Paul R. Dimond

Experience

Paul represented Rick Perlman, founder and CEO of Chicago-based Zaragon, who wanted to develop a first-class residential and retail mid-rise tower adjacent to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor’s deteriorating “South U” neighborhood. The property was not zoned to permit this development.  To go forward, the project also required razing a house the city had wrongfully tried to zone as historic and needed the approval of a skeptical City Council. Working closely with the South U neighborhood association and the city attorney, Paul and his team helped secure City Council approval of a new zoning for the entire area that would permit such revitalization. They then helped Perlman present to the City Council the outstanding architectural plan for his development and its significance as a model for realizing the potential of this key commercial and residential neighborhood located within walking distance to the main U-M campus. Ultimately, the City Council gave its unanimous approval to the project.

“Today, Zaragon Place stands as a beacon to a brighter future for the community, and Rick Perlman, a U-M alumnus, is prepared to invest much more in Ann Arbor.”   

In a similar case, Mark Hodesh, long-time owner of Downtown Home and Garden in Ann Arbor, came to Paul with a problem. He wanted to expand his operations, trade land with the city and support new development that would continue his legacy of revitalizing his key mixed-use neighborhood on the west side of downtown, but the city and the neighbors couldn’t agree. Paul helped Hodesh organize his specific short-term goals, negotiated with the city and his neighbors, and secured the necessary exchange of land, approvals and mutual support to move forward.

“Miller Canfield is now helping Mark Hodesh determine how best to achieve his goals of revitalizing his key neighborhood and assuring his financial goals for his retirement and for his family.”

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• State Bar of Michigan, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights under Law; Board of Trustees, 1977-93
• Special Assistant to the President of the United States for Economic Policy, with responsibility for policy analysis and federal budget concerning education, labor, real estate, local regional markets and federal support for research and development (1993-1997)
• National Summit on Retirement Savings, Presidential Appointee
• McKinley, Inc., Chairman of the Board, 2001-present

Honors + Awards

• Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law 2005-present

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

• The Henry Ford (Formerly Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village), Board of Trustees
• Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, Board of Trustees
• Southeastern Michigan Green Ways Initiative, Leadership Advisory Committee
• Ann Arbor SPARK, Executive Committee, 2007-present
• New Economy Initiative for Southeast Michigan, Economic Adviser and Founding Board Member, 2006-2008

Teaching Experience

• American and Wayne State University Law Schools, Professor of Law, 1981-84
• Wayne State University Law School, Adjunct Professor, 1985 and 1990
• The University of Michigan Law School, Adjunct Lecturer, 1977-80
• George Washington University Law School, Adjunct Professor, 1975-76

Publications

The Supreme Court and Judicial Choice, The University of Michigan Press, 1989

Beyond Busing, The University of Michigan Press, "Book of the Year," American Political Science Association, 1985, reissued with new Retrospect and Prospect, 2005

A Dilemma of Local Government Law, (D.C. Heath-Lexington), 1980

Op Ed Column on National Economic Policy "Common Sense," Detroit Free Press, 1999-00

Op Ed Column on National Economic Policy "Common Ground," Detroit News, 2005

Speeches

Numerous speeches and articles on education, economic policy, economic development, federalism and judicial review, and constitutional law