About UDC

Sherri Franklin

T. Van Scott, II

Ronald K. Jones

Core Services

2007/2008 Client Projects

Bid Notices

Contact Us

Urban Design Center

Transforming Visions Into Reality

Development Specialization

Affordable Multifamily and Homeownership Housing
Parks and Recreational Facilities
Performing and Visual Arts Facilities
Charter Schools
Retail, Industrial and Office Centers
Streetscape and Urban Greening Projects



Resource Development
Our consultants possess tactical knowledge of how our clients can utilize the myriad of economic reinvestment incentives and public policy initiatives to garner and properly leverage tiered financing from various public and private funding sources.  Our firm has direct access to city, county, state and federal grant notification databases and works to track the availability of funding from various agencies and foundations on a monthly basis.

We lead our clients through a synergistic grant visioning and development process that works to ensure the creation of competitive and compliant grant applications.

We also work with our clients develop in-house donor management processes utilizing various grant and fund accounting software programs such as DonorPerfect and MIP.

Urban Design Center’s resource development services include:
    • Facilitation of Board and staff strategic fund development planning to assess capital needs, milestones and internal operating capacity.  
    • Proposal packaging for grants, RFPs, bond financing, tax credit and conventional financing applications including development of narratives, budgets, demographic analysis, needs assessment and operations plans.
    • Grant and contract compliance management, management of grant correspondence and preparation progress and board reports.
    • Individual & corporate donor prospecting, marketing and management.
    • Facilitation of project and community presentations, project team meetings and funder site visits.
Project Management

We assist our clients in garnering an overall understanding of the life cycle of a development project by providing a structured approach to manage the project scope and milestones that occur in the different project phases.

We work to ensure that project implementation is continually in-line with planning, Building & Safety, program operations and funding requirements in order to readily assess the “go” “no go” project elements that are imperative to help our client’s make appropriate project decisions. 

UDC’s project management centered approach to development works to:
    • Facilitate board, staff and community architectural programming efforts in order to clearly identify the key phases of the entire project through a critical review of planning, building and safety, funding, community partnership and program operation requirements.
    • Facilitate the selection of development team members and consultants in compliance with funder bid requirements including affirmative action and minority outreach requirements, prevailing wage/Davis Bacon wage requirements and Section 3 community hiring requirements.
    • Facilitate real estate, business and program development including feasibility analysis, acquisitions, operations & logistics planning, staff development, budget analysis and technology integration.
    • Produce detailed project and construction plans in concert with the architectural plans in order to facilitate funding efforts. Control change and manage risk in a manner that sets the organization’s mission goals and objectives as priority.
    • Expedite plan approvals through Building & Safety, Public Works, the Fire Department and the Department of Water and Power.
    • Facilitate monthly construction team meetings, prepare updated schedules, develop budgets, meeting minutes, paydraw request and cost analysis.
    • Assist in value engineering the proposed improvements to determine the most cost effective strategy for the implementation of the work.
    • Handle the procurement for construction material, furniture, fixture and equipment purchases.
    • Review and facilitate resolution for contractor submittals, lien releases, certified payrolls and contract matters.

Land Use Entitlements

Project Research and Feasibility Analysis

    • UDC works in partnership with the CRA Architectural Division Staff and the City of Los Angeles Case Management division to research and develop a plan of action for meeting the building code and planning requirements.
    • Assist in researching the feasibility for General, Community and Specific Plan compliance as well as Building and Safety code requirements.
    • Assist in researching like kind planning approvals in support of the findings required for the proposed application submittal.
    • Provide technical assistance to architect for the development of the schematic plans required for the application submittal.
 Application Preparation and Submittal
    • Prepare Master Land Use Application and Findings
    • Prepare Environmental Assessment Form
    • Manage the procurement of the radius map and site analysis reports
    • Assist in developing presentation materials for the community outreach and public hearing process.
    • Develop community support petition for the proposed uses and assist in garnering support signatures from adjacent property owners and residents.
Vision Theatre graphic design by FSY Architects, Inc.

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