1817 SOQUEL AVENUE TEAM

Barrios Unidos and the Resource Center for Nonviolence have gathered a team of professionals who have the skill, experience and commitment to the shared values of both organizations to nurture 1817 Soquel Avenue from vision, to design and construction. BU and RCNV governing board members and staff are represented on the 1817 Soquel Avenue Team that meets twice monthly. The 1817 Soquel Avenue Team also includes the following individuals and organizations:

Ventura Partners, Project Management

Ventura Partners specializes in real estate development and management by nonprofit organizations for commercial and mixed-use projects in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. Kim Frentz, founder and principal of Ventura Partners and long time resident of Santa Cruz, serves as the 1817 Soquel Avenue Project Manager. With the support of Scott Farmer and others on her staff, Kim will manage the project through completion, including budgeting, coordination of all aspects of project development and construction, coordination of leasing and sales, and development of property management systems. www.venturapartners.com

Thacher and Thompson, Architects

Thacher and Thompson is a well-known and respected local architectural firm with extensive experience in designing residential, commercial and community projects. Matthew Thompson and Peter Silva have provided the conceptual design of the project and worked with Santa Cruz City staff to incorporate design criteria that exhibits good neighborhood planning and contributes to a significant commercial corridor on Soquel Avenue as well as implementing green practices. Architects will work closely with neighbors and the 1817 Soquel Avenue Team in refining the design and as the project moves to permitting and construction. www.tntarch.com

Green Buildling Consulting & LEED Certification

Len Beyea and RetroCom Energy Strategies will guide 1817 Soquel Avenue through the building commissioning and LEED certification processes.     

RetroCom Principal Len Beyea has more than 25 years experience in performance contracting and existing building systems retrofits, and an extensive background in energy engineering and sustainable green design, Len serves as RetroCom's front line technical leader for determining commissioning needs, energy conservation opportunities and improvements to facility operations. He develops projects from a big-picture perspective, taking into consideration elements that affect life cycle cost, occupant health, comfort, and systems performance and maintainability. www.retrostrategies.com

Bosso Williams, Legal Counsel

Bosso Williams is a well respected full service local law firm, that specializes in real estate and land use law and brings experience with broad legal issues as well as a thorough understanding of local concerns. Spearheaded by Lloyd Williams, Bosso Williams attorneys provide legal support for a variety of aspects of the project, including the creation of the joint venture and LLC, the development process, work with the Department of Real Estate and other components that require legal expertise. www.sclawfirm.com

Myles F. Corcoran, Construction Consulting

Corcoran Construction Consulting has extensive experience working with developers and contractors to create structures for successfully completing projects. Included in their services are quality assurance review, mediation support and expert witness testimony. Myles Corcoran and Peter Kennedy provide technical expertise to the project in areas such as construction methods and materials, and support for construction management. www.mfcbuild.com

Green Building Practices

Dan Geiger, Executive Director of the Northern California USGBC - The US Green Building Council is the organization responsible for implementation of LEED standards (see below) for green development and operations. Dan has worked with Barrios Unidos in a number of capacities and been instrumental in supporting efforts to develop the Soquel Avenue site. Dan is bringing into play a network of consultants and contractors who use the most advanced green methods and sustainable building systems, as well as looking for ways to use this project as a model of green development in support of social justice programs. www.usgbc-ncc.org

Dan Geiger at the December 8, 2007

gathering with Harry Belafonte. (Photo by Bob Fitch)