Ali Sahabi, President SE Corp.

By Ayub Khan, MMNS

Ali Sahabi is president of SE Corporation, a privately held, California-based land planning, entitlement, and development firm. He is also the Managing Member and the Principal of Temescal Canyon Properties-8, LLC (TCP). TCP is the developer of Dos Lagos. Sahabi has directed a number of development projects across Southern California including industrial, multi-family residential and commercial retail projects. Prior to founding SE Corporation, Mr. Sahabi served as Executive Vice President for Vahdani Construction, where he personally negotiated and managed 300 construction projects statewide, and led the company’s expansion efforts, opening offices in San Francisco and Santa Barbara.

Sahabi is a member of numerous industry and civic organizations including the Lusk Center for Real Estate Development at the University of Southern California, the Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, National Multi Housing Council, the Corona Redevelopment Agency and the Corona, Riverside, Norco and San Bernardino Chambers of Commerce. Sahabi holds a Master of Real Estate Development degree from the School of Urban Planning and Development at the University of Southern California and his Bachelor of Science in Management from Pepperdine University.

At USC, Sahabi convinced Edward J. Blakely to be his mentor, establishing a strong relationship and leading to his naming this Center after Blakely. In 2002, Sahabi pledged $2 million to found the Center.

Sahabi believes in a balanced approach to development, one that recognizes that the environment must be protected, society’s needs must be served and profits must be made.

In 2007 Sahabi received the California Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for his role in developing Dos Lagos, an award-winning, sustainable mixed-use community in Corona, Calif.

GEELA is California’s highest and most prestigious environmental honor. The award recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership for voluntary achievements in conserving California’s resources, protecting and enhancing the environment, and building public-private partnerships. SE Corporation’s award was presented in the category of Sustainable Communities.

Dos Lagos is a model of brownfield development. The 534-acre development involved the reclamation of an abandoned mining pit, the restoration of the Temescal Creek and preservation of 134 acres of native habitat. The project incorporated local history into its design, protected many century-old California Live Oaks and included an innovative filtration system to preserve the pristine water aquifer beneath the project.

The mixed-use component of Dos Lagos enhances its sustainability by providing a walkable community of residential, commercial, entertainment, Class A office and other uses designed for various lifestyle and lifecycle needs.

These and other amenities surround the “heart” of the development: the project’s signature bamboo-covered bridge spanning two lakes – “Dos Lagos” – the namesakes of the community.

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