Law Schedule of Classes

NOTE: Course offerings change. Classes offered this semester may not be offered in future semesters.

Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.


257.4 sec. 001 - An Interdisciplinary Approach to Land Development and Investment (Spring 2024)

Instructor: Evan Schwimmer  
Instructor: Ashley Weinstein-Carnes  (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only

Units: 3
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person

Meeting:

M 6:30 PM - 9:29 PM
Location: Law 170
From January 22, 2024
To April 23, 2024

Course Start: January 22, 2024
Course End: April 23, 2024
Class Number: 32713

Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 15
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 15
As of: 04/27 04:36 PM


This interdisciplinary course is intended for business, law, planning, and public policy students interested in taking a deeper dive into the real estate and land development process, with a specific focus on California development.

We all interact with real estate development daily – through where we live, play, work and learn, through our modes of transit, and beyond. However, most are unfamiliar with the critical legal, business and urban planning frameworks and processes that influence how the built environment goes from concept to physical form. This course provides a practical, real world overview of the key considerations that shape each phase of the land development process, from site acquisition and due diligence; land use and site planning; environmental review and mitigation; and strategies for obtaining necessary entitlements and land use approvals.

Through this course, students will explore the key roles that various stakeholders play within the land development process, including both within the private sector (landowners, real estate developers, and financial partners) and public sector (elected officials, city staff, government regulators, and community members).

The primary focus of this course is practice rather than theory. Students from law, planning, and policy backgrounds will learn to evaluate business risks inherent to real estate development, while business students will learn the key legal and policy issues critical to real estate deal making and entitlement processes. Students will also gain insights from the Bay Area’s leading experts in land use and real estate development through guest lectures scheduled throughout the course.

Students are not expected to have significant real estate experience prior to taking this course, although some previous real estate coursework or professional experience is a benefit. All students who are eager to engage with the material and utilize supplemental resources such as instructor office hours will be able to succeed in this course. This course will not include financial modeling course material and, therefore, graded assessments will not require any financial computations; however, financial concepts will be covered, and students will be expected to apply a general understanding of those concepts to real estate development decision-making. A significant component of final grades will be based on regular attendance and active participation during weekly classes.

This course contributes to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Real Estate offered through the Haas School of Business, Berkeley Law, and College of Environmental Design (including MRED+D).

ASHLEY WEINSTEIN-CARNES is a land use attorney with the San Francisco firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy and Bass LLP, providing strategic advice and counsel on a range of real estate development projects with a focus on negotiating agreements with local governments and public agencies; coordinating environmental review under CEQA; and obtaining development entitlements through public hearings and administrative proceedings. She has successfully obtained land use approvals for large-scale projects across the state. Ashley’s practice spans commercial, residential, and nonprofit development projects, ranging from professional sports arenas to some of the largest affordable housing and master planned projects in the state, along with research & development, and hospital campuses. She dedicates much of her practice to housing development, and regularly speaks and writes on changes in the regulatory landscape impacting housing production in California. Ashley is recognized as a 2024 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” and Northern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers in the Land Use/Zoning category, and was named a Connect Media 2021 Next Generation Award winner.

Ashley earned her J.D. from Berkeley Law with an Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate in Real Estate, and holds a Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy & Administration. Prior to practicing law, Ashley served as a former Teach for America corps member in East Los Angeles where she received an AmeriCorps Segal Award for Outstanding Service in Urban Education. She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, serving on the Leadership Committee for the National Small Scale Development National Product Council. She is a former member of the Board of Directors for the Berkeley Real Estate Alumni Association, where she led development of the Student Fellowship program.

Requirements Satisfaction:


Units from this class count towards the J.D. Experiential Requirement.


Exam Notes: (P) Final paper  
Course Category: Business Law

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Readers:
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Books:
Required Books are in blue

  • California Land Use & Planning Law
    Cecily Talbert Barclay, Matthew S. Gray
    ISBN: 9781938166389
    e-Book Available: unknown
    Price: To Be Determined

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