The Placemaking Podcast: Recent Episodes
Matthew Loos, P.E.
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Building the Future: How TestFit is Revolutionizing Real Estate with Clifton Harness– Ep. 81About the GuestWelcome back to The Placemaking Podcast! I’m your host, Matthew Loos, and I’m thrilled to have you with us today. On this episode, we’re diving into the cutting edge of technology and real estate development with a guest who’s truly revolutionizing the way we think about site planning and design.
Joining me is Clifton Harness, the co-founder and CEO of TestFit—a software platform that’s transforming the way developers, architects, and urban planners approach feasibility studies. With a background in architecture and a passion for solving complex challenges, Clifton has been instrumental in bridging the gap between design and data-driven decision-making.
We’ll explore how TestFit’s algorithms are streamlining processes, making developments more efficient, and ultimately shaping the future of urban spaces. Whether you’re a developer, a designer, or just someone passionate about better-built environments, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
To Learn More About Clifton Harness and Testfit, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Clifton Harness * LinkedIn – Testfit * Testfit Website*
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Third Places/Using the Built Form to Address the Loneliness Epidemic with Rik Adamski – Ep. 80About the GuestWelcome to the Placemaking Podcast, where we explore the power of place and the built environment in shaping our communities and lives. I’m your host, Matthew Loos, and today we have an incredibly timely and vital topic to discuss: addressing the loneliness epidemic through the concept of ‘Third Places.’
Our guest today is Rik Adamski, the visionary founder of Ash + Lime. Rik is renowned for his innovative approach to urban planning and placemaking, focusing on creating vibrant, inclusive spaces that foster connection and community. With a wealth of experience and a deep passion for sustainability and social impact, Rik is here to share his insights on how the built form can help mitigate the growing issue of loneliness in our society.
We’ll be diving into what ‘Third Places’ are, why they matter, and how thoughtful design can transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary hubs of social interaction. Whether you’re an urban planner, an architect, or simply someone interested in the power of community, this episode is packed with valuable perspectives.
So, without further ado, let’s welcome Rik Adamski to the Placemaking Podcast.
To Learn More About Rik Adamski and Ash + Lime, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Rik Adamski * Ash+Lime Website*
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Building Bentonville: Transforming Arkansas Real Estate with Alexandra Tirado – Ep. 79About the GuestWelcome to the Placemaking Podcast, where we explore the art and science of creating vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive communities. I’m your host, Matthew Loos, and today we have a truly inspiring episode lined up for you.
Joining us is a visionary real estate developer who’s been making waves in Bentonville, Arkansas. Alexandra Tirado has not only made a name for herself in the local market but has also become a beacon of innovation and growth in the industry.
From her early beginnings in real estate development to her current projects that are shaping the future of Bentonville, Alexandra has a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. Today, she’ll take us on a journey through her career, offering insights into the lessons she’s learned along the way and the challenges she’s overcome.
Whether you’re an aspiring developer, a seasoned professional, or simply someone interested in the dynamics of real estate and community building, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.
So, without further ado, let’s welcome to the Placemaking Podcast, Alexandra Tirado!
To Learn More About Alexandra Tirado and Sun Group, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Alexandra Tirado-Wang * LinkedIn – Sun Group * Oak One Development Website*
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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From Blueprint to Bestseller: A Small-Scale Developer’s Journey with Jim Heid – Ep. 78About the GuestI am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Jim Heid, FASLA.
Jim is an infill developer and sustainable development advisor based in Sonoma County, California. Known for his aspirational but practical approach, he works with a range of tools and best practices to communicate the value of inspired design and sustainability within the realities of local market norms. With over forty years experience as an urban designer, land planner, sustainability strategist and now infill developer, he brings a broad range of perspectives and skills to the discussion about how communities grow. Trained as a landscape architect, he received a Masters in Real Estate Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as way to more effectively integrate economics, development and design thinking.
