Jonathan F. P. Rose, president of Jonathan Rose Companies LLC, and Chickie Grayson, president and CEO, Enterprise Homes, Inc. Photo: Harry Connolly

Policy and Action: Enterprise Real Estate Leadership Council Meets in D.C.

Enterprise’s policy role amidst the changing housing and community development landscape on Capitol Hill and in the White House was the theme of the 2009 Enterprise Real Estate Leadership Council (ERELC) Meeting. Former Enterprise Chairman Bart Harvey and Enterprise Trustee Ron Terwilliger chaired the two-day meeting, held May 20-21 in Washington, D.C.

In a year of both tremendous challenges and unprecedented opportunities, the meeting was a chance for ERELC, Enterprise and partners, both public and private, to discuss new federal and congressional policies and priorities, and how partnerships can be leveraged to strengthen the future of affordable housing. 

Xavier de Souza Briggs, White House Office of Management and Budget, and former Enterprise Community Partners Chairman Bart Harvey. Photo: Harry Connolly

ERELC, formed in 2003 by a small group of Enterprise trustees, meets each year to discuss the most pressing issues affecting housing and community development, and to talk about approaches to fostering projects of scale that can improve communities. The 25-member council of national leaders and influential voices in community development focused this year’s discussions on “Federal and Developer Involvement in Improving Low- and Moderate-Income Communities.”

HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan reviewed his agency’s agenda for the year, and provided his thoughts on how HUD and Enterprise can work together to implement a shared vision. In addition, members of President Obama’s administration as well as representatives of key House and Senate committees addressed their own policy priorities for the year.

Ron Terwilliger, Chairman, Trammell Crow Residential. Photo by Harry Connolly

This was the first year that Washington, D.C., played host to the ERELC meeting. Attendees toured four Enterprise-developed properties in the city to get a first-hand look at how these developments have transformed a once-troubled neighborhood.