NBHT Formation Group
Housing Trust Formation Group
A Unique Collaboration to Meet the Moment
- The Newport Beach Housing Trust was formed as a result of a unique collaboration between Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON) and the owners/developers of the Ritz Carlton Residences at the VEA Hotel Newport Beach.
- The two groups agreed that there was a need for an additional effort from that of the City’s to meet Newport Beach’s affordable housing needs.
- The goal was to complement the City’s affordable housing efforts.
- As a result, a formation group was established to determine feasibility and the approach best suited for Newport Beach.
Julie Heggeness, JD, CSPG, is the Vice President, Legal Executive Director, Gift Planning of Hoag Hospital Foundation. Julie is responsible for assisting individuals accomplish their financial, tax, estate, and philanthropic goals through charitable tax-wise planning. She provides a resource to assist donors and their advisors on the best methods of optimizing and minimizing income and estate taxation.
Julie graduated from the University Southern California with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and then attended Western State University School of Law where she obtained her Jurist Doctor. In 2000, Julie became a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving from the American Institute of Philanthropic Studies and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Planners.
Julie was recently presented with the Long Beach Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year Award. Julie serves as President of the Orange County Estate Planning and Trust Council. She recently was the Chair of the City of Long Beach Parks and Recreation Board and served as a member of the City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency Board. Julie is a past board member of Orange County Partnership for Philanthropic Planning and is a Past President of the Orange County Planned Giving Round Table. She also served as a member of the national board of the Partnership for Philanthropic Planners. Julie is Past President of Women Lawyers of Long Beach. She is also a member-at-large of the Long Beach, Los Angeles County and American Bar Associations. Julie was a member of the board of Camp Fire USA. Julie is a graduate of the Leadership Long Beach Class of 2003. Julie has served as a member of the Nominating Committee for the National Committee on Planned Giving and has been an NCPG Delegate. She is a past member of CAMEO, the professional auxiliary of the Assistance League of Long Beach. She is also a past president of the Estate Planning and Trust Council of Long Beach.
Julie frequently makes presentations on estate planning to seniors, community groups and professional associations as well as continuing education courses to attorneys, certified public accountants and financial planners.
Charles Klobe has lived in Newport Beach for over 31 years. He and longtime partner Nancy Scarbrough raised three boys in their Newport Heights home of over 17 years. The boys attended the local public schools. Charles and Nancy are proud grandparents to two girls, one nine and one two years old. Charles and Nancy began their civic activism several years ago when city council decisions affected Newport Heights negatively. Three years ago they were elected to the Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON) board where they enjoy being involved in the challenges confronting the city. Charles is the current President of SPON and also serves as President of the local HOA type group, The Newport Heights Association.
Kory Kramer is a partner with Eagle Four Partners and serves as its investment officer focusing on acquisitions and dispositions, development and construction, financing, asset management, strategy and investor relations. Kory has led over $3 billion of transactions and financings including the purchase of the Fashion Island Hotel which will be transformed into the Pendry Newport Beach managed by Montage International, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa which after a major repositioning is now known as VEA Newport Beach, and the purchase and repositioning of the Denver Sheraton Downtown. And prior to Eagle Four, Kory was Chief Investment Officer at Irvine-based Pacific Hospitality Group where he led the purchase and sale of Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, the development of Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach and the new clubhouse at Newport Beach Country Club, expansions of The Meritage Resort and Vista Collina in Napa, as well as the acquisition of the AC/Residence Inn in Dallas Galleria, AC Hotel Phoenix Tempe/Downtown and AC Hotel Irvine, Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort on Poipu Beach in Kauai, AC Hotel New Orleans, Balboa Bay Resort and Estancia La Jolla. Kory is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School and received both his BA and MA degrees from Boston College. Kory served for eight years as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Newport Beach and enjoys his family, the beach, politics, college football, charities and traveling.