An active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), Jim was at the forefront of defining the tenets of sustainable community design, serving as co-instructor for ULI’s pioneering program in Sustainable Community Design. He continues his leadership as founder and lead instructor for ULI’s program focused on small scale incremental development. He has organized and led fifteen national tours where participants explore the impact and benefits of non-institutional approaches to real estate development, and how it creates stronger local economies and more authentic places. Drawing on his own experience and the work of others seen during these tours, he authored Building Small: A Toolkit for Real Estate Entrepreneurs, Civic Leaders and Great Communities. Published in April by ULI, the book has quickly gained a national following from all professions engaged in shaping the built environment.
Jim works seamlessly with multi-disciplinary teams, bringing his design and real estate training to resolve complex challenges – focusing on enduring solutions catalyzed by initial, immediate steps. With an emphasis on high quality communications, Jim works to build deep understanding for the ‘how and why’ of decisions – rather than just creating consensus. His collaborative, integrative, and effective team leadership is recognized through his participation or chairmanship of over 15 ULI Advisory Service Panels – recently for Napa, CA and Toronto, Ontario.
Originally born in Pittsburgh, PA; Jim credits the diversity of places he has lived and worked – Moscow, Idaho; Springfield, Vermont; New Orleans; Denver; Phoenix; Boston; and San Francisco – for shaping his appreciation of town form impacts quality of life, and the importance of regional identity for creating more interesting places. Now living in the idyllic community of Healdsburg, California he shares these insights with clients and audiences across the globe.
To Learn More About Jim Heid and the Building Small, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Jim Heid, FASLA * Building Small Book – Amazon * Small Scale Forums Website*
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Large Scale Planning and Design for Urban Infill Projects with Joshua Brooks – Ep. 77About the GuestWelcome, fellow Placemakers, to another enriching episode of the Placemaking Podcast, where we explore the art and science of crafting vibrant communities. I’m your host, Matt Loos and today, we’re diving into the dynamic realm of large-scale planning and infill real estate development.
While our esteemed guest, Joshua Brooks from Sasaki, will be joining us shortly to share his invaluable insights, let’s take a moment to shine a spotlight on a groundbreaking project that’s been reshaping the urban landscape: the Denargo Market project in Denver, Colorado.
Denargo Market stands as a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful planning and innovative design. Nestled in the heart of Denver, this initiative has breathed new life into a once-neglected industrial area, reimagining it as a thriving urban district that harmoniously blends commerce, culture, and community.
Through strategic interventions and community collaboration, the Denargo Market project exemplifies the potential of repurposing underutilized spaces to create vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods that enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike.
As we delve into our discussion on large-scale planning and infill real estate development, we’ll draw inspiration from the successes of projects like Denargo Market, exploring the principles and practices that drive the creation of resilient, inclusive urban environments.
So, dear listeners, get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration. Stay tuned as we uncover the secrets behind crafting spaces that not only reflect the spirit of their communities but also pave the way for a brighter, more connected future.
Welcome to the Placemaking Podcast. Let’s dive in.
To Learn More About Joshua Brooks and Sasaki, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Joshua Brooks * LinkedIn – Sasaki * Sasaki Website*
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Large Scale Development in the Queen City with Damon Hemmerdinger – Ep. 76About the GuestHello, real estate enthusiasts, and welcome back to The Placemaking Podcast, your go-to source for all things real estate development. I’m your host Matt Loos, and today we have a special treat for you – an exclusive conversation with a visionary real estate developer shaping the landscape of the vibrant city of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Charlotte has become a hub for innovative development, and our guest today is at the forefront of this exciting transformation. Join me in welcoming Damon Hemmerdinger, a seasoned real estate expert with a passion for creating spaces that not only stand tall but also tell stories of the city’s evolution.
We’ll be delving into Damon’s journey, exploring the challenges and triumphs of real estate development, and uncovering the unique aspects that make the Queen City a canvas for groundbreaking projects.
