(Press Release) Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC) announced at its 2013 Annual Meeting held on May 7, 2013, the public launch of their capital campaign, Growing with Southern Arizona. This campaign is for the planned expansion and renovation of the 100,000 square foot JCC facility . Nearly 150 attendees, including prominent community leaders, were present to hear the announcement.

“With over 250,000 visits to the JCC last year, we are at maximum capacity for space and programming,” says CEO, Ken Light. “This much-needed campaign will yield immeasurable dividends for our community and have direct impact on generations to come.”Under the direction and leadership of Capital Campaign Co-Chairs, Larry Haas and Linda Tumarkin, Growing with Southern Arizona has already received $2.8 million in pledges towards the $3.9 million goal. The capital campaign cabinet consists of key business and community leaders who have dedicated their efforts to help raise the remaining funds for the new additions.

Funds from Growing with Southern Arizona will be used to:

• * Increase life and independent living skills for young adults with special needs by providing a designated areaadapted for their unique disabilities
• * Help additional hard-working families with additional space for high-quality after-school care
• * Increase Special Needs Services capacity by 40%
• * Move the community towards their fitness goals with an expanded fitness area, wellness programs and services, and additional classes
• * Connect the Jewish Heritage Center with the Sculpture garden for integrated indoor/outdoor social and cultural opportunities.
• * Once completed, Tucson Jewish Community Center will be able to offer more families, children, and older adults top-quality educational, wellness, and cultural opportunities.

For more information, please visit: https://www.tucsonjcc.org/support/capital-campaign/

Growing with Southern Arizona Campaign Cabinet

Honorary Chairs: Donald Diamond, Lex Sears and Mel Zuckerman

Co-Chairs: Larry Haas and  Linda Tumarkin

Cabinet: Rebecca Bednar, Dick Belkin, Ray Carroll, Neal Cash, Sara Cohen, Greg Gadarian, Jane Gellman, David Greenberg, Anne Hameroff, Barney Holtzman, Len Joffe, Fran Katz, Gary Kippur, Ron Kolker, Victor Ringel, Ed Rogoff, Jill Rosenzweig, Isaac Rothschild, Myron Rottenstein, Stuart Shatken, Jeff Silvyn, Gerry Tumarkin, Tom Warne, Mary Cochran Wolk, and Bill Viner

For more than 60 years the JCC has provided a warm and welcoming environment for diverse groups from the entire community. There are boundless opportunities to balance physical, mental, and emotional self. The “J” has something for everyone including cultural arts programs, early childhood education enrichment programs, a wide variety of classes, a rotating art gallery that showcases the work of local artists and much more.

The Tucson Association of REALTORS® (TAR) has started a special fund-raising effort to help the victims of the massive tornado in Oklahoma that has killed dozens and destroyed millions of dollars in property.

In partnership with the Oklahoma Housing Foundation REALTOR® Relief program, a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity, TAR members and the general public are urged to make donations to help those during this time of need.  Donations are tax-deductible.

Through June 7, TAR will donate up to $1,000 in total matching funds to accelerate the fund-raising effort.

“This foundation is dedicated to providing housing-related assistance to victims of disaster.  Given the magnitude of the lives lost and damage caused by the tornado, many families need help now,” said TAR CEO Philip Tedesco, RCE, CAE.

“We are taking the lead to urge our members and the Tucson community to please donate what you can.  Every amount helps, please follow your heart and reach out to those in need,” he added.

Contributions should be made directly to the Oklahoma Housing Foundation REALTOR®  Relief fund online at: https://realtorparty.realtoractioncenter.com/site/Donation2?df_id=4500&4500.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=jmucvi3c71.app337b

Contributors are asked to please notify TAR of their donations by email to cheri@tucsonrealtors.org .  Simply include your name, company (if applicable), email address, and donation amount.

The 2013 ICSC convention held from May 19 – 21 in Las Vegas ended successfully, with the sentiment that the table has turned for retail.

RECon is the global convention for the shopping center industry and provides networking, deal making and educational opportunities for retail real estate professionals from around the world. With over 35,000 attendees this year, up from 32,000 in 2012 and 1,000 exhibitors it is the largest industry convention, making it an unparalleled opportunity to do a year’s worth of business in just four days!

CBRE claimed the largest number of delegates attending with some 800 people! Its booth was revamped this year for a mere $1 million, adding a “Times Square” theme that made it THE place to be. Most of the excitement was in the high-tempo electronic boards with photos and graphics at the booth and about 7,000 sq. ft. of open meeting area with tables, refreshments, and a stage for live interviews with top clients and top managers, and numerous private, glass meeting rooms in the back with top clients and their respective logos.

News from the convention floor:

Thousands Chase Deals in Las Vegas from the CP Executive

Surging demand, new retail concepts and stirrings of new development were the talk of the Las Vegas Convention Center on Monday during the first day of RECon, the International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual spring convention. It is impossible to tell how many deals will emerge from the event, but as thousands of real estate professionals roamed the vast halls of the 3.5 million-square-foot facility, participants reported a sense of renewed optimism about the market…Read more »

Retail Development Back on the Horizon from the NRE Investor

Looking for proof that the retail real estate industry is in a better place than it was even a year ago? New development is no longer a distant pipedream, but a tangible possibility as industry players begin conceiving new projects. Some companies, primarily publicly-traded retail REITs, might already be close to putting shovels in the ground as they sign up expanding retailers to go into their new centers…Read more »

Store Opening Plans are at Five-Year High, Survey Says from NRE Investor

The retailers in RBC Capital Markets’ database reported plans for 41,713 new store openings in the next 12 months, representing a five-year high in store opening plans. In the April issue of their National Retail Demand Monthly report, RBC analysts noted that “The continued strong demand by this large group of retailers comes despite fluctuations in overall consumer activity, increased payroll taxes, a modest GDP outlook and slow improvement on the employment front—another testimony to the long-term view taken by successful retailers. As such, we find little reason to suspect that planned store openings will pull back in any meaningful way in the near term”…Read more »

Reflections on RECon 2013 from Jeff Green Blog Chain Store Age

“One of the strange ironies of the 2013 convention is that – despite more bookings, a sold-out convention and more activity than we’ve seen in years – the conventions doesn’t feel as busy as it has in years past. I suspect this is largely because three of the biggest names in the industry, Macerich, Simon, and Westfield, don’t have booths at teh convention this year. Make no mistake, they are still here in Vegas – they have just moved over to Caesar’s Palace. The impact on the floor traffic here at the convention proper is noticeable, and it’s obvious that those three names have siphoned some people away from the convention floor. From the perspective of a convention-goes, fewer crowds are a welcome convenience, but…. Read More