41-year real estate development veteran is VP of Land Acquisition for CalAtlantic Group
TAMPA, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2017) – Barry Karpay, one of the Tampa Bay area’s leading experts in land acquisition and development with 41 years of experience, has been appointed Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Tampa Bay District Council for 2017-19.
Karpay serves as the area’s Vice President of Land Acquisition for CalAtlantic Group, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders. The company was created in 2015 when Standard Pacific Homes, where Karpay previously served as Vice President of Land Acquisition, merged with Ryland Homes.
As Chair of ULI’s Tampa Bay District Council, Karpay helps facilitate programs and initiatives that support ULI’s mission of promoting responsible land development and the creation of livable communities. With 430 local members, ULI Tampa Bay hosts advisory panels, networking events, conferences and forums, all designed to share best practices and to help address industry issues. The organization’s overall goal is to help Tampa Bay real estate professionals make a positive impact in their communities.
Karpay has been a member of ULI since 2001 and has served on the Tampa Bay District Council’s Management Committee and Governance Committee. He also currently serves on ULI’s national Master Planned Community Developer Council.
“The Tampa Bay area is experiencing an exciting period of growth, and with recent events like Hurricane Irma, it’s more important than ever that we recognize our area’s vulnerabilities and take a mindful, proactive approach to land use,” Karpay said. “Our District Council has played a significant role in promoting resiliency against storms and climate change, and that will remain a key focus for our organization going forward. Our immediate past chair, Jim Cloar, did great work spearheading a workshop on resiliency strategies for the City of St. Petersburg, and I look forward to working with the City to put ULI’s recommendations into action.”
During Cloar’s tenure, ULI continued growing its membership and built a significant following for its monthly “StimULI” breakfast programs, which now regularly draw over 100 local real estate industry leaders. And in June, the District Council hosted the 2017 ULI Florida Summit, which was attended by over 600 professionals from around the state.
Karpay will continue the successful efforts Cloar initiated, while also increasing focus on ULI’s Advisory Services, which provide strategic advice to public agencies and nonprofit organizations on a range of issues, from growth management to redevelopment to affordable housing. Most recently, the group held a Technical Assistance Panel to develop revitalization strategies for the Skyway Plaza retail center in St. Petersburg’s Skyway Marina District.
Karpay will also focus on holding quality informational programs, and growing ULI’s subgroups for young professionals (Young Leaders Group) and women industry leaders (Women’s Leadership Initiative).
With CalAtlantic, Karpay is responsible for pursuing diverse land and home site positions throughout the Tampa Bay area. His work includes land acquisition and development for residential communities that offer a wide spectrum of homes from entry level to luxury. Among the notable acquisitions in his career: Estancia at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, Arbor Grande in Lakewood Ranch and Promenade at Lake Park in northwest Hillsborough County.
A Tampa resident, Karpay and his wife Joyce enjoy travelling and practicing Mysore yoga. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate and Urban Land Studies from the University of Florida.
About the Urban Land Institute:
The Urban Land Institute (http://www.uli.org) is a global nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in sustaining and creating thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has nearly 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. The ULI Tampa Bay District Council sponsors educational forums and events such as trends conferences, transportation and housing programs, and project tours.