Real Property Law Institute Series: Have You Any Dreams You’d Like to Sell? How Businesses and Municipalities can Make Visions a Reality

You asked for shorter programs without sacrificing substance — and we listened.

We’re excited to introduce a new format for our annual Real Property Law Institute that delivers the same high-quality content, practical insights, and expert perspectives you value, now offered in convenient one-hour sessions. Join us for focused, flexible learning designed to fit your schedule while still providing the depth and relevance you expect.

A panel of distinguished speakers will discuss how businesses and municipalities can, and must, work together on a project. With numerous components and critical sequencing, large construction projects can go sideways quickly. Columbus’ real estate attorneys will benefit greatly from the panel’s real-life experience in navigating the legal challenges of bringing a large-scale project to fruition. In a timeline fashion, the panel will cover the crucial steps to take along the way. Some of these steps will include:

• Structuring public–private partnerships and negotiating development agreements between municipalities and private entities.
• Understanding alternative financing tools/options, including tax incentives, bonds, tax increment financing (TIF), and other public funding mechanisms.
• Navigating zoning, land use approvals, and municipal regulatory requirements that impact project timelines.
• Drafting/negotiating/understanding key project documents, including construction contracts, development agreements, and financing arrangements.
• Addressing risk allocation and risk management, including insurance considerations and strategies to prevent disputes.
• Identifying common legal pitfalls in large-scale development projects and practical strategies to keep projects on track.

Speakers:

Amy Taylor

Amy Edwards Taylor has more than 20 years of experience in the field of operations, public policy and communications. Currently, she serves as the President for Downtown Columbus, Inc. In her role, she is responsible for internal operations, leading multiple lines of business. She has played a lead role in the development of city-changing projects, such as the Scioto Mile, Columbus Commons, the Scioto Greenways river revitalization project and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum. She currently serves as the project executive for the Scioto Peninsula mixed-use development.

In addition to her position at Downtown Columbus Inc., Ms. Taylor serves as an adjunct professor at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University. She also serves as a board member for the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, Campus Partners and National Veterans Memorial and Museum Operations Board.

Prior to her current role, Ms. Taylor was the Vice President of Public Affairs at the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County, Director of Communications with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and Community Relations Specialist with the City of Dublin.

She holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from The Ohio State University.

Josh Cartee, Esq.

Josh Cartee is an Assistant City Attorney in the General Counsel Section of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office. Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Josh was an attorney in the Columbus office of Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, where he practiced commercial litigation and municipal law, and served as the Solicitor for the Village of Commercial Point. He has been practicing economic development law since 2020, and is well-versed in the processes and components necessary to craft a real estate development deal in the City of Columbus, where he acts as the primary legal adviser to the Economic Development Division of the Department of Development, the Department of Public Service, and Board of Zoning Adjustment. During law school, Josh was as an elected city councilmember for the City of Chillicothe, his hometown. In his spare time, Josh is a semi-professional actor, musician, and composer (ASCAP).

Colin Kalvas, Esq.

Colin Kalvas practices public finance and economic development law. Colin serves political subdivisions, financial institutions, developers and special purpose districts such as special improvement districts and new community authorities in many different capacities. He regularly represents clients in matters related to the issuance of bonds, securities law, federal income tax law, contracts, real property acquisition, development, and governmental revenues.

Colin has been at the forefront of developing property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing in Ohio. His PACE efforts include serving as counsel to PACE administrators and energy special improvement districts throughout Ohio, as well as serving as bond counsel and lender’s counsel to Ohio port authorities and other financial institutions that finance energy efficiency and clean energy projects through PACE.

He is well known within the national PACE community and has spoken at several national PACE conferences. He has extensive experience negotiating, documenting and closing PACE transactions, including as part of complex capital stacks. Colin is frequently called upon to advise PACE capital providers of all kinds with respect to transactional best practices and documentation.

Colin serves on Bricker Graydon Wyatt’s public finance federal income tax support committee. In that Colin serves on Bricker Graydon Wyatt’s public finance federal income tax support committee. In that capacity Colin advises clients on federal income tax issues related to municipal bonds.

Other significant portions of Colin’s practice include port authority common bond fund financing and the negotiation, implementation and monetization of economic development tools like tax increment financing (TIF), special assessments, community redevelopment area (CRA) abatements and new community authority charges.

1.0 CLE Hour

This CLE will be offered as a live interactive webinar held via Zoom. Login to the website and click the "Register" button to register. You will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the CLE.

You must use your unique link on a desktop/laptop in order to receive CLE credit.