Press Room

ULI Los Angeles Names Philip Hart New Executive Director

September 21, 2006

Los Angeles, CA -- After a long affiliation with Urban Land Institute (ULI), Philip Hart has been named Executive Director of ULI Los Angeles, the largest district council of the international land-use organization. Hart succeeds Susan Kamei who recently accepted a post at University of Southern California.

Hart's history with ULI is extensive, including serving on numerous Advisory Services panels, on the ULI Los Angeles Executive Committee, the ULI Los Angeles Program Committee and the ULI Los Angeles Inner City Policy Committee. He is also the author of several Urban Land magazine articles, and co-sponsor of two ULI Advisory Services panels.

Hart's background in education and research is well suited to the mission of ULI and its district councils. For over 20 years he was a Professor of Sociology and Director of the William Monroe Trotter Institute at University of Massachusetts, Boston. Three of these years he was also a Senior Fellow at the John W. McCormack Institute of Public Affairs at University of Massachusetts, Boston. On two separate occasions he has been a Visiting Research Sociologist at UCLA's Center for Afro-American Studies (now the Ralph Bunche Center). He has published widely on urban development, urban planning, community economic development, faith-based development, race relations and higher education.

Hart's expertise as an urban real estate developer is equally extensive. He was project manager for the $60 million, 5,000-seat West Angeles Cathedral in South Los Angeles, and serves as Senior Advisor to the Building Strategy Team for the West Angeles Campus and West Angeles Village of West Angeles Church of God in Christ. Hart most recently served as a construction management consultant with the LAUSD Region 1 school modernization program. He was also master developer for CrossTown Industrial Park in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. This 75-acre urban industrial park boasts high tech, biotech, university, office, industrial, retail, textile manufacturing, public utility, hotel, and residential tenants.

"We are excited to announce Phil's assuming the very important position of Executive Director of ULI Los Angeles," said ULI Los Angeles Chair Michael Banner. "His background in education, research and land-use planning along with his administrative experience have amply prepared him to lead ULI-LA into the future. We look forward to continuing the growth and the quality of programming and services initiated by Susan Kamei."

Hart said this of his vision for ULI Los Angeles: "I plan to extend the excellent work and results that have characterized all our programs at this district council, including the Urban Marketplace, Urban Plan, Young Leaders Group and the Technical Assistance Program. I also hope to expand our reach into the university world, with faith-based organizations, and with community development corporations. Finally, we have built a recognizable brand with strong corporate partners and I hope to build upon this partnership and bring new corporations into the fold."

Hart is a native of Denver, Colorado. He was educated in the Denver Public Schools. His B.A. degree is from University of Colorado, Boulder, where he is a cum laude graduate. He was inducted into the University's Distinguished Alumni Gallery in 1995. His graduate degrees are from Michigan State University.

The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide responsible leadership in the use of land in order to enhance the total environment. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 31,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.

ULI Los Angeles has an active membership that recently surpassed 2,000. It is drawn from the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, Kern, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara and is composed of groups and individuals united in their pursuit of improving land-use policies.