Wallace + Perdomo, Inc. Resumes GRACE A. PERDOMO Principal Ms. Perdomo is an architectural and urban designer with over 10 years experience in urban design and planning projects. Prior to founding W+P, Ms. Perdomo’s experience with Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT) focuses her strong background in community planning and principles of new urbanism in traditional neighborhood design to the firm’s innovative and successful track record in the redevelopment of public housing throughout the country. Through HOPE VI, Ms. Perdomo understands the complex planning process and is committed to the highest standards of physical planning, design and strategic thinking involved in producing innovative solutions critical to successful plans involving mixed-finance approaches in an increasingly competitive market. Since 1997, she has assisted in design, planning and preparation of more than eight HOPE VI applications for the redevelopment of inner city communities including Tampa, FL; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, NC; Chicago, IL and most recently the 2002 HOPE VI grant application for Columbus, GA. Ms. Perdomo also directed the successfully awarded 1999 and 2000 HOPE VI Revitalization Plans for Birmingham, AL and Chattanooga, TN respectively. She continues to assist both authorities as part of WRT’s program management team responsible for implementation. REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS Peabody Apartments HOPE VI, Columbus, GA. Ms. Perdomo served as Project Director for this master plan that lead to a successful 2002 HOPE VI grant. Awarded $20 million this past fall, the Housing Authority of Columbus Georgia, its developer partner and WRT/BG are preparing to implement the plan that includes the demolition of 510 severly distressed public housing units and their replacement on-site with 304 new units of public, subsidized and market rate rentals. An important aspect of the design was reconnecting the site to the adjacent historic Waverly-Terrace neighborhood and the introduction of a new 62’ wide boulevard, extending through the site, which will be developed as a central passive recreational open space for the new community. This design concept is inspired by the historic broad boulevard and tree-lined “chain of parks” that exists today in downtown Columbus. Robert Taylor Homes Revitalization Plan HOPE VI, Chicago, IL. As a senior associate at Wallace Roberts Todd, Ms. Perdomo served as project Urban Designer & Planner for this recently awarded 2001 HOPE VI revitalization plan. WRT led this master planning effort over a four-month participatory planning process to redevelop the largest public housing development in the United States. WRT’s Plan will transform a site of 4,500 units of public housing highrises lining 2˝ miles of Chicago’s Southside by integrating the original pre-Taylor Homes street grid into the surrounding historic urban fabric of the city. With connections to the historic Bronzeville neighborhood to the east and the redesign of State Street - an existing physical and social divider - as the new spine of the community, the plan replaces public housing with a mix of new housing types, streetscapes and urban blocks found in traditional Chicago neighborhoods. McCallie Homes Revitalization Plan, HOPE VI Chattanooga, TN Ms. Perdomo served as WRT’s Project Director for this recently awarded 2000 HOPE VI plan and grant application, a $35 million grant request that leverages a total of $120 million. Located in the historic Alton Park neighborhood, this plan is part of a broader-based planning strategy to revitalize an inner-city neighborhood within a successfully revitalized downtown Chattanooga. The plan proposes to create an on-site elderly village, a neighborhood Town Center with mixed-use retail, neighborhood services, expanded health clinic and new day care center. A system of pedestrian connections thru the neighborhood and site extends the award-winning Safewalk program to provide safe access between two public schools and the Chattanooga Creek Greenway system. Brownfield sites within the area are planned for new housing development, recreational fields and neighborhood parks. Ms. Perdomo continues to serve the housing authority in the implementation phase of the plan with WRT and the Boulevard Group through program management services. Gaines Street – An Urban Redevelopment District Tallahassee, FL Ms. Perdomo served as WRT’s Project Director for the redevelopment plan and land development guidelines for the Gaines Street Corridor which traverses through the urban center of Tallahassee. Gaines Street is a critical redevelopment corridor in the downtown area of Tallahassee linking two state universities and the capital complex. As a result of a corridor study being conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation for the widening of Gaines Street and the growing potential of the area, the