CREW DC: News-Program Summary

PROGRAM SUMMARY

September Program: Women Making It Happen!

More and more women are now managing high visibility projects in the Washington DC area and four of them took time out of their hectic schedules for our September event. The discussion focused on the pressures & challenges of managing these high profile projects as a woman in a primarily male dominated arena and on the most recent happenings of their projects.

The panel was moderated by Vanessa Lopez-Isa, Marketing Associate with Forest City Washington and her panel included the following women:

Ruthie Edmondson, Project Manager for James G. Davis Corporation discussing Lionsgate at Woodmont Corner.
Amy C. Phillips, Development Manager for Monument Realty discussing Half Street.
Kamilah Parker McAfee, Development Associate for Forest City Washington discussing The Yards.
Ashley Gerstenfeld Wiltshire, Principal for SJG Properties was unable to attend the program.

Each panel member began with an overview of their projects. Ms Edmondson's project, Lionsgate at Woodmont Corner in Bethesda , began development in March of 2006 and is projected to be completed in February of 2008. The property is comprised of 158 high-end residential units priced at $1.25 million or $800 a square foot, with 14,000 square feet of retail. To date 60% of the units are sold and the retail is either leased or they have letters of intent for the space. Ms. Edmondson also was ecstatic to mention that 2 combined $1.25 million units have been sold. If you'd like to get your hands on one of these luxury condos, www.lionsgatebethesda.com is your destination.

Half Street, the first half, was discussed by Ms. Phillips. This project is located at the newly expanded Navy Yard Metro station at the corner of Half Street and M Street, SE and is a "destination like no other in DC." Expected in 2009, the first half consists of 320 residential units, 275,000 square feet of Class A office space, and 50,000 square feet of retail including a wide variety of restaurants. The project also boasts a pedestrian gateway to the new ballpark, which will open just in time for Major League Baseball's opening season in April of 2008 and a 200 room boutique hotel with signature bar and terrace. Ms Phillips mentioned that one of their focuses for Half Street is to tie the façade finishes to the warehouse nature of the area. To learn more about Half Street , “the whole experience,” visit www.halfstreet.com.

Ms. Parker McAfee rounded up the overview with information on The Yards, a 42 acre site along the Anacostia River across from the planned Washington National's ballpark. You can find more information about The Yards, by visiting Forest City 's website at http://www.fcwashington.com/
project.asp?p=21845460. This site was formerly known as Southeast Federal Center . One of the biggest challenges faced by Ms. Parker McAfee during this project was preserving several historic structures while transforming them into 2,700 rental and condominium units, 1.8 million square feet of office space, 250,000 – 400,000 square feet of retail space and adding a 5 acre riverfront park. Construction is to begin later this year at The Yards and has been in development for 10 – 15 years.

Ms. Lopez-Isa had a fantastic set of questions ready for the panel and the audience also had no problems asking questions of the panel. In fact, this topic excited so many of those attending there was a waiting list to be seated and Ms. Lopez-Isa had to stop the question answer session with the audience due to timing.

Some highlights of the question and answer session included that all 3 panel members felt managing & coordinating all aspects of the project is the most challenging aspect they face, along with the importance of delegating and coming to the realization that you can't do it all yourself.

When asked how their position is impacted by being a woman in a predominantly male industry & how communication differs between the two genders, the panel felt they really weren't impacted by that on a daily basis, unless they were on the construction site. As for the communication aspect, Ms. Edmondson summed up the question nicely by stating, "A wise woman once told me that when men yell at each other they are aggressive, when women do they are hysterical."

Ms. Parker McAfee was asked how The Yards fits into this push for development is Southeast due to the Nationals moving into the area. She responded that they have been in development stages and in the neighborhood for some time and haven't changed their vision due to baseball. The Yards goal has always been to be an anchor for the neighborhood. She has spent time coordinating with public agencies to help ensure they see a resurgence and interest from the CBD in Southeast. Ms. Phillips further drew on this push for resurgence by noting that several law firms have short listed Half Street and other media outlets have shown interest in the area as well.

Wardrobe challenges were also a topic of discussion, as these ladies spend ample time on site at their construction projects. They all agreed that although they can wear a wardrobe that suits their own personality, they tend to lean to the conservative side. At the end of the program, one audience member provided a recommendation on a pink construction boot. And the program concluded with Ms. Edmondson stating, "I like to sign up for these events so I can wear these shoes" while holding up her zebra striped pump.

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