Panel discussion to focus on urban planning and development in Boston

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Northeastern’s Real Estate Club will host a Wednesday evening panel discussion on the past, present, and future of urban planning and development in the university’s surrounding neighborhoods.

Titled “Cranes and the Community,” the event will convene six panelists with expertise in fields ranging from architecture to city planning. Kathy Spiegelman, Northeastern’s vice president and chief of campus planning and development, will moderate the discussion, which will take place in 220 Shillman Hall from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The panelists will comprise Jonathan Greeley, director of development review for the Boston Redevelopment Authority; Peter Sougarides, executive vice president of development with Samuels and Associates; George Thrush, founding director of Northeastern’s School of Architecture; John Tobin, Northeastern’s vice president for City and Community Affairs; and Josh Zakim, city councilor for District 8 and chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development.

“The event is targeted at Northeastern students,” said Allen Meringolo, DMSB’16, president of Northeastern’s Real Estate Club. “There is a ton of development going on in the neighborhoods surrounding the university, and we’re hoping to give them an inside look at what the area was like in the past, what’s going on now, and what the vision is for the future.”

The Real Estate Club meets on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. in room 8-10 in East Village. It’s open to all students, but Meringolo has made a concerted effort to recruit architecture, civil engineering, political science, and business majors who are interested in learning more about real estate development, investment, and policy. The club’s programming is diverse, including everything from development site tours and property pitchathons to networking events with real estate professionals and panel discussions with students just back from real estate co-ops.

“We want to open students’ eyes to the career opportunities available to them in real estate while improving their knowledge of what’s going on in the city around them,” Meringolo said.