City contracted WRT to implement the vision for this area. WRT is currently addressing the design of land development regulations for the development of an urban mixed-use district, developing ideas and guidelines for the adaptive reuse of significant historical resources and the design of a greenway, which will link the various subdistricts within the corridor. Metropolitan Gardens Revitalization Plan HOPE VI Birmingham, AL Ms. Perdomo served as WRT’s Project Director for this 1999 HOPE VI plan and grant application, a $35 million grant request that leverages a total of $125 million. This downtown plan located in the NE quadrant of Birmingham’s downtown core, creates two new mixed-income communities totaling 1029 units on and off-site, as well as retail, mixed-use commercial and new institutional uses. An important aspect of the design was the reconnection of neighborhood housing on this site with the downtown “spine” of the City Center, the “Birmingham Green” with existing office, retail and civic/cultural uses and the three city parks. WRT is currently assisting the housing authority in the implementation of the plan with preparation of development design guidelines and program management services. Westfield Acres Revitalization Plan HOPE VI, Camden, N.J. Ms. Perdomo served as Project Urban / Architectural Designer for this post-revitalization master plan to be submitted to HUD for funding under the HOPE VI program. WRT was retained by the Camden Housing Authority to provide planning and design services to prepare the application to HUD. The plan will include proposals for the re- development of the Westfield Acres public housing site as well as the integration of the surrounding Rosedale-Dudley neighborhoods and will provide for alternative forms of affordable housing. Wilmington, N.C. HOPE VI, Wilmington, N.C. WRT was retained by the Housing Authority of Wilmington, N.C. to provide planning and development services to prepare a HUD Hope VI application that is intended to provide funds to demolish and rebuild Nesbitt Courts, an existing public housing project. The plan envisions development of the site and the related surrounding area to provide housing similar to the “for sale” market. The plan limits unit configurations to single, duplex and triplex town home typologies. Ms. Perdomo was the Project Urban Designer & Planner for this post-revitalization master plan. Tampa, FL HOPE VI, Tampa, FL. WRT was retained by the Housing Authority of Tampa, Fl. to provide planning and development services for this successfully funded 1998 HUD Hope VI grant application. The program includes the demolition of two existing public housing projects and envisions the development of the site and the related surrounding neighborhood with housing similar to “for sale” market. The plan limits unit configuration to single, duplex and triplex town home typologies. This project valued at $120 million, will provide 1500 new housing units including 200 units of elder housing, and 100,000 SF of commercial development. Ms. Perdomo served as Project Urban Designer and Planner. Capitol Center Master Plan Update, Tallahassee, FL. Ms. Perdomo served as Project Director of the firm’s assignment to prepare a new Master Plan for Florida’s Capitol Center in Tallahassee. The plan included projections of facility needs, recommendations for the development capacity and quality of the District, as well as the redevelopment opportunities and strategies for the center of state government operations in downtown Tallahassee. The plan updates and reflects the many changes which have occurred within the Capitol Center Planning District over the past ten years since the preparation of the 1987 Plan by the Department of Management Services. A proposed second Phase to this project will address the design of architectural and urban design guidelines along with proposed modifications to the existing zoning development codes. Berenice: A Red Sea Destination Resort, Atlanta, GA. Urban Designer/Planner while with Laubmann-Reed & Associates. Ms. Perdomo was the head project designer for this resort development in Egypt for the Sheikh Kamal Adham. The site encompasses a 19 mile long peninsula known as Ras Banas with spectacular views of the desert, beaches and mountains along the shore. Berenice is envisioned as a new city of 200,000 people and a world class multi-resort complex. The resort development was conceived as four separate resort areas or nodes with distinct site characteristics and resort amenities. In order to compete with other resorts in the area, the proposed concept included developing each node with a distinctive architectural and landscape theme that will reflect its natural setting and the culture of the region. The first phase is intended to begin with the construction of the signature hotels at each node and the basic infrastructure to support them. The project is a development pioneer in the