Lecture by Richard J. Roddewig, MAI, CRE

Thursday, October 1, 2009
12:00 p.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. Lecture
The John Marshall Law School

Just as Chicago's physical architecture defines the space in which we move and live, law provides a hidden architecture defining our social and economic space. Poor or outdated legal structures can restrict human growth, prosperity, and satisfaction. Well-designed ones can provide a facilitating infrastructure, promoting social, economic, and personal well-being. Law, like architecture, needs to evolve as society changes.

Mr. Roddewig's multi-media presentation will focus on the seldom told story related to the legal impediments to the implementation of the 1909 Burnham Plan of Chicago. The Appendix to the 1909 Burnham Plan is entitled "Legal Aspects of the Plan of Chicago" and Mr. Roddewig will explore the legislative and judicial obstacles faced by the Commercial Club and the City of Chicago in assuring that the Burnham vision for Chicago became a reality. He will then explain how the appearance and physical character of downtown Chicago and its lakefront today is the direct result of the ever-evolving relationships and conflicts between downtown business interests, neighborhood groups, lawyers, courts, architects and planners over the last 100 years. The law has indeed been the hidden architect behind our successes (and failures) as a city to implement elements of the 1909 Burnham Plan of Chicago.

Richard J. Roddewig, MAI, CRE, is President of Clarion Associates, Inc., a real estate analysis, land use, and zoning consulting firm with affiliated offices in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Chapel Hill. Mr. Roddewig is a real estate analyst/appraiser as well as a land use and zoning attorney.

A prolific writer, he has authored or co-authored eight books and more than 50 articles in a wide variety of publications including Real Estate Issues, Planning, The Urban Lawyer, Urban Land, and The Appraisal Journal. His most recent book is Valuing Contaminated Property: An Appraisal Institute Anthology published by The Appraisal Institute in 2002.

Attorney Richard J. Roddewig

Richard J. Roddewig's Accomplishments:

• Former Chair of the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee of the American Bar Association
• Former co-Chair of the ABA Historic Preservation Law Subcommittee and the ABA Land Use and Waste Disposal Subcommittee
• Former Midwest Chair of The Counselors of Real Estate
• Former President of Ely Chapter of Lambda Alpha (an international land economics society)
• Former Vice President of Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois (now Landmarks Illinois)
• Was appointed by former Governor James Thompson of Illinois to be one of the original five trustees of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency

• Taught land use law and real estate analysis as an adjunct at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, DePaul University, and Governor's State University.
• Developed (and taught) a number of courses and seminars for The Appraisal Institute, the largest professional organization of real estate appraisers. His most recent course developed for The Appraisal Institute is Appraising Historic Preservation Easements, a three-day course he is currently teaching for the Institute all across the United States.
• A frequent presenter at ALI/ABA as well as state and local bar association continuing education programs on real estate issues associated with such practice areas as land use and zoning law, condemnation law, historic preservation law, and environmental law.