Neil G. Bluhm, founder and managing principal, Walton Street Capital, LLC; a founder and president JMB Realty Corporation; and, founder, Rush Street Gaming, has been named the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the Urban Land Institute’s Chicago District Council (ULI Chicago). The Lifetime Achievement Award, now in its twentieth year, was established to recognize professionals in Chicago’s real estate community whose lifetime contributions to real estate – and to civic, charitable and philanthropic endeavors – exemplify the spirit and mission of ULI.
“Neil has been one of the leaders of the Chicago business community for over 50 years. In business, Neil has been noted for his boldness, wisdom and an uncanny intuitive ability to untangle and assess even the most complex business situation. The passion, determination, and energy that Neil brings to not only work, but everything he does, is unparalleled,” said Jeffrey Quicksilver, managing principal, Walton Street Capital, LLC. Read more about Neil
The Lifetime Achievement Award honors an individual whose achievements throughout their lifetime exemplify personal and professional contributions to the real estate industry and to the community. Past recipients have included Marshall Bennett, Marshall Bennett Enterprises; the late Bernie Weissbourd, Metropolitan Structures; the late Charles H. Shaw, The Shaw Company; the late Richard J. Brown, Cambridge Homes; Lester Crown, Material Service Corporation; the late William A. Alter, The Alter Group; Edward R. James, Edward R. James Partners, LLC; Kenneth J. James, Kenneth James Builders, LLC; the late Matthew Bucksbaum, General Growth Properties, Inc.; Richard A. Stein, Mesirow Stein Real Estate, Inc.; Stuart L. Scott, Jones Lang LaSalle; Douglas Crocker II, former Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and CEO of Equity Residential; Robert A. Wislow, U.S. Equities Realty; Norman R. Bobins, Chairman Emeritus, LaSalle Bank Corporation; Richard A. Hanson, Mesa Development, LLC; James R. Loewenberg, Magellan Development Group; John S. Gates, Jr., PortaeCo, LLC; John A. Buck, The John Buck Company; and, Penny Pritzker, Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce.
The criteria for the award is a lifetime of professional, personal and civic commitments to the real estate profession and to our community at large. Nominations are solicited from the ULI membership and a Lifetime Jury is convened to identify the recipient.
“We are extremely pleased to honor Neil and celebrate the work that ULI Chicago has completed in the region over the past year. The support from the Lifetime event is critical to continuing our efforts to build healthy, sustainable communities ,” said Peter Malecek, senior vice president of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and board member of ULI Chicago.
ULI Chicago recognized Mr. Bluhm at the twentieth annual Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner that took place on December 4, 2014 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago.