Joseph E. Coomes, Jr., of counsel in the Municipal Law practice of Best Best & Krieger LLP of Sacramento, was named recipient of the inaugural 2013 Lifetime Visionary Achievement Honor by ULI Sacramento on October 17 at The Citizen Hotel.  Going forward, this award will be called the Joseph E. Coomes Lifetime Visionary Honor.

His practice concentrates on redevelopment, land use and planning law. He has successfully negotiated some of the largest and most difficult urban mixed-use redevelopment projects in California, including San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens and downtown San Jose’s Silicon Valley Financial Center. Joe also helped create the Capitol Area Development Authority (CADA), consisting of 40 blocks around state capitol building. The Authority worked closely with the state and city to create a viable downtown community, taking best practices from private development.

“We are pleased to be recognizing such an iconic figure in the Sacramento real estate and land use community,” said Gladys Cornell, chair, ULI Sacramento. “Mr. Coomes is a 35-year ULI member and one of the most respected land-use, redevelopment and public-law attorneys in California.”

Others from Sacramento’s real estate and land use community being recognized at the dinner for exemplary leadership and visionary programs in the private and public sector include:

• ULI Member Adrian Engel, project manager at Mark Thomas & Company, Inc., for his contribution of volunteer time with several ULI initiatives over the last two years including SACOG’s Sustainability Community Grant; leading the TOD Advisory Council and serving as the ULI representative on the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber Study Mission planning committee.
• The City of Sacramento for its new Planning and Development Code based on ULI Principles
• Mercy Housing California’s 7^th and H Street Housing Community, which is being named the ULI Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Council Project of the Year

“These awards exemplify the spirit of ULI’s mission of providing leadership in the responsible use of land, and in creating and sustaining thriving communities,” said Cornell.  Special Thank you to our major sponsors:  Presenting Sponsor BBK and Event Sponsors, SMUD and AIM Consulting!