Associates

J. Richard Hill

Overview

Village Solutions Company was founded in January, 2001 by J. Richard Hill who is known as an industry innovator in the creation of retail marketplaces. His experience includes all aspects of retail strategy development, marketplace planning, leasing and development, including: merchant recruitment, lease negotiations, financial modeling, market research, retail sales forecasting and design direction. He has directed the development, management, leasing and redevelopment of all retail property types including lifestyle centers, traditional main streets, urban neighborhoods and entertainment districts.

Career Summary

  • Directed the development, management, leasing and redevelopment of all retail property types for both institutional owners and the private sector, including regional malls, specialty retail villages, lifestyle centers and entertainment districts.
  • Directed the leasing of over 4,500,000 square feet of retail space including luxury and specialty retailers, entertainment venues and cinemas, restaurants, and super markets.
  • Directed over $150,000,000 in tenant capital improvement programs.
  • Written 117 strategic plans for a variety of retail properties.
  • Speaker, writer, lecturer on a variety of topics concerning marketplaces, urban development, retail, real estate and development.
  • Winner of seven national awards for the development, redevelopment, repositioning and marketing of retail districts and shopping centers.
  • Licensed Real Estate Broker. Certified Leasing Specialist (CLS)

Background

Founder/President, Village Solutions Company, Inc. (2001- present).

  • Provides direct leasing, strategic planning, market research and development programming services to property owners. Clients include resorts, hotels, commercial property owners, institutional owners and the public sector.

Founder/President, Hill Partners, Inc. (1983-2001).

  • Responsible for all aspects of managing and directing the on-going services of this highly successful third party retail leasing and property management firm. Recruited and trained a professional staff of retail specialists, which developed, redeveloped or managed approximately 90 properties.
  • Responsible for the creation of strategic plans and the development of annual business plans for all client properties. Implemented property value enhancement programs. Directed property strategic planning and as “broker in charge”. Directed all leasing activities to realize the investment goals of the properties.

Group Manager, The Rouse Company (1980-1983).

  • Responsible for the daily management and leasing of four retail enclosed malls. Handled all aspects of budgeting, operations and income enhancement. Directed the redevelopment of each property. Responsible for leasing, design management, construction management, budgeting and operations.
  • Various Positions, The Rouse Company (1975-1983).
  • Held various positions with the Rouse Company. Originally began shopping center career as a mall marketing director in Louisville, KY. Additional positions included assistant mall manger (Tampa Bay Center, Tampa, FL) and General Manager (Center Square Mall, Philadelphia, PA).

