The Connecticut/ Western Massachusetts chapter of SIOR held a chapter meeting and dinner at Mory's. Founded in 1849 as a private club adjacent to Yale University's campus, Mory's has a long and distinguished history in the Yale community. A well known tradition at Mory's is the entertainment of The Whiffenpoofs, the world's oldest and best-known collegiate a cappella group of fourteen male Yale seniors. In keeping with tradition, the thirty-five SIOR Chapter members and guests were treated to a wonderful performance by the Whiffenpoofs after dinner. The chapter would like to thank Frosty Smith, SIOR, a Yale alum and member of Mory's, for hosting the event.
The chapter also extends special thanks to its meeting and dinner sponsor, Claris Construction. With offices in Newtown and Bridgeport, Conn., Claris is a design-build firm specializing in architecture, engineering, and commercial construction.
Following a regular business meeting, Tim Breda, senior vice president from Goedecke & Company, provided a capital market update presentation to members and guests in attendance. Breda has over 25 years in the finance and mortgage brokerage business, and had recently returned from the Mortgage Bankers Association Commercial Real Estate Conference. Major conference themes reported by Tim included a very upbeat capital market environment with most lenders seeking to increase new business, financing rates at historic low levels, and more availability of higher leverage (70% to 85% loan-to-value) nonrecourse loans.