GlobeSt.com: What steps is NAIOP taking toward that goal?

Taylor: One of our major initiatives in 2004 was to get more focused on mixed-use development, and, in particular, urban mixed-use development, and when you really back the layers of these cities and see who is successfully doing urban mixed-use development, quite frequently it is a more racially diverse mix. Historically, NAIOP has been more about suburban development and investment. I'm trying to drive it to be all that as well as embrace the urban side of things. As private developers, urban development is an area we have to become more facile in and that's supports the diversity goal as well.

GlobeSt.com: What kind of progress has the association made within that arena?

Taylor: Our first effort, and I think it was done fairly successfully, was to have a greater focus on mixed use, both urban and suburban. We have had a mixed-use forum for a number of years, which has been pretty popular, and we run some pretty strong educational programs at our conferences. I became concerned, personally, as our company started doing more urban, that there is really a distinction between urban mixed use and other types of mixed use.

GlobeSt.com: Are you targeting certain cities for the urban-development initiative?

Taylor: Some cities are riper for it than others. As an association we don't have a large presence in some of the bigger cities. Chicago is an up-and-coming chapter, but it's not as large as you might guess; we don't have a chapter in New York City. Typically the larger cities have a local real estate board where the lobbying and education are done. The Real Estate Board of New York, for example, is very strong. But you don't need to be in one of the larger cities to understand how to navigate the complexities of urban mixed-use development. You have development companies in the tertiary cities tackling these issues. It is as complicated in Newark as anywhere else.

GlobeSt.com: Over the years, how has NAIOP changed?

Taylor: From a national perspective it's gotten stronger and more focused on its legislative and lobbying issues--tax issues, environmental issues, land-use issues. We've grown membership, partly as a reflection of that, throughout the country to more than 12,000 members, up from 7,000 several years ago. That's also a reflection that we've really taken it to a more chapter-friendly and supportive system. That has been a work in progress and an area we'll continue to focus on this year. We're trying to be a clearinghouse and support vehicle for the regional chapters. In New Jersey's case, we have one of the more advanced and finely tuned advocacy programs in the country but even in New Jersey we can probably pull in experiences from national and national can help us pull in experiences from other chapters more than we already have.

GlobeSt.com: What public issues is the association focusing in 2005?

Taylor: NAIOP is targeting tax policies, both specific to real estate and in general; brownfield policies; endangered-species issues; and wetlands issues. We're also going to focus more on the green-building concept. The whole terrorism insurance issue is something we have to get more firmly on top of as well, and we'll do so from both a lobbying and educational perspective.

GlobeSt.com: Is this more of a long-range plan?

Taylor: I have one year to make an impact, so I'm focused on it for 2005; but I think everything has been embraced by the executive committee. We already know who is following me and he's on board with the growth, communication, support and diversification as much as I am. There will be a sustained effort.