Kenneth D. Bleakly, Jr.

Kenneth D. Bleakly, Jr. has been involved in a diverse range of real estate and development activities for the past 25 years. He has performed over 300 market and financial feasibility analyses.  A major portion of his professional practice has involved helping governments, non-profit institutions and corporations conceptualize, plan and execute their real estate strategies.  He also has direct experience in the management of redevelopment activities as President of a non-profit developer.   His professional experience includes: 

 Bleakly Advisory Group. Atlanta, Georgia—2001-present

Responsible for the management of Bleakly Advisory Group and, in that capacity, directs its research and advisory activities.  The focus of BAG is assisting corporations, governments, and non-profits with real estate issues.   Provided real estate consulting services on the potential of the downtown Atlanta condominium market; business plans, financial analysis and implementation assistance for eight projects in downtown Macon, Georgia; and, currently assisting Brunswick, Georgia in the redevelopment of its downtown and waterfront.  

 COPA, Inc. Atlanta, Georgia—1996-2001

Served as president of COPA, Inc., a non-profit development entity created by the Atlanta business community to facilitate the redevelopment of the area around Centennial Olympic Park.  In four and a half years, was responsible for:

• attracting over $600 million in new development into the area,

• helping to establish Georgia’s first Tax Allocation District,

• creating Centennial Hill, Atlanta’s new downtown residential neighborhood,

• attracting commitments for over 600 units of new housing in the area; and,

• creating the Northyards Business Park, the first new inner city industrial park in 50 years.

 Arthur Andersen LLP. Atlanta, Georgia—1990-1996

As partner in charge of real estate consulting, directed a staff of 10 individuals in a full service consulting practice. Services provided included: economic and market analyses, portfolio reviews, fairness opinions, corporate location studies, incentive negotiations and public finance issues.  Major assignments included: assisting a regional telephone company in evaluating the comparative real estate costs of its operations in ten states, advising several national companies on the location, acquisition and disposition of corporate facilities throughout the southeast. Ken also directed economic development consulting assignments in Asheville, Jacksonville, Nashville, and the State of Baja California Sur in Mexico.  In 1995, authored a ground-breaking study of downtown housing opportunities in Atlanta for Central Atlanta Progress, Inc. Subsequently, more than 4,000 new units of housing have been created in downtown.

 Bleakly Economics Group.  Denver, Colorado—1988-1990

Served as president of a local consulting firm in Denver Colorado.  Provided market and financial feasibility services to clients throughout the Rocky Mountain region. 

 Laventhol& Horwath.  Denver, Colorado—1984-1988

As partner, directed the real estate consulting practice for this national accounting firm in their Denver Office.  Assignments included due diligence reviews for property acquisitions, portfolio reviews, market and financial feasibility studies for resort and mixed-use projects.  Developed strategic regional development plan on behalf of a consortium of 40 economic development agencies in the Denver Region.

 Center for Urban Policy Research, Inc.  Cambridge, Massachusetts—1979-1984

As project manager, responsible for directing national policy evaluation studies for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on major federal housing and community development initiatives including: Urban Homesteading, UDAGs and the Small Cities Block grant program.

 

EDUCATION:  

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ,

Masters in City and Regional Planning, 1975

 

Rollins College, Winter Park, FL 

Bachelor of Arts, History/Political Science, 1972

 

PUBLICATIONS: (co-author with Joy Wilkins) “Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park Area” Economic Development Commentary Vol. 24 No. 2 summer 2000, Council for Urban Economic Development 

“Economic Impact Analysis: Assessing a Project’s Value to a Community” American Economic Development Council, Rosemont, Ill., 1993 

(Co-author) Land Development National Association of Home Builders, Washington, DC, 1987 

(Co-author) Financing Land Acquisition and Development National Association of Home Builders, Washington, DC, 1987 

(Co-author with James Hughes) Urban Homesteading Center for Urban Policy Research; New Brunswick, NJ, 1979 

(Co-author with James Hughes) Methods of Housing Analysis; Techniques and Case Studies, Center for Urban Policy Research; New Brunswick, NJ, 1977 

AFFILIATIONS:                 Urban Land Institute

                                               American Planning Association

                                               International Downtown Association                               

SPEECHES:              Ken is a frequent speaker on real estate and urban development issues. Recent speeches include:

·         August 2002—Economic Development Administration Regional Development Conference—“The Ten Commandments for working with Faith-Based Organizations”

·          June 2001--International Economic Development Council national conference,  “Urban Housing Trends in Atlanta” 

·         Fall 2000-- ULI National Convention, “The Impact of Parks on Urban Revitalization”