Photo not available for Tim Britt

University City Partners welcomes its new board members: Tim Britt, Wells Fargo; John “Johno” Harris III, Lincoln Harris; Kati Hynes, Charlotte Chamber; Stuart Parks, The Arden Group; and Lat Purser Jr., Lat Purser and Associates.

“This community is fortunate to have business leaders with incredible industry expertise willing to invest their time and resources into shaping the growth and development of University City,” said UCP Executive Director Darlene Heater. “Their decision to serve on our board is confirmation of the opportunities ahead for our community.”

The UCP board’s priorities for the coming year include maximizing the development potential resulting from the LYNX light-rail line and I-485, as well as fulfilling the UCP-sponsored master plan for University Research Park. Britt, Harris, Hynes and Purser will serve on the Economic Development Committee. Parks, with more than a decade in urban and transit planning, will serve on Planning and Development.

More about UCP’s new board members

Tim Britt is the lead relationship manager for the Corporate Properties Group at Wells Fargo. During his 20 years in corporate real estate, Britt has worked in strategic planning, property/portfolio management and project management both in the U.S. and abroad. An Army veteran, Britt served in Europe, Asia, Central America and the Middle East, where he was a member of the Multinational Force and Observers between Egypt and Israel.

John “Johno” Harris III is executive vice president and chief operating officer at Lincoln Harris, where he has direct responsibility for the platforms of information technology, marketing and human resources. He also serves on the Charlotte Chamber Executive Board. Lincoln Harris manages over 17 million square feet of office and retail space in the Carolinas and has been responsible for development of some of the region’s most renowned retail centers and office facilities.

Kati Hynes is vice president, economic development, for the Charlotte Chamber. She presides over the chamber’s corporate relocation recruiting efforts, with a focus on financial services, energy and data centers and headquarters relocations. Among her accomplishments was bringing the headquarters of Chiquita Brands International to Charlotte.

Stuart Parks is owner and managing principal of The Arden Group. Parks has more than 25 years of experience in design and development, including 11 years with New York City’s housing, transit and city planning departments. Since 1999 he has developed more than 750 lots for sale and built more than 250 houses. He also assists in general management of the assets associated with the family’s 20-plus automobile dealerships, including Parks Chevrolet on North Tryon Street. The Arden Group is developing an auto mall on University City Boulevard at I-85.

Lat Purser Jr. is vice president, Acquisitions and Investment Properties, for Lat Purser & Associates. In his decade with the company he has assisted clients with more than $50 million in transactions. He currently serves as Young Leaders Chair for the Urban Land Institute Charlotte District Council and as a leader for several civic groups. Lat Purser & Associates is the No. 3 manager of retail space in the Charlotte area.

Thanks to our past board members

Four board members completed their terms at the end of June: Kim Allred, First Citizens Bank; Steve Brown, High Associates; George Maloomian, Cambridge Properties; and Kevin Toomb, UNC Charlotte.

“We are grateful for the many contributions of our retiring board members,” Heater said. “Their work to secure our light-rail line, create a new master plan for URP and encourage new growth within the park has lifted University City to a new level of prominence as a place to both work and live.”

A new national report lists University City’s primary residential area, the 28269 ZIP, as the nation’s No. 6 “most moved-into” ZIP in May.

Also in May, UCP published its first Economic Development Report, detailing 61 public and private construction and renovation projects either under way or announced in the last 12 months within the University City’s Municipal Service District, plus 10 large property sales. Totaling $2.4 billion, the projects range from the transformative LYNX Blue Line Extension and I-485 completion to the headquarters expansions at Electrolux and Rack Room Shoes.

About University City Partners

University City Partners is engaged in planning, branding and advocating for University City’s commercial core including UNC Charlotte, CMC University and the University Research Park. The Board of Advisors governs UCP. Board members include property owners, institutional administrators, community leaders, elected officials and area residents. The 2014-15 chair is Robert Wilhelm, executive director at Charlotte Research Institute. Heater and two staff oversee day-to-day operations.