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Shopping Centers Today -> November 2001
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INDUSTRY GETS BACK TO WORK AT IDEA EXCHANGE
By David Bodamer
Despite the attacks on New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania the previous week, attendance at ICSC’s Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Idea Exchange in Philadelphia matched or exceeded attendance at last year’s conference, with shopping center professionals showing their determination to restore the industry’s normal frenetic pace.
“Things are going tremendously considering the circumstances of the past week,” said William Deasey, ICSC PA/NJ/DE State Director and partner of King of Prussia, Pa.-based Fidelity Commercial Real Estate Alliance. “This industry will lead in the stabilizing of the country for the future. We contribute so much in tax dollars and providing jobs, and it’s important that we continue on and strengthen the economy.”
The Idea Exchange opened Sept. 20 with a subdued morning panel featuring executives from six supermarket chains in the region, and was followed by an emotional lunch session, at which ICSC turned over a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross.
Attendees also paid tribute to Sylvan M. Cohen, a past chairman of ICSC, who died Sept. 8. Cohen, who was born in Philadelphia, founded Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, and was the inspiration behind ICSC’s government affairs work.
It was back to work after lunch, for an afternoon of workshops that featured discussions on urban retailing, lifestyle centers, pending bankruptcy laws and other topics.
Not everything went smoothly, however: Organizers were forced to cancel a retailers roundup because nine of the 12 presenters were unable to attend. Nevertheless, Deasey expressed satisfaction with the fact that the conference went ahead at all after the Sept. 11 atrocities.
“I’m impressed and pleased with the way things have turned out,” he said.
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