If you’re curious about the behind-the-scenes of real estate, the strategies that drive successful development, and the untold tales of iconic buildings, this episode is a must-listen.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of real estate development with Damon Hemmerdinger and discover the secrets that make Charlotte’s skyline so captivating. Welcome to The Placemaking Podcast, where we turn blueprints into narratives!
To Learn More About Damon Hemmerdinger and ATCO, Check out the Following Websites: Damon Hemmerdinger | LinkedIn * ATCO Properties and Management: Overview | LinkedIn * ATCO Website*
Recommended Reading SectionP.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Building Creative Missing Middle Housing in Core Urban Areas with Jake Newell – Ep. 75About the GuestWe can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Jake Newell of Newell Development. Jake Newell is most passionate about developing creative core urban projects He has a background in single family, multifamily, and mixed-use developments. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Business prior to pursuing a career in construction management and then transitioning into development with the launch of his company Newell Development. Jake has been involved in the residential growth of Northwest Arkansas for the past 18 years. His extensive background in acquiring, developing, and selling unique infill properties has had a proven impact on real estate development throughout the region. Jake says he is most proud of his work when he sees his clients leading active lifestyles and interacting with the outdoor space around them- walking, biking, or gathering with friends outdoors – all of that plays into his company’s mission of “Curating Place”.
In this episode, we learned about his transition from construction management to his first development project. We discussed the importance of incremental development for growth in a city. Last, but not least, we discussed the importance of focus and knowing your niche when developing properties! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Jake Newell and Newell Development, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Jake Newell * LinkedIn – Newell Development * Newell Development Website*
Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Applying Environmental Branding to Create Memorable Spaces and Places with Chad Martin – Ep. 74About the GuestI am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Chad Martin, Founder of Weave Property Branding. Chad is a brand designer who has been in the architectural world for over twenty years. Living in the details as buildings take shape, he has an understanding and awareness of the small moves that can change an average space to a unique one. With a focus in environmental branding, he is able to shape a space to create a memorable experience. With a passion for thoughtful placemaking, Chad founded Weave to help intertwine branding with the built environment.Weave Property Branding works to help blend your branding efforts into the built environment. In doing so, their process provides developers with design consistency from the beginning to the delivery of the property. They begin with a specific design inspiration effort that guides the design team’s efforts throughout the project. In a way, Weave acts as an owner’s representative throughout the life of the development; they work closely with architects, interior designers, project managers, and the management companies to achieve design consistency. As your development progresses, Weave Property Branding act as the common thread that pulls your brand experience together with the built environment. We weave the design professionals together to provide a single fabric that folds into the community.
To Learn More About Chad Martin and Weave Property Branding, Check out the Following Websites:LinkedIn - Chad MartinLinkedIn - Weave Property BrandingWeave Property Branding Website Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Tackling Climate Change and Housing Affordability With High-Performance Prefab Construction with Edie Dillman – Ep. 73About the GuestI am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Edie Dillman, Co-Founder and CEO of B. Public Prefab. As co-founder of a decidedly disruptive company, she is committed to systems change and the rapid adoption of solutions for the natural and the built environment.B. Public Prefab is a team of architects, designers, and change-makers meeting the climate and housing crises head-on. They're reimagining building for the better with technology that achieves extreme energy reduction, deep sustainability, and unmatched livability—at scale.In this episode, we take a look at the keys to achieving a truly environmentally sustainable housing envelope, the keys to success in achieving net zero in contruction, and we discussed the Mission of B. Public Prefab and its goals for the future. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Edie for taking the time out of her extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of Climate Change and Housing Affordability through high-performance prefabricated construction techniques.
