TONI  A.  GOLD
Senior Associate, Training

Toni Gold is an urban development specialist with extensive experience in the planning, financing, implementing and managing of community initiatives.  She has special expertise in waterfront projects, urban parks, historic structures, commercial revitalization and transportation improvements as catalysts for community improvement.  She is also experienced in affordable housing finance and social investing.

Before joining PPS recently, Toni managed her own consulting firm for ten years, and, as part of that practice, managed a multi-million dollar capital program for Riverfront Recapture, Inc. in Hartford.  Previously she has served as Executive Director of the Hartford Architecture Conservancy and as Director of the Community Investment Program for CIGNA Corporation within its Real Estate Investment Department.  She currently manages the Social Responsibility Fund for the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut.

As manager of Riverfront Recapture's capital program, Toni hired and supervised numerous planning and design consultants and oversaw all aspects of projects --  from conceptualization through the completion of construction. She worked in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation during the three-year construction phase of a $24 million project to re-connect downtown Hartford to its riverfront -- a project that bridged an interstate highway, a railroad and a flood-control dike with a large plaza and a series of related structures to bring pedestrians to the waterfront.  Waterfront projects  included direct management of $12 million of Hartford and East Hartford Riverwalk projects, a $2 million neo-Victorian boat house with storage for 60 rowing shells and a second-floor social hall,  a $4 million pedestrian bridge "gateway" to the downtown riverfront, and a ten-site outdoor historical exhibitry project.

As a lender, Toni oversaw the origination, underwriting and asset management of a $10 million-per-year social investment program for a Fortune 500 company in the areas of low-income housing, community economic development, arts, education, and health care, and managed a $50 million portfolio of 34 social investments for.  Projects financed included two community-based public markets, several historic rehabilitations and various retail projects.

As a historic preservation executive, Toni participated in the creation of public policy in housing, zoning, preservation, and urban planning with state and city governments.  She created and implemented projects which generated over $7 million of private investment, provided 144 units of housing, and saved 25 buildings from demolition.

Education

Northwestern University, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology; Master of Arts in Teaching 

University of Connecticut, Course work in landscape architecture and urban design; Graduate work in Community Aesthetics Program

Harvard University, Real Estate Finance and Development courses

CIGNA Corporate Training Program, Managing for Organizational  Effectiveness course

Community and Professional Involvement  

National:
Community Information Exchange, Board of Directors, 1988-1996.

Urban Land Institute Advisory Panels, North Lawndale, Chicago, 1986; Columbus, Ohio, 1992.

Statewide:
Corporation for Independent Living, Board of Directors, 1988-89; 1994-95.

Connecticut Preservation Action, founder, Board of Directors, 1978-84.

Greater Hartford: 
All Aboard! (advocacy organization for transit for livable communities), founder, Board of Directors, Treasurer, 1998-present 

Real Estate Exchange (commercial real estate organization), 1987-present. 

Knox Foundation, Board of Directors; Treasurer and Chair of Investment Committee, 1989-2000.

CRCOG Bicycle Planning Committee, 1998-1999.

Ad Hoc Riverfront Council, 1996-97.

City of Hartford:
Charter Revision Commission, 1986-87.

Linkage Task Force, 1984-85.

Ad Hoc Downtown Zoning Advisory Committee, 1983.

Commission on Cultural Affairs, 1980-83.

Neighborhood and Community Organizations:
Farmington Avenue Joint Committee, Chair, 1996-1999

Riverfront Recapture, Inc., Board of Directors, 1985-91.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Hartford Advisory Committee, 1986-89.

Capitol Housing Corporation, Board of Directors, 1985-89.

West End Civic Association Zoning Committee, 1984-86.

Artists' Collective, Architect Selection Panel, 1984.

Publications

Public Markets and Community Revitalization,  Urban Land Institute and Project for Public Spaces, 1995.  Wrote chapter on economic feasibility.

From the Neighborhoods to the Capital Markets.  Report of the National Task Force on Financing Affordable Housing, 1992. 

Social Investing in the Life and Health Insurance Industry.  American Council on Life Insurance, 1990.

Various op-ed pieces in the Hartford Courant; numerous commentary and news stories in bimonthly Conservancy newspaper and elsewhere.