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Mark Bethel
How We Started |
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How The Henderson Project Started |
By Mark Bethel
The Beginning
This project, as many do, started out as simply a casual conversation among two old friends.
Tim Skinner and I were talking about how to give back to our community, our universities and aid the formative years of young people. We both worked with my Dad, Jim Bethel, and completed our architectural internships with him as our mentor. We reminisced about how much we learned and how much fun we had working in his office.
We aspired to replicate some of these same real world learning experiences that we received from my Dad and began looking into how we could develop a fellowship grant to the University of Kentucky, School of Architecture. After spending the better part of a year working on the Henderson Tennis Club complex together, Tim and I decided that the Henderson riverfront meant something special to us and that we should focus our fellowship grant project on the river and what the river means in our community. We established the U.K. grant, created the project criteria and brought in the students that literally span all walks of life.
The Students See Henderson
It was purely an educational opportunity for the architectural students to come to Henderson and study the history, culture and personality of our hometown. I had no idea that the students would create such incredible plans for our town. We were blown away by their revolutionary ideas. The students screamed, “SUSPEND DISBELIEF!” and they did; finding treasure.
After going through the initial process with the students we realized this project could be a viable tool for the future development of Henderson. We shared their ideas with an intimate group of about 25 thought and opinion leaders from the community in the Henderson Public Library. This group embraced many of the student’s concepts and requested they share them with the community at large. As a result, a group of local investors are going to give them that opportunity and more.
Giving The Community Ownership
Now, we are at a place where we want the community to see what these brilliant, fresh minds have conceived with their initial unbiased look at Henderson, as outsiders looking in. They have given us a starting point to make a difference for all our futures; an opportunity to diversify our economy, improve our environment and establish a city so others will want to come back, invest, raise generations of families and complete the circle.
Tim and I want to extend ownership of this project to the community so they can start the dialog about the future. There is no better time to dream than the present as to how we can revitalize and brand our community. Therefore, we hope you will take time to review all the slides and information on this website developed for this purpose and give us your insight and ideas so we can continue to mold the clay on this early stage venture.
Let’s dream together as if money was not an object. Let’s scream, “SUSPEND DISBELIEF!” and see where it takes us. Then we can worry about where the funds will come, because we will have a plan. A plan designed by fresh young minds and the community together. Jim Bethel would be proud.
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Mark Bethel |
 Mark Bethel is a founder and sponsor of The Henderson Project. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, School of Architecture and is a licensed architect in Florida, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana. Presently Mark is in Dubai, UAE as Director of Development for Nakheel Shoping Malls. He is responsible for the real estate development pipeline for the company, which includes several of the largest and most progressive retail projects in the Emirates. Over the last 20 years, Mark has managed the physical portfolio requirements for major real estate companies resulting in over $7 billion of development activities and over $2 billion of acquisitions. Upon completion of his current projects in Dubai, this value will double to $18 billion US. He previously served as First Vice President of Development for General Growth Properties and his responsibilities were for the development activities for 28 malls located in California, Arizona and New Mexico. He has a long history of mixed use building in mall development even prior to General Growth. Visit www.MarkBethel.com for more information on Mark and his services.
If you wish to comment about The Henderson Project or lend your ideas, direct your e-mail to info@ this web address (TheHendersonProject.com)
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