Experience Highlights

  • Created strategic plans for such notable non-traditional retail environments as the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Northwest Atrium, Chicago’s busiest commuter train terminal, Sponsor Pavilions of the 1996 Olympics and eleven National Parks (i.e. Zion, Bryce, Mesa Verde), 16 state parks, and attraction based developments such as Waveyard and New York’s Coney Island (2007).
  • Industry leader in retail planning for off-mall locations such as resorts, theme parks, and tourist destinations. Examples include 1996 Olympics, 11 National Parks, resorts, Coney Island in New York, Sears Tower, Silver Star Casino, and the Northwest train station in Chicago.
  • Provided a variety of portfolio and strategic advisory services for a wide variety of institutional clients including Teachers Insurance, Stanford University Pension Fund, Aetna Life Insurance, and New York Life.
  • Extensive work in Public sector projects including the National Parks, State Parks, the Cities of Charlotte, North Miami, Beijing, and Atlanta, and the Northwestern Train Station.
  • Experienced international consultant in Seoul South Korea (2008), Chingdou China (2008), Dubai UAE, (2008), Beijing China (1995), and Tianjin Chiba (1997).
  • Extensive experience with mixed-use developments in resort destinations. Developed strategic plans for the Doral Country Club (Miami, FL), La Costa Resort (Carlsbad, CA), Chairman’s District (Beijing, China), Silver Star Casino (Philadelphia, MS), Four Seasons Punta Mita (Mexico) (2007), Four Seasons Maui (2009) Saint Francis Hotel (San Francisco) and Wilderness Resort Village (Wisconsin Dells, WI).
  • Industry leader in the leasing of urban districts, main streets and village concepts. Directed strategic planning and leasing of the Kentlands. Recruited Giant and Lowe’s to anchor the town center retail district - 1989 to 1990 (Gaithersburg, MD). Conducted strategic planning for the Plaza-Central District - 1998 to 2000 (Charlotte, NC) and Fairlie-Poplar District - 1999 to 2000 (Atlanta, GA). Directed development of a merchant recruitment plan for Clay Terrace - 2002 (Carmel, IN). Created strategic plan for the Village of Hammond Square - 2004 (Hammond, LA). Positioned and created merchandising strategy for Westport Village - 2005 (Louisville, KY). Rarity Mountain Village in Jellico, TN (2007).
  • One of the first real estate professionals in the U.S. to recognize the off-price retail trend. Completed the repositioning of two small malls in suburban Philadelphia with a variety of off-price retailers. 1981-1982 (Center Square, PA and Cinnaminson, NJ). Completed the nation’s first redevelopment of a conventional mall into an off-price center (Outlet Square, Charlotte, NC), as recognized by the Wall Street Journal in 1982.
  • Recruited the first IKEA to the United States - 1982.
  • Recruited the first Finish Line, Children’s Place and Dress Barn stores to locations outside of their home markets - 1982-1987.
  • Developed one of the nation’s first new enclosed off-price centers with an integration of lifestyle uses. Selected the site, leased 100% of the space, negotiated all leases, directed the design development, managed common area construction and managed all tenant build-outs. Winner of 1985 ICSC Maxi Award - 1985 (New Market, Columbus, OH).
  • Winner of the 1994 ICSC Merit Award for Design and Development Excellence for the redevelopment of Loehmann’s Fashion Island. Project had a negative cash flow before redevelopment. New tenants included AMC Cinema, Gap, Sam Goody, Barnes & Noble, Prezzo, Ruby Tuesday and Publix. Sold to Prudential in 1996 for $44,500,000 to generate a 20+% return on new cost - 1992 to 1995 (Miami, FL).
  • Successfully redeveloped one of the nation’s first enclosed upscale lifestyle centers, Worthington Square. Leased and operated the project through two owners: Aetna and Stanford University Pension Fund. Tenants included Gap, Gap Kids, Talbots, Talbots Kids, Victoria’s Secret and Ann Taylor - 1993 to 2000 (Worthington Square, Columbus, OH), 1996 ICSC Maxi Award for Consumer Marketing.
  • Early innovator in entertainment retail. Redeveloped the Jackson Brewery for New York Life. Recruited and negotiated leases with Planet Hollywood and Virgin Megastore - 1995 to 1998 (New Orleans, LA). Directed the leasing of Barefoot Landing. Project consisted of over 120 merchants and 13 restaurants including House of Blues and Dick’s Last Resort - 1991 to 1994 (Barefoot Landing, Myrtle Beach, SC).
  • Produced retail strategic plans for a variety of projects in Florida including the Streets of Mayfair in Coconut Grove, Miracle Center in Coral Gables, Bakery Center in South Miami, the City of North Miami, Fashion Island in Aventura, Boca Center in Boca Raton, the Fountains in Plantation, Countryside in Clearwater, Highland Park Village in Tampa and Heathrow in Orlando - 1990 to 2005.
  • Winner of the 1989 ICSC Maxi Award for the Best Grand Opening of an urban retail development (Cityfair, Charlotte, NC).
  • Winner of two ICSC Maxi Awards (Newmarket -1985 and Worthington Mall, 1996) for consumer marketing and advertising.
  • Directed the redevelopment of Charlotte’s most successful community center, which resulted in a 21% internal rate of return - 1998 to 2000 (Cotswold Village Shops, Charlotte, NC).
  • Developed a strategic plan and leasing strategy for Savannah Mall for Teachers Insurance. Research demonstrated the need for Bass Pro Shop. A new merchandising strategy was created to convert the property into a destination outdoor/recreation retail center. New lease signed with Bass Pro for 150,000 square feet.
  • Assisted in writing exam questions for the ICSC Certified Leasing Program.
  • Founder of the Great American Cross-Country Festival in 1999 in partnership with Nike, the nation’s premiere high school team competition. In 2002, 5,100 athletes from 43 states and three countries competed.
  • Assisted in community development programs in East Africa - 1995-2002.
  • Assisted the National Parks & Conservation Association with programs and policies to control commercialism in the National Parks. Testified in the US Senate and Congress on commercialism in National Parks. Developed strategies for the National Parks & Conservation Association concerning commercialism in the national parks. Wrote portions of various bills introduced in Congress.