area and intended to capture the southern Europe and Middle East tourist market. Ras Banas Hotel and Resort Community, Ras Banas, Egypt Project Designer while with Laubmann-Reed & Associates. Ras Banas is envisioned as a five-star destination hotel and residential resort. Located on a narrow 6.2km. long peninsula with spectacular views of Foul Bay to the west and the Red Sea to the east. The plan includes mixed use development along the Corniche with a main public beach and on the southernmost tip of the peninsula around the Marina. Phase one envisions a 350-room, fivestar Hotel village, a 140 slip marina and an 18-hole championship golf course separating beachfront development of hotels, resort villages and condominiums along Foul Bay from residential development along the Red Sea. The landscape of Ras Banas was designed to reflect moorish garden traditions with its courtyards and exterior gardens and thus compliment the moorish style architecture. Village of Milstead: Master Plan and Main Boulevard Design, Milstead, GA. Project Designer while with own practice. Ms. Perdomo assisted the Rockdale County Department of Planning as project designer for this Master Plan proposal and Main Street design for the Town of Milstead, a community of 300 people first established as a lumber mill town in Conyers, Georgia. In anticipation of worldwide attention and the town’s siting of the equestrian venues for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, this effort consisted of an overall town revitalization and the embellishment of the town’s Main Street. Project was constructed and completed in April 1996. Avalon Park, Orlando, FL Urban Designer/Planner while with Duany-Plater Zyberk Architects & Planners. Avalon Park is a 10,000 acre development of new towns and villages with residential and mixed uses including the design of a university campus, office parks and commercial centers. Designed within the new urbanism tradition the proposed master plan consisted of four towns and villages organized on a mile-square grid. More than half the site is reserved for river estuaries, wetlands and retention ponds. These areas are incorporated into greenbelts that surround each development with a park-like setting. The proposal included a regional plan with specific detailed designs for each town and village. Ms. Perdomo assisted as urban designer/planner in the Avalon Park charrette team and in the design development phase for this project. Camillus House, Miami, FL Project Architect/Urban Designer while with SHCA Architects. Swanke Hayden Connell was retained by Camillus House, an inner city shelter for the homeless, to design a 39,000 SF facility in which to house community services including a 7,000 SF health clinic. The program consisted of sleeping/eating quarters, recreation / training room and a workshop organized around a central courtyard. Ms Perdomo served as head designer for the project EDUCATION Master of Architecture, University of Miami, 1990 Bachelor of Architecture, UNPHU, Santo Domingo, R.D.1987 Associate in Arts, Miami-Dade Community College, Miami, 1981 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Principal, Wallace + Perdomo, Inc., Coral Gables, FL 2002 – present Project Consultant, Wallace Roberts & Todd Coral Gables, FL 2002 - present Associate, Urban Designer/Planner, Wallace Roberts & Todd Coral Gables, FL 1997-2001 Project Manager/Designer, Swanke Hayden Connell Architects, Miami, FL 1988-1992, 1996-1997 Project Manager/Site Planner, Greenberg Farrow Architecture, Atlanta, GA 1993-1995 Project UrbanDesigner/Planner, Laubmann Reed & Associates, Atlanta, GA 1992-1993 Renderer/Draftsman (Consultant), Arquitectonica International Corp., Miami, FL 1991 Urban Designer/Planner (Consultant), Duany-Plater Zyberk Architects and Planners, Miami, FL 1989-1990 Draftsman, Smith Korach Hayet Haynie Partnership, Miami, FL 1987-1989 TEACHING EXPERIENCE Adjunct Professor / University of Miami School of Architecture Fall 2003 Adjunct Professor / University of Miami School of Architecture 2000 - 2001 Design Review Critic / University of Miami School of Architecture 1997 - 1998 Design Review Critic / Georgia Institute of Technology School of Architecture Summer 1992 Design Review Critic / University of Miami School of Architecture 1989 Graduate Research Assistant / University of Miami School of Architecture 1990 PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS/ MEMBERSHIPS Florida Architectural State Registration in Process HONORS AND AWARDS Honor Award / Berenice: A Red Sea Destination Resort Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, 1995 Congress for New Urbanism’s “New Face of America’s Public Housing Award” – Certificate of Recognition for Metropolitan Gardens HOPE VI PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES “Nantucket”, Between Two Towers: The Drawings of the School Of Miami, Monticelli Press, 1996.   Wallace + Perdomo   © 2004