JAMES BROCK, LEED AP, President

Mr. Brock has been preparing EIRs, MNDs and other documentation for development projects in the greater Los Angeles County area since 1981. Currently, Mr. Brock is working on projects ranging from a 1.5 million square foot urban community in the Valley Glen area of Los Angeles to a 90-unit affordable rental housing project involving new construction and rehabilitation in a neighborhood of working class families adjacent to Reseda Elementary School.

James recently completed the EIR for the Archstone Hollywood mixed-use development along the Santa Monica Boulevard corridor of Hollywood that will integrate rental housing with creative, entertainment industry oriented commercial space, an expanded Initial Study and MND for the Berendo Street Residential Project, a transit oriented, high-density residential project in the Wilshire Corridor and an expanded Initial Study and MND for new athletic fields serving the recently opened Sierra Canyon Upper School in Chatsworth. James also completed the EIR for Ambassador West project in Pasadena. The project includes most of the former West Campus of Ambassador College, a landmark site with numerous historic buildings and landscape features. This was the third project proposed for this property over a six year time frame, and EPA (under Mr. Brock) was retained by the City of Pasadena to prepare the EIR for each proposal (the two previous proposals encompassed all of the former West and East Campuses under ownership by the Worldwide Church of God).

Mr. Brock also completed the EIR for Sierra Canyon Upper School, the first new non-religious private high school in the San Fernando Valley in 20 years, and completed expanded MND’s for two noteworthy downtown Los Angeles residential projects. The 167-unit 850 S. Hill Street Residential Project located adjacent to the historic Eastern Columbia building and the 393 unit 1500/1360 Figueroa Street Residential Project that would develop two high-rise residential towers across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Mr. Brock provided a technical report to support an MND for The Alhambra Residential Community, a 351-unit development by The Ratkovich Co. on the Alhambra Campus in the City of Alhambra (and is currently serving as a sustainability advisor for that project), provided services in support of an MND for Buena Vista Lofts, a 152-unit adaptive reuse project in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles, and an MND for the University of Southern California Parkside Apartments Phase 2 student housing project. Other representative projects include an expanded MND for the Los Angeles Fashion Center, a new wholesale apparel mart in the garment district of Downtown Los Angeles and he is currently involved with a number of high density residential and adaptive reuse projects in downtown Los Angeles. Mr. Brock’s experience also includes preparing EIRs for other historic sites as Saint Vibiana’s Cathedral and Union Station and Terminal Annex in Downtown Los Angeles.

Other notable experience includes participation on the Los Angeles Dodgers NFL Stadium Feasibility Study Team, preparation of an EIR for the 2 million square foot Port of Los Angeles Distribution Center in San Pedro and preparation of an EIR for the 479-unit Villa Venetia development at the entry to the Marina del Rey main channel in the County of Los Angeles. Mr. Brock continues to provide CEQA expertise for all development project types including numerous retail, residential, hotel, office and light industrial projects of regional or local note.

Mr. Brock also provides project management and strategic assistance services, as well as expert review for projects facing legal challenges on environmental grounds. He has been a guest lecturer on CEQA issues for a number of law firms and for UCLA and USC extension courses on development and planning.

In addition to his 29 years as an environmental planning professional, Mr. Brock is accredited by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) professional and advises clients on potential green building strategies for new projects. Specifically, Mr. Brock is introducing his clients to the LEED process, many for the first time, during site planning, environmental review, entitlement and design stages of projects, assembling the most qualified LEED team to meet the individual needs of a specific project. Wherever possible, Mr. Brock facilitates incorporation of specific green building features into the environmental review and entitlement stages of a project, to ensure that a decision-maker is fully informed on sustainable features and approaches, prior to taking action on a project. With green building requirements pending or adopted for many California cities and counties, this experience, coupled with his planning and environmental review background, is invaluable. Mr. Brock was elected in April 2006 to the Board of Directors of the US Green Building Council Los Angeles Chapter (USGBC-LA), re-elected in 2008 and currently serves as its Vice-Chair. He has also served as Co-Chair for Government Affairs, as Outreach Co-Chair for Greenbuild 2007 Los Angeles, before the event was moved to Chicago and in several other leadership positions during which time USGBC-LA has been nationally recognized for its efforts in advocacy and LEED. He also has served as a representative for USGBC-LA to the USGBC Pacific Regional Council. Mr. Brock’s interests focus on reaching out to the business and real estate communities to educate all sectors of the development industry on the economics and business benefits of building green. Mr. Brock works closely with the Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) in planning of their annual Sustainability Summits, and has been an active stakeholder working with the City of Los Angeles in the development of the City’s green building policy. Mr. Brock is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, the Association of Environmental Professionals and the Westside Urban Forum.

Mr. Brock serves on the Advisory Board to Gaia Development Services, one of the most experienced green building and LEED consultants in the region whose clients include Watson Land Company, W Hotels and Residences, Nature’s Best and the Port of Long Beach. Mr. Brock also serves as an ad hoc strategic advisor on advanced power systems and products for electric and hybrid vehicles.

In addition to his consulting practice and work with the USGBC, Mr. Brock focuses on sustainably oriented business opportunities in a diverse range of areas, applying the deep technical, policy, strategic and networking resources from his 29 years in the environmental, real estate and renewable technology sectors. Currently, he is a Senior Consultant to Tecnospot Solar US, an international solar photovoltaic distributor, designer and project developer. He is also working with several other ventures in development.

Mr. Brock is a Los Angeles native with a lifelong perspective on the policies and businesses that have shaped the region. He is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. He exercises his right brain as a photographer with a deep love of music, culture and travel, and was among a select group to photograph the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2008 for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Foundation.