“This isn’t just about programming for us. This is about a group of people called to action on something we are very passionate about, and we felt we had no choice but to do something.” – Serena Sayani, Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair

In the moments, days and weeks since the death of George Floyd, many of our members have felt a similar call to action. Leading this charge for our organization is the Diversity and Inclusion committee. They have put together two events: A Candid Discussion about Racial Barriers in Commercial Real Estate, on June 30, and, in partnership with the Programs Committee, our July breakfast on Race and Real Estate, on July 15. Both panels are intended to shed light on the intersections between race and real estate through discussion of the history of real estate laws across the country, and to spark thoughtful dialogue with industry leaders on how to make positive changes to alleviate racial inequities in our communities and the built environment.

Update & Summary for August 3, 2020: 
The WA Dept. of Ecology's new Expedited VCP, launched on July 1, 2020, is a self-sustaining process with dedicated staff to respond quickly to the needs of developers working under compressed schedules. The time to get through the expedited VCP could be as short as 4 months compared to 18 months (or more) under the regular VCP. The new program also allows moving sites in the regular VCP to the Expedited VCP as long as certain requirements are met.

McKenzie Darr (The Wolff Company) is one of the current co-chairs of NAIOPWA's Real Estate Challenge Committee. In her capacity as a co-chair, she helped spearhead the 2020 Challenge, even as COVID-19 altered in-person presentation and competition judging. She has been recognized by her peers for her excellent leadership and dedication to the committee's educational efforts. We asked McKenzie about her work with Wolff, the REC Committee, and her love of live music.  

How would you describe your company’s primary work and scope?
The Wolff Company is a fully integrated real estate investment firm focused on multifamily investment and development. Since 2000, Wolff has invested in, acquired, or developed more than 150 multifamily assets and more than 35,000 multifamily units.
The Northwest Division based in Seattle is responsible for the investment and development of multifamily and senior housing communities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.

In honor of Mother’s Day, we want to show our appreciation for the many working moms within our NAIOP chapter and for all the professional women that make our organization great. With 40% female representation on our board and steadily increasing female membership over the last decade, empowering the voices of women in commercial real estate committee rooms, leadership positions, and on event stages remains a top priority of NAIOPWA.

Ben Waiss (Tarragon) is one of the Co-Chairs for NAIOPWA's South Sound Committee. He has been recognized by his peers for his outstanding leadership and continued commitment to the committee's efforts. Ben joined NAIOP in 2014 after he began working for his current company. We spoke with Ben about his work with Tarragon, what he enjoys most about CRE, and what he does in his spare time. 

• Hands on developer that provides services from feasibility thru lease up and stabilization
• Portfolio developer that delivers highest quality assets designed to operate at a high level throughout the lifespan of the development
• Long term outlook that allows us to accumulate and hold land in the portfolio until market conditions are optimal to construct a commercial asset

How long have you been with your company?
I have been with Tarragon for about 6 years. In a previous life I was a Civil Engineer.

Morgan Sly (The Rush Companies) is a dedicated volunteer member of NAIOPWA's South Sound Committee. She's been with Rush since 2018 and has been an active NAIOPWA member since June of 2019. Her peers have recognized her for outstanding efforts in organizing unique and engaging events for the South Sound. We asked Morgan about her work in CRE, how she spends her time outside of her profession, and interesting tidbits about herself. 

NAIOPWA: What do you like best about your industry? 
Morgan Sly: My favorite part about working for Rush - a developer/builder is creating communities where people want to live and work. I enjoy identifying the next place where we believe future tenants or buyers will want to move to, through our projects we have the ability to add value to people’s day-to-day lives and that is exciting!

Beginning April 3, small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) are eligible for forgivable SBA loans under a provision in the CARES Act passed by Congress and signed into law to address the growing COVID-19 crisis. Primarily intended for businesses to retain employees during the crisis, certain provisions in the program would allow for borrowers to use some of the funds to cover monthly expenses like mortgage interest, rent, and utilities to help stay afloat. NAIOP has compiled a list of resources to help small businesses and other stakeholders navigate the program. 

In response to Governor Jay Inslee's "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" Order, NAIOP Washington has called for expansions to construction guidance to include private-sector residential and commercial construction. Among the organization's concerns are the growing housing crisis in Seattle and the impacts of slowing development of housing in the area. The recommendation includes advocacy for strict personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements for job sites as well as preparedness plans for battling the COVID-19 risks.  

NAIOP, along with AGC, requested clarification on Governor Inslee's recent “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order as it relates to construction activities. The newly released Construction Guidance Memo is online.

With target dates for code implementation changing quickly, this webinar is a must for NAIOPWA members. Our experts will cover the three new pieces of legislation upping the ante for energy efficiency throughout Washington state for both new construction and retrofits: the Seattle Energy Code, the Washington State Energy Code commercial section, and the state's new Energy Performance Standard for [Existing] Commercial Buildings.