Rick Robinson was born and raised in Newport Beach and currently resides in the city with his wife and two children. Rick presently acts as Senior Vice President at Farmers & Merchants Bank in their Corona del Mar office and specializes in Commercial Real Estate Lending with an emphasis in Construction Lending. Prior to joining Farmers & Merchants Bank, Rick held lending positions with US Bank in their Special Assets Group and California National Bank in their Commercial Real Estate Department. In addition, Rick worked at K. Hovnanian Homes in their Land Development Department. This experience has provided Rick with a vast background of knowledge and expertise in real estate finance and real estate development. Rick’s community involvement includes his prior role as President of the Newport Elementary School Foundation, which helped provide funding to support teachers, technology, and enrichment at Newport Elementary School. In addition, Rick received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of Business and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business. In his spare time, Rick enjoys spending time with his family - surfing the local beaches, exploring the local mountain biking and hiking trails, and spending time on the harbor.
Nancy Scarbrough has been involved in Newport Beach community issues for several years and in 2020 Nancy was a candidate for City Council, District 2. She has lived in Newport Beach since 2005 with her partner, Charles Klobe. Professionally, she designs and provides project management for medical and corporate office projects. She has been a small business owner for 37 years and has planned and managed the construction of over 1 million square feet of medical and office space.
Her involvement in community activities includes, the General Plan Update, various housing issues including the Housing Element Update and the related Circulation Element. She follows housing and land use issues and legislation at the State level. Nancy has been a member of the City Finance Committee since June 2021. She is a Board Member in Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON).
Ed Selich is a three-time past Mayor of the City of Newport Beach and was on the City Council from 2005 to 2016. Mr. Selich was previously a member of the City of Newport Beach Planning Commission from July 1995 to June 2005, serving three terms as chairman. He has chaired the city’s Zoning Code Update Committee and 2006 General Plan Advisory Committee. He also chaired the city’s Local Coastal Plan Advisory Committee. He was Chair and a member of the City’s Economic Development Committee. Mr. Selich was also involved in the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District and helped create the Vision Plan for the improvement of the business district. Most recently he served on the 2019 General Plan Update Steering Committee and 2020 Housing Element Update Advisory Committee.
Mr Selich is an Urban Planner and Developer by profession specializing in housing and planned communities. Mr. Selich has been a resident of Newport Beach since 1979.
Peter D. Zak is an Owner and Managing Partner of Lyon Living. Prior to his current role, Peter was the President and COO of Lyon Development Company, where he formed partnerships with Rockwood Construction Group, Picay Capital, and created a new home building company with New Edge Living.
Throughout his career, Peter has held executive positions with Lyon and Newport Capital Advisors where he managed entitlement, development, and acquisitions groups, in addition to providing key contributions in the areas of project capitalization.
Prior to joining Lyon, Peter was Director of Development with the Irvine Company, responsible for several projects for the Irvine Community Development Company. He was involved with masterplan design, entitlements, and builder land sales in land and infrastructure developments for some of The Irvine Ranch's most prestigious communities including Shady Canyon, Quail Hill, Pacific Ridge, and Woodbury.
During his career, Peter has overseen the design, entitlement, construction, and renovation of nearly 25,000 multifamily and single-family residential units, over 500,000 sq. ft. of retail, various hotels, Shady Canyon’s 18-hole private golf course and club facilities, and special purpose projects such as an advanced petroleum field assessment and recovery in Long Beach, CA.
Peter began his career as an auditor for Ernst & Young Kenneth Levanthal, where he provided audit and financial services to a number of real estate companies including Irvine Apartment Communities, William Lyon Homes, Sunstone Hotels, and Institutional Housing Partners. Peter was previously Chairman of the Newport Beach Planning Commission where he served for four years. He is a graduate of Villanova University.
Jean Watt In Memoriam
December 16, 1926 - April 16, 2023
Jean Watt was raised in Pasadena with summers in Newport Beach. She has lived permanently in Newport Beach since 1953 with her husband, James Y. Watt and 4 children, Tammy, Terry, Mike and Lorna. She was active in the PTA and was a Girl Scout leader and Board member for 20 years then serving on the City Council for 8 years. She has been active in Newport Beach politics since 1970 with Board positions on the Environmental Nature Center, Friends of Harbors, Beaches & Parks, Line in the Sand, and "Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON)". For the past 5 years she has also founded the Newport Beach Animal Shelter and been a Board member as Vice President.
Quote: "This opportunity to form a Housing Trust Fund will help provide affordable housing while keeping the City's vision, General Plan and lifestyle from being degraded by density, overuse of the infrastructure, and incompatible housing structures."