Training

Through ElectrifyPDX and ElectrifyNow, Eli provides home electrification trainings to community groups, congregations, employee groups, and real estate agents.  Please send a note if a group you’re part of would like to learn how to power homes with clean energy for healthier indoor air quality, lower utility bills, greater comfort, and our planet.

Portland Small Developer Training

In February of 2016, we co-hosted Portland’s first “Small Scale Developer Boot Camp,” with:

• John Anderson, Congress for the New Urbanism and co-founder & principal, Anderson | Kim Architecture + Design;
• Jim Kumon, Executive Director, Incremental Development Alliance; and
• Eli Spevak, Owner, Orange Splot LLC

This one-day workshop provided technical skills and resources to small developers, helping them navigate development financing, zoning and entitlement, site selection and building design in order assemble their own small scale real estate deal. The workshop also addressed issues surrounding becoming a developer, including making a transition from one’s day job (or not), risk management, quality of life and basic business setup and contracting methods. Participants also brought their own potential projects or test case studies to review during the open office hours forum with experts to discuss real project challenges.

The evening before the training, we hosted a social gathering featuring short PechaKucha presentations from local infill development leaders, visionaries, and perhaps some out-of-town special guests. Each shared their favorite projects and what makes them work so well. These short presentations were held at The Zipper, at NE 27th & Sandy, a mixed-use commercial and micro-restaurant project recently completed by Guerilla Development.

We haven’t scheduled a new training yet, but keep an eye out for upcoming Small Developer Boot Camps and get in touch with the Portland Small Developer Alliance.