Real Estate Forum Finds Nine Things You Didn't Know About Flint

The 24th Annual University of Michigan-Urban Land Institute Real Estate Forum will be convened at The Riverfront Center in Downtown Flint Nov. 10 and 11. 

As the REF prepares to roll out the 24th installment of its annual conference, the excitement felt for the city of Flint is tangible. In fact, the REF is so excited about this year's host city that they can't help but share the good news happening in the city of Flint. To that end, the REF presents nine things you may not know about the Flint:

1 -- Uptown Developments/Uptown Reinvestment Corp. has invested $64 million in downtown Flint since 2002. Uptown Development is a diverse group of community leaders who refused to allow Flint to die and are dedicated to acquiring and renovating strategic real estate assets in downtown Flint. Leaders of Uptown Development will tell their story at the REF at 9 a.m. Nov. 10.    

2 -- Dan Kildee received Harvard University/Fannie Mae Foundation's Innovations in American Government Award for Affordable Housing in 2007 for his leadership in creating the Land Bank – Dan is slated to speak both days at the REF.

3 -- The Historic Durant (formerly the Durant Hotel) reopened Aug. 14 after nerly four decades of being vacant. Developer Richard Karp of Karp and Associates will lead a panel discussion on redeveloping the Durant at the REF on Nov. 10.

4 -- Witherbee's Grocery won the Governor's award for Historic Preservation and is also Flint's signature project under MSHDAs Cities of Promise Program (Michigan State Housing Development Authority).  Prior to reopening as Witherbee's Grocery, the 82 year old building served as a full service auto repair facility. Always the most difficult urban restoration project, Witherbee's Grocery is downtown Flint's first grocery store since 1975.

5 -- Flint is home to one of the largest foundations in the world. The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has more than $2 billion in assets and has been headquartered in Flint since 1926.

6 -- Back to the Bricks generated $50 million in economic development for downtown Flint, according to University of Michigan-Flint Economics Professor Mark J. Perry (source: Flint Journal, Aug. 19). Back to the Bricks is a classic car show that attracted 300,000 people to downtown Flint this past August. The President of the Flint Area and Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jerry Preston, will lead a roundtable discussion on Back to the Bricks and how events can stimulate downtown economic development at REF Nov. 11.

7 -- The University of Michigan - Flint has been the fastest growing campus in Michigan the last four years and Government Relations Director Dave Lossing will lead a roundtable discussion on Education's Role in Economic Development at the REF Nov. 11.

8 -- Flint's Cultural Center hosts 600,000 guests a year and REF attendees will enjoy a networking reception at one of its jewels, the Flint Institute of Arts, the evening of Nov. 10.

9 -- Disney's in Flint -- WJRT-TV Channel 12 has been headquartered in Flint and on the air since 1958.  Channel 12 is an ABC affiliate and one of the stations acquired by Disney in 1995. 

Focused on best practices in Commercial Real Estate and Urban Restoration, the REF attracts more than 250 of the State's leading real estate developers, investors, lenders, public officials, attorneys, planners, community and faith-based organizations, economic developers, non-profits, consultants and contractors.

Registration and sponsorship information can be found at www.umuliforum.com.

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