About
Ray Uchima
Over the past 44 years, Ray Uchima has owned, managed, and sold over 2,000 apartment units and commercial buildings in various locations throughout the Los Angeles County, Atlanta, and Nashville. Ray is a value-added apartment investor, a residential developer, and an entitlement consultant. Ray obtained his Brokers License, BRE #00555387 in 1979.
In addition to his professional career, Ray volunteered his expertise to the the City of Torrance as a planning commissioner. He served 11 years as a commissioner and chairman twice. As the Chair, Ray conducted the meetings that revised the city's general plan. This is a significant policy document, setting development guidelines for the City of Torrance. Ray reviewed over a billion dollars worth of retail, industrial, residential development throughout the city.
In 2013, Ray received recognition for his dedicated service to the City of Torrance from the California Assembly presented by the Honorable Al Muratsuchi, from the 66th Assembly District. In 2017 Mayor Patrick Furey and the City Council presented Ray with an award for his years of service to the Environmental, Planning, and Parks and Recreation Commissions.
Ray continues to seek out value-added apartment buildings, residential development opportunities, and offer real estate consulting services.
Stephanie Uchima-Carney
Stephanie Uchima-Carney holds a Masters in Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of Business, a Masters in Real Estate Development from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy (2009) and a Bachelors of Science in Applied Mathematics and Physics from UCLA.
During her time at USC, she received Honorable Mention for Outstanding Performance on the MRED Comprehensive Examination, published a Casden Special Topics Research Paper: “Opportunities for Private Development of University Housing at UC Campuses,” and was chosen to participate in the exclusive Stan Ross Seminar. She was also on the Board of the Graduate Real Estate Association (GREA) and the Entrepreneurship and Venture Management Association (EVMA).
She currently resides in Redondo Beach with her husband and two little ones, an 8 month old and 3.5 year old, and heavily involved in the local community.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1991 | The Hoshida Golf Company of Osaka
Ray brokered one of the largest land lease transactions in the South Bay. The ground lease was valued at over $10 Million. The Hoshida Golf Company of Osaka, Japan was the lessee for the 20-acre Gardena, California site.
Ray represented Beniya Offset Company, Ltd. a Tokyo based printing company purchase and development of 8 acres in Gardena, California. Ray also assisted Beniya with the construction of three industrial buildings on this property. Ray introduced the general contractor, Toda Construction, one of Japan’s largest contractors, which built Beniya’s buildings.
1994 | Daiichi Jitsugyo
In 1994, Ray worked with Daiichi Jitsugyo America Inc. negotiate their branch office lease in Cypress, Ca.
1994 | Marukai
Ray assisted Japanese food and product discounter Marukai Corporation, find and lease several store locations. They include their Costa Mesa Market on the corner of Harbor and Baker, the Torrance Marukai Mart on the corner of Sepulveda and Hawthorne Boulevard, and their Gardena 98 Cents Store on Artesia near Normandie Boulevards.
Ray also represented Marukai in their lease negotiation with the Watson Land Company, one Southern California’s largest industrial landowner and developer. Marukai leased 70,000 SF warehouse distribution center in their Rancho Dominquez development.
2010 | Chairman of the Planning Commission
In 2010, Ray was Chairman of the Planning Commission when it conducted hearings to update the Torrance City General Plan. This is a very important policy document setting development guidelines for the City.
2016 | Del Amo Crossing
Ray’s firm was the entitlement consultant for a major Orange County office developer and investor, called The Muller Company based in Irvine, Ca. They recently closed escrow on the $62 Million purchase of the Bank of California Building on the corner of Hawthorne Boulevard and Carson Street in Torrance. Ray assisted the Muller Company with governmental approvals interfacing with the Community Development Department and homeowners associations for their new 47,000 SF 24Hour Fitness Super Sport Gym, 10,000 SF Urban Plates, and a 2,000 SF outdoor dining area. The office and commercial complex is called Del Amo Crossing - https://www.delamocrossing.com/
2017 | Seiwa Japanese Market
Ray represented Seiwa Japanese Markets in their lease negotiations for Torrance and Costa Mesa. In addition, Ray consulted with the president, Mr. Matsu, regarding the following:
- Assistance with liquor license acquisition
- Legal paperwork
- Construction permits
- Consulting with architects & construction companies
- Tenant improvements (TI)
- Store signage & design
CURRENT OWNERSHIPS & INTERESTS
- Apartment buildings owned in Los Angeles County comprises of 77 Units.
- Interests in out of state apartment complexes comprises of 1,850 Units.
- Interest in a Creative/Tech Office Located in Santa Monica, California.
TIMELINE
1975 - Ray began work as a commercial broker for the H. Bruce Hanes Company based in Beverly Hills. The Hanes Company specialized in the apartment brokerage business.
1978 - Ray and partner David Hirth a former Hanes broker and retail commercial specialist for Grubb & Ellis Commercial Real Estate, opened the David Ray Company in Beverly Hills. David and Ray’s firm put together many investment partnerships that purchased distressed; value-added apartment buildings and retail commercial properties.
1983 - Ray established the Uchima Commercial Real Estate Company in Torrance. The firm specialized in commercial real estate services for Japanese corporate clients.
2009 - Uchima Commercial Real Estate was incorporated and now named “Uchima Corporation”.
2010 - Ray was elected Chairman of the Planning Commission. During his term, the commission ruled on a large City-owned commercial parcel on Skypark Blvd. and Costco Way. The commission approved the construction of the Loews Home Improvement Center and also included a new traffic signal between the Costco and Loews project.
Major projects include the expansion of The Del Amo Fashion Center Mall, the newly constructed Torrance Memorial Hospital, numerous new car dealerships including the Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Audi, Ford, and Lexus developments. Ray reviewed many large and small condominium housing developments and industrial and retail commercial projects throughout the city.
2012 - Ray represented Uni-King lease industrial space in Gardena. Uni-King is a wholesaler of consumer products in Hawaii and Los Angeles. They are a subsidiary of the Japanese manufacturer Hakugen. Hakugen is Japan’s largest manufacturer of facemasks and other consumer products. They are publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
