As 2018 draws to a close, now is the perfect time to look back on everything TREC has accomplished in the last year – and what better way to do that than with a top 10 list! It seems to be the Internet’s favorite way to reminisce at this time of year, and it certainly worked for David Letterman once upon a time, so we figured we’d join the fun. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 ways The Real Estate Council helped Build the City You’ve Imagined in 2018:
1. Dallas Catalyst Project Kicks Off Forest District Revitalization Effort
Following a vote of TREC members in November 2017 to determine the initiative that would receive TREC Foundation’s funds and professional services work over the next three years, we got to work on the inaugural Dallas Catalyst Project with our partner organizations on the Forest District revitalization effort: Cornerstone Baptist Church, CitySquare, and St. Philip’s School & Community Center. Though our work has only just begun, we are incredibly grateful for the support and generosity from our members and their companies and look forward to continuing to bring the community’s vision to life in the coming years.
2. FightNight Observes 30th Anniversary, Welcomes Legendary Boxer Marvin Hagler
Nearly 1,400 guests filled the Hilton Anatole’s Chantilly Ballroom in April dressed in their finest white-tie attire to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of our seminal philanthropic event, FightNight! Alongside our special guest, the legendary ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler, we raised $1.4 million during FightNight 30 in support of the Dallas Catalyst Project. Over the years, FightNight has grown to become one of the largest philanthropic events in North Texas, and we couldn’t have done it without your generosity and support!
3. Giving Gala 2018 Raises $600K for Dallas Catalyst Project
We returned to the Hilton Anatole in October for our annual Giving Gala, celebrating our members and thanking them for their philanthropy and dedication to our city throughout the year. Dressed to the nines, this time in denim and cowboy hats for our Western theme, we raised $600,000 for the Dallas Catalyst Project and honored the legacy of Mayor Michael S. Rawlings and the GrowSouth initiative!
4. TREC Community Fund Receives JPMorgan PRO Neighborhoods, U.S. CDFI Grants
In October, the Community Fund announced it had received $900,000 in grants to support its many initiatives, which provide Dallas and Collin County-area organizations with access to capital and educational resources for commercial real estate projects benefitting low-income families and their communities. The Community Fund received $500,000 from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s 2018 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Program and $400,000 from JPMorgan Chase’s PRO Neighborhoods planning program to utilize the city’s new Comprehensive Housing Policy to create equitable housing in three neighborhoods identified in the policy as most vulnerable to rapid transition. In total, TREC received $1.26 million in grants in 2018.
5. TREC Hosts Gallup CEO Jim Clifton During First ‘Speaker Series’ Event of Year
Our first educational event of the year featured some pretty high-profile guests, as Gallup Chairman and CEO Jim Clifton joined Billingsley Company co-Founder and Partner Lucy Billingsley in conversation during January’s Bank of Texas Speaker Series. During their talk, Clifton argued that “Dallas could be the greatest city in the world,” if it could sustain companies that bring as much purpose to their offices as they do quality jobs for their employees and follow guidance from “tribal leaders” who care about and have significant stakes in the city’s success.
6. TREC Community Fund Launches CRE Bootcamps, Accelerator Programs
This year, TREC Community Fund introduced two new programs aimed at helping emerging developers and entrepreneurs navigate the real estate process. The first, called the Real Estate 101 Bootcamp, paired community leaders with the resources necessary to begin commercial real estate projects in earnest. Then, in early fall, the Community Fund began working with developer teams to refine their finance and development plans for community-oriented commercial real estate projects as part of the Community-oriented Real Estate (CRE) Accelerator program.
7. ALC Class Cuts Ribbon on Nonprofit For Oak Cliff Office Renovation
On June 19, the Associate Leadership Council’s Class of 2018 unveiled its finished philanthropic commercial real estate project: renovations to the nonprofit For Oak Cliff’s 4,000 square-foot office and community space. ALC members invested more than $200,000 in grants and in-kind donations to transform the facility into a community hub to allow South Oak Cliff residents to access resources promoting the organization’s three pillars of education, advocacy and community building.
8. TREC Launches Market Matters program and TRECcast podcast series
We sought to innovate our educational program offerings this year by introducing our new Market Matters breakfast series and starting a podcast! Market Matters offers unparalleled access to expert insights and networking across the office, industrial, retail and multifamily sectors of the commercial real estate industry, while The TREC Podcast – later renamed TRECcast – offered intimate insight right to your mobile device. We hope to see you at a Market Matters event next year, and be sure to subscribe to TRECcast on Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud!
9. Young Guns Education Committee Unveils Lipscomb Library Renovation
We believe education plays a vital role in building and maintaining a thriving business community, and on January 16 our Young Guns Education Committee unveiled its 2017 project of renovating the William Lipscomb Elementary School library. The scope of work included a redesign of the library, plus a new data projector, green screen and LEGO wall. Lipscomb Elementary serves 512 students – 90 percent of which are from low socioeconomic backgrounds – from the Junius Heights, Munger Place and Swiss Avenue neighborhoods in Old East Dallas, and residents frequently use the library as a community hub and meeting space.
10. Membership Reaches 2,100 Members, 625 Companies
We’ve grown a whole lot in the last year, but we couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you all so very much for offering your time, your skills and your generosity to our organization and our city this year. We hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season!