2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land - 22

developments
developments
there are others that could
benefit over the long term,
Thomas said. " I just think it's
something we can't ignore, "
she said. With the advances
being made in technology
and analytics to capture
climate risk on a granular
level, future opportunities
could look different, even
on a block-to-block basis-
something Frank called " subsubmarkets. "
" We're having
to get really detailed when
looking at those things, " he
said.
HOLLY DUTTON is a Brooklyn-based
journalist who has reported on real estate
for more than 10 years. A Texas native, she
spent her early years in journalism covering
local politics and photographing professional
basketball for publications including the
Houston Chronicle.
than a half-century, he led a
southeast Michigan-based firm
that touched nearly all aspects
of real estate development
across numerous property
types, at times serving both
third-party clients and its own
account.
Remembering
Longtime ULI Member
David R. Nelson
David R. Nelson, the influential
founder and leader of a multidisciplined
real estate development
company and a longtime
ULI member, has passed away
at the age of 81.
A respected figure in the
real estate industry and his
community, Nelson demonstrated
a lifelong commitment
to both business excellence
and positive impact. For more
Nelson was a proud ULI
member for more than 40
years. Among many leadership
roles, he chaired the Commercial
and Retail Development
Council (Gold Flight) for three
years, and served on the product
council until his passing. A
member of the ULI Foundation's
Julia Morgan Society,
he contributed generously to
the Governors Endowment,
the Annual Fund, and such
vital programs as UrbanPlan
and Advisory Services. He also
was a founding member of
ULI Michigan and served on
the district council's Advisory
Board. He was always eager to
share his professional experiences
and wisdom with others,
whether authoring articles
and book chapters on real
estate development or offering
insights at university lectures
and ULI meetings.
Nelson graduated from the
David R. Nelson
22
University of Michigan's Architecture
and Design School in
1965, and from Wayne State
University's Law School in
1968. He founded The Nelson
Companies Incorporated in
1970 and served as its president
and chief executive officer.
The company began with
the construction and sale
of single-family homes but
quickly expanded into real
estate development, brokerage,
management, and general
contracting. Across more than
five decades, the Nelson Companies
developed single-family
homes, multifamily housing
communities, shopping centers,
office buildings, warehouses,
URBAN LAND SUMMER 202 4
churches, temples, schools, and
more, with developments in
Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina,
and Hawaii.
Beyond his role as an industry
leader, Nelson was passionate
and selfless in serving
others through philanthropy.
In addition to his support for
ULI and its mission, he was
involved with such organizations
as the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra; the Michigan
Roundtable for Diversity and
Inclusion; and its predecessor,
the National Conference
for Community and Justice.
In 2005, he and his wife
endowed the David Robert
and Sylvia Jean Nelson Foundation
for Arts and Letters,
with a mission of providing
scholarships to talented students
in visual, performing, and
literary arts.
" Anyone who knew David
knew the kindness, passion,
and positive spirit he brought
to every endeavor, " said Mary
Beth Corrigan, ULI co-interim
managing director. " We are all
grateful for his decades of service
and generosity to advance
ULI's mission. His impact will
be felt in his community, within
ULI, and across the real estate
industry for generations to
come. "
" ULI was very special to
David, and he served in many
leadership roles and as a major
donor to the Foundation, "
said Shannon Sclafani, executive
director of ULI Michigan.
" His friends and colleagues at
ULI will remember him best
for his generosity of time and
resource, his intelligence and
humor, his sense of adventure,
and, not least, his extraordinary
talent for storytelling. "
" David loved ULI, " said
Bobby Taubman, chairman
and chief executive officer of
The Taubman Company, and
Investing in resilient buildings,
infrastructure, and community
amenities to address
the many impacts of climate
change-including sea level
rise, heat waves, storm surge,
and drought-is crucial in safeguarding
the built environment
and in promoting the health
and economic vitality of our
cities.
Recent ULI technical assistance
and Advisory Services
panels have increasingly
included a significant focus on
the need for resilience; identifying
strategies to reduce
a cousin of Nelson's. " He not
only learned over so many
years of involvement, he built
relationships and loved to
mentor others. He participated
in many case studies and contributed
endlessly. ULI was a
very important part of his life. "
Through his passion, generosity,
and drive for meaningful
impact, David Nelson put ULI's
values and mission into action
every day. ULI deeply mourns
his passing and remembers
with gratitude his many contributions
to the Institute and
the communities we serve.
We send our condolences to
his beloved wife of 55 years,
Sylvia, their three children and
five grandchildren, and the
many friends and colleagues
whose lives he touched.
JACK MORRISEY is a director of
communications at ULI.
Representatives
from ULI Technical
Assistance Efforts
Share Updates on
Implementation of
Recommendations
D A VID R NELS ON
2024 Summer Issue of Urban Land

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