UCLA, USC in Urban-Planning Contest

Academic and athletic rivals USC and UCLA will field teams of a different sort on April 11 at the third annual urban planning competition sponsored by the SoCal Chapter of the National Assn. of Industrial and Office Properties.

Called the NAIOP Real Estate Challenge, the event will pit a team from UCLA’s Anderson School against a team from USC’s Marshall School of Business.

The two five-student teams will be asked to answer the question: “What type of private commercial development of the 11.5-acre Rand site in Santa Monica would provide a link with the existing commercial district on Main Street and the Third Street Promenade?”

The teams’ answers will be judged by a panel of Los Angeles real estate executives and experts.

USC is defending champion in the annual event, having won last year with a plan for creating a conference hotel and related retail facilities in the Figueroa Corridor downtown. The series is tied at one win for each school.

David Thurman of Concorde Real Estate Group, chairman of the event, said the contest produces ideas for solving land-use problems and raises money for worthy causes at the same time. The winning team will earn a contribution to the Special Olympics or a charity of its choice.

The event will begin with a reception at 6 p.m. at the DC3 Restaurant, 2800 Donald Douglas Loop North, Santa Monica, followed by dinner and the student presentations.

Cost is $150 per person or $1,500 for a table of 10. For information call (714) 979-9131.