood Developments Ltd.
Panel:
Scott Cameron, Chief Executive Officer, Cameron Stephens Mortgage Capital Ltd.
Michael Carragher, Vice President, Mortgage Investments, Firm Capital Corporation
Frank Margani, Executive Vice President, Fortress Real Developments Inc.
Ari Silverberg, Co-Founder & President, Harbour Equity Capital Corp.
Municipalities are caught in a balancing act: How are they planning to balance the provincially-endorsed mandate for intensification and Transit Orientated Development (TOD) with their constituents’ concerns over the deployment of density? Should the Province attach conditions on transit, infrastructure and investments that force municipalities to achieve necessary urban intensification outcomes? Join us for an engaging discussion as we discuss various approaches available to the Province and municipalities as they look to solve the intensification and constituent desire dilemma.
Moderator:
Richard Joy, Executive Director, ULI Toronto District Council
Panel:
Phil Brennen, Director, Real Estate Development, Broccolini Construction Inc.
Iain Dobson, Co-Founder, Strategic Regional Research Alliance
Margaret Knowles, Senior Vice President, Development, Morguard Investments Limited
Lynda Townsend, Partner, WeirFoulds LLP
What is driving the industrial market now? Is it the need for logistics, distribution or warehouse space? What does the supply side equation look like in terms of new product and how is the existing and aging stock being redeveloped? Will demand for logistics facilities and a significantly softer Canadian currency push industrial markets forward? With a drastic decline in the Canadian dollar there are natural implications and benefits for the industrial market including a rebirth of manufacturing in Canada. Are they being realized? This panel will provide a solid overview of the industrial market and what we should expect in the near term.
Moderator:
Gord Cook, Executive Vice President, Sales Representative, Colliers International
Panel:
John Georgakopoulos, Partner, Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP
Matthew Johnson, Director, Investments, KingSett Capital
Peter McFarlane, Vice President, LaSalle Investment Management
“Land use plans are crucial to building a sustainable future for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.”
In 2005, the land-protection legislation was enacted by former Premier Dalton McGuinty; this year it is up for review. Premier Kathleen Wynne has selected former Toronto mayor David Crombie to revisit the 10-year-old Greenbelt Plan that aimed to curb urban sprawl from Niagara Falls to Peterborough. Crombie is heading a panel to look at the Greenbelt Plan, the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, the Niagara Escarpment Plan and the Greater Golden Horseshoe Growth Plan. Join this lunch-time session as we look to David for an update on his important work thus far.
Speaker:
David Crombie, Chair, Provincial Advisory Panel reviewing The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, The Greenbelt Plan, The Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and The Niagara Escarpment Plan
This panel will point out key design elements that make streets successful and desirable destinations for pedestrians, retailers and cultural city life. How can we design new buildings with the quality, scale and textures that produce walkable and lively pedestrian experiences, while still offering flexible commercial spaces and density above? Whether designing a new condo or a retail, hospitality or office space, the discussion will focus on design strategies for new buildings that can create great city streets at ground level.
Moderator:
Lisa Borsook, Executive Partner, WeirFoulds LLP
Panel:
Marc Cote, Vice President, Development, Oxford Properties Group
Derek Goring, Vice President, Development, First Gulf Corporation
Jawad Rathore, Chief Executive Officer, Fortress Real Developments Inc.
Rob Spanier, Partner & Principal, LiveWorkLearnPlay
New office product has continued to receive support with a number of notable projects recently being launched or about to proceed. In the near term, Toronto is on pace to add 4.3 million sq. ft., Vancouver is planning to add an additional 2.2 million sq. ft., and Calgary is scheduled to augment their supply with 5.0 million sq. ft. What are tenants demanding in terms of built product and workplace standards? How do corporate consolidations, increased physical densities and the need for better technological solutions impact the office sector? What will our major office markets look like over the next 12-36 months?
Moderator:
Sandy McNair, President, Altus InSite
Panel:
Niall Collins, Senior Vice President, Development, The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited
Jeff Hull, President, Hullmark Development Ltd.
Nick Macrae, Senior Portfolio Manager, HOOPP Real Estate
Joel Pearlman, Vice President, Investments, Menkes Developments Ltd.
It’s undeniable that the condominium investor market has been filling the need for rental stock in major markets across the country. This session will examine what is actually being built, who is building it and what is the expected impact on the market. It seems that every apartment owner is starting or contemplating a new development. Will select markets become oversaturated? How much demand is really out there and who will be the builders to satisfy this demand? Will luxury, mid-market or low-end product be added? What are the rules around replacing stock and how are developments integrating other asset types into their projects? How are 3.0% cap rates making sense? Come hear from those with shovels in the ground and others who are contemplating development, as we do a deep dive into the rental market.
Moderator:
Aik Aliferis, CEO & Founder, Primecorp Group of Companies
Panel:
Brian Athey, Vice President, Canadian Operations, Morguard North American Residential REIT
Adrian Kozak, Director, Investments, Concert Properties Ltd.
Henry Morton, President, Campus Suites Inc.
Aaron Platt, Partner, Davies Howe Partners LLP
Adrian Rocca, Director, Tricon Capital Group Inc.
New design challenges and changing technology permeate every industry, including architecture. This session will bring together thought-leaders known for spatially complex and programmatically advanced approaches on the front lines of innovation. Pushing boundaries, these architects and their visionary projects challenge traditional built form and the standard place of architectural practice. Come and hear about world-changing advances and the role architects are playing in shaping the future.
Moderator:
Jason Child, Vice President, Sales Representative, CBRE Limited
Panel:
Carl Blanchaer, Principal, WZMH Architects
Jack Diamond, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects
Patrick Fejér, Principal, B+H Architects
The economics of land are forcing the low-rise market to take dramatic shifts in terms of built form and product design. The saga of the single-family home continues as new sites become difficult to find and more expensive. Increasingly, the purchase of a single family homes equals a drive to qualify; how sustainable is this and are jobs being created in those areas? Are the people buying larger homes willing to put up with longer commutes or are they looking for work closer to home? What about the rise of stacked townhouse and other low rise formats, how do these factor into intensification? The traditional lot has had a rapid evolution in size and format, forcing developers and consumers to look at housing in a different lens. This session will explore what sites remain, where they are located and how developers are making sense of the numbers. It will also look at what new formats are being explored and how the sector is evolving.
Moderator:
Mike Czestochowski, Senior Vice President, Land Service Group, CBRE Limited
Panel:
Remo Agostino, Vice President, Development, The Daniels Corporation
Andy Brethour, President, PMA Brethour Realty Group
Neil Rodgers, Executive Vice President, Acquisitions, Tribute Communities
The changing retail landscape is in the news daily, from Target to Future Shop announcements. How are major tenants impacting developer choices and plans? How will the landscape change and be influenced by technology and consumer shopping preferences? What are the preferred tenants for mixed-use developments? Are there lessons to learn from joint ownership/development projects? Is there a role of the independents versus nationals? Will 3D printing, on-line purchasing and a trend towards mixed-use developments revolutionize the industry? This panel will examine the future of retailing, taking into consideration outside influences and global forces.
Moderator:
John Crombie, Senior Vice President, Triovest Realty Advisors
Panel:
Colin Baryliuk, Managing Director, Investments, KingSett Capital
Alan Dillabough, Vice President, Development & Construction, Primaris Management Inc.
Brad Keast, Vice President, Development, Osmington Inc.
Jordan Robins, Senior Vice President, Planning & Development, RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust
Tom Smith, Vice President, Development, SmartCentres
A panel of respected senior executives representing a diverse cross-section of development activities and interests will provide their insights and perspective on development locally, nationally and internationally over the next 12-18 months. What is their strategy going forward? Where are they developing next? What opportunities, challenges and obstacles are they contemplating? What lessons can we gain from looking at national and international projects and how can they improve our practice? How are capital and debt being assessed and what impact will changes in the lending space have on their business going forward? What do today’s leaders see from their vantage point that we can all use in our daily practices?
Moderator:
Fred Waks, President & CEO, Trinity Development Group Inc.
Garnet Watchorn, Chairman, Graywood Developments Ltd.
Panel:
Tom Burns, Executive Vice President & COO, Allied Properties REIT
Phil Gillin, Senior Managing Director & Portfolio Manager, Canadian Property Investments, Sun Life Investment Management
Niall Haggart, Executive Vice President, The Daniels Corporation
Michael Kitt, Executive Vice President, Oxford Properties Group
John MacNeil, President, First Gulf