To Learn More About Edie Dillman and the B. Public Prefab, Check out the Following Websites:LinkedIn - Edie DillmanLinkedIn - B. Public PrefabB. Public Prefab Website Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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From Petroleum Engineer to Infill Residential Real Estate Developer by the Age of 26 with Donovan Adesoro – Ep. 072About the Guest26 year old real estate developer and investor relations director for Fund That Flip. Originally from St. Paul, MN but graduated with a petroleum engineering degree in 2019 and moved to Houston for my full time gig. Got started in RE with house hacking a duplex during the height of Covid before noticing a lack of duplex inventory throughout the city, so decided to try and develop them. Raised money from other investors in real estate Facebook groups at first and now from Twitter. Left the engineering job to join Fund That Flip, a national bridge lender who allows accredited investors to buy a piece of the debt and receive monthly distributions. Finished 16 units last year and currently have 30 under construction. Looking to get into slightly larger scale projects this year.
To Learn More About Donovan Adesoro, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Donovan Adesoro * Twitter – Donovan Adesoro * Fund that Flip Website*
Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Economic Trends and their Effects on Local Real Estate Development with Mervin Jebaraj – Ep. 71About the GuestMervin Jebaraj is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research. He has contributed to economic thinking and public policy discussion that journalists, business people, and community leaders alike rely on to understand how national and regional issues impact Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas as a whole. Arkansas Business and the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal recognized Mervin in their 40 Under 40 lists and on the Arkansas 250 list. He makes presentations that share the center’s expertise directly to over 5,000 individuals annually and tens of thousands more hear and see his economic analysis and commentary through TV, radio and print media. Jebaraj serves on the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, the Board of Directors of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport, and on the Board of Directors of the Walton Arts Center.
Mervin earned a B.A. in Economics and International Relations and a Master’s in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of Arkansas.
To Learn More About Mervin Jebaraj and the CBER, Check out the Following Websites: LinkedIn – Mervin Jebaraj * CBER UARK Website*
Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!
If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses…) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Transforming Public Financing for CRE with Venture-Backed Tech with Atif Qadir, AIA – Ep. 70 About the Guest We can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Atif Z. Qadir, AIA. Atif is the CEO of REDIST, a venture-backed technology company working to transform public financing for commercial real estate. He also produces & hosts “American Building”, the podcast REDIST sponsors with the renowned Michael Graves Architecture & Design and invests in real estate in New Jersey through his company Amanat Properties. He has deep financial, operational and regulatory experience from founding these 3 companies and from his previous work at Extell Development, where he was an Associate on the acquisitions and development teams, and at Turner Construction and at Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates Architects. Atif is a licensed architect and a LEED-accredited professional. His work has been covered by Commercial Observer and The Real Deal. He is a frequent speaker on the future of real estate and technology on industry podcasts and has appeared at Harvard, Michigan, New School, ULI and Yale. Atif is on the Advisory Board of Provident Bank and on the Boards of nonprofits The Hudson School and the Haven Adolescent Community Respite Center. He also serves as a City Planning Commissioner in the City of Hoboken. He attended MIT, where he received his Bachelor of Science degrees in Architecture and in Urban Planning, and Columbia, where he received his MBA focusing in Finance.
In this episode, we learned about the idea of REDIST and how it was transformed into the company it is now. We discussed the inception of the American Building podcast that he hosts. Last, but not least, we discussed how building growing up as a minority in the field of Architecture shaped his trajectory! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
Check out Atif's Podcast - American Building
To Learn More About Atif Qadir, the American Building Podcast, and REDIST, Check out the Following Websites:
LinkedIn - Atif Qadir REDIST Website American Building Podcast Website
Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free! If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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From Building an Architecture Firm to Developing Walkable Urban Mixed-Use in Washington with Cary Westerbeck - Ep. 69We can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Cary Westerbeck. Cary is a small developer, architect, and community advocate. He grew up in the Seattle area and started his architecture practice in 2009 in the depths of the recession. Working as an architect since 2004, he’s made the transition to being a small developer and general contractor for his own projects, fueled by a passion to create lovable urban places in his own city. In 2019 Cary completed his first mixed-use building, Fir Street Flats, in downtown Bothell, Washington, with plans for future buildings. He lives in his new building with his wife, Julie, and their two teen daughters. Cary is an active advocate for urbanism, abundant housing, and compact, walkable, equitable communities.In this episode, we learned about his transition from owning his own architecture firm to completing his first development project. We discussed the importance of neighborhood action groups in local government. Last, but not least, we discussed how building a community that shares similar passions can really be beneficial for those in development and entrepreneurship! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Cary Westerbeck and Westerbeck Architecture, Check out the Following Websites:LinkedIn - Cary WesterbeckTwitter - Cary WesterbeckWesterbeck Architecture Website Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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The Importance of Mentorship & the Rise of Mass Timber Construction with Andrew Katz – Ep. 68 About the Guest Hello and welcome to Episode #68 of the Placemaking Podcast!
We can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Andrew Katz. Andrew is the Founder & Principal of Katz Development in Denver, Colorado. Andrew grew up in Cincinnati, OH where he graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate. Shortly after, he moved to Denver, Colorado to pursue a career in real estate development. He founded Katz Development alongside his father, Scott Katz, who has owned and managed Cincinnati-based development and brokerage firm Midland Retail for 30 years, and his younger brother, Adam Katz. Andrew himself has participated in the development of approximately $350M of office, multifamily, retail and hospitality projects totaling roughly 1M square feet in Colorado and Ohio.
In this episode, we learned about the importance of mentors and advisors early in your real estate career. We discussed the rise of mass timber construction in recent history. Last, but not least, we discussed how a project site can often change and shift over time to meet the demands of the surrounding community and market conditions! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Andrew Katz and Katz Development, Check out the Following Websites:
LinkedIn - Andrew Katz Twitter - Andrew Katz Katz Development Website
Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free! If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Adaptive Planning and the Crusade for New Urbanism with Matthew Lambert – Ep. 67 About the Guest We can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Matthew Lambert. Matthew is a Partner at DPZ CoDesign. The firm has been a leader in the practice of planning and urban design for over 30 years. Their philosophy is the platform of New Urbanism, a movement promoting mixed-use, traditional neighborhood planning over the segregated-use suburban sprawl seen worldwide. As Co-founders of the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), DPZ’s principals have been longtime advocates of urban growth through compact, pedestrian-oriented, transit-friendly communities that continue to shape policy and have recently influenced new sustainability codes.
In this episode, we learned about the persistent issues that have perpetuated the suburban sprawl movement. We discussed how many of the outdated regulations have led to a car-centric model. Last, but not least, we discussed how individuals and professionals in their community can begin to advocate for developments that are truly equitable and sustainable! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Matthew Lambert and DPZ CoDesign, Check out the Following Websites:
LinkedIn -Matthew Lambert Instagram - DPZ CoDesign DPZ CoDesign Website
Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free! If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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The Year of Building Optimism Project & Equitable Development with Coby Lefkowitz – Ep. 66 About the Guest We can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Coby Lefkowitz. Coby is the co-founder and CEO of Backyard, an innovative real estate brand & operator that designs, develops, and manages multifamily housing in the country's most dynamic walkable neighborhoods. By leveraging exceptional design language and tech-enabled property management, the Backyard platform is transforming the way people live in, and experience, the communities around them. Coby is also a leading writer in the worlds of urban planning and real estate development, with a focus on exploring how to create more resilient, walkable, dynamic, and people-oriented communities. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Coby holds a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Environmental Planning, and a certificate from the McIntire School of Commerce.
In this episode, we learned about the true meaning of “equitable development” and how it can be utilized in practice. We discussed the most important attributes of a successful development project. Last, but not least, we discussed his Year of Building Optimism project and greatest lessons learned from it! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Coby Lefkowitz and Backyard, Check out the Following Websites:
LinkedIn - Coby Lefkowitz Twