Richard Ward

Biography: Richard C. Ward Principal Ward Development Counsel, LLC St. Louis, MO Ward Development Counsel was established in 2011 by Richard Ward as a platform for engagement in real estate, economic and community development, planning and counseling. Previously he managed the St. Louis office of Zimmer Real Estate Services, where he was a Vice President and a member of its Development Management Group. Prior to his work with Zimmer, he was the founder and principal owner of Development Strategies, Inc., having led that firm to become a leading national provider of planning and development advisory services. Richard’s development planning and counseling services focus on: shaping and advising public/private ventures and partnerships; project feasibility and strategy; strategic planning and development team building and selection; structuring incentive agreements between local governments and private investors; site selection, acquisition and entitlement strategies; urban and land use planning and controls; and litigation support and expert testimony. Richard’s development counseling and planning assignments have been throughout the U.S, including: • Downtown revitalization – eight major central cities and an equal number of satellite central business districts – incl. Hartford, CT; New Orleans, LA; Des Moines, IA; Augusta, ME; Detroit, Royal Oak & Southfield, MI; Charleston and Greenville, SC, and St. Louis, MO • Urban medical centers and other major institutions and corporate campuses on behalf of over a dozen principal examples, all with a focus on stabilization and restoration of surrounding neighborhoods and business and industrial districts – incl. Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis; Good Samaritan, St Luke’s & Scottsdale Memorial in Phoenix, AZ; Jackson Med/Ed District, Jackson, MS; New Center Area Council, Detroit, MI; Emanuel Health Center, Portland, OR; Trinity College, Hartford, CT • Economic development strategic and business plans – on behalf of nearly twenty state, metropolitan regional, central city, urban county and major suburban economic development organizations – incl. Charlotte, NC; Tulsa, OK; St. Louis County and Metro region; State of Missouri; West Des Moines, IA • Community planning and development services, including comprehensive planning, land use controls, and development management - on behalf of over 25 municipalities and counties • Technology-focused economic development advisory services in the St. Louis region leading to the successful creation of two research parks, two high tech incubators, and target industry strategies – incl. CORTEX life sciences urban research park, St. Louis and Missouri Research Park, St. Louis • Economic, financial and market feasibility assessments for an wide array of private and public real estate investments and ventures Litigation support and expert testimony relative to land use, planning and zoning; eminent domain; and real estate development best practices Richard has been a member of ULI for over 40 years; chaired its St. Louis District Council, Small Scale Development Council (Silver) and Public/Private Development Council (blue); served on 14 advisory service panels, for 3 of which he was the chairman. He served for 20 years on the board of directors of the International Economic Development Counsel (IEDC). He is certified as an economic developer (CEcD with IEDC); urban planner (AICP); and formerly a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE); and commercial real estate broker, State of Missouri. He received graduate degrees in urban planning from Virginia Tech, and in urban design and business administration from Washington University in St. Louis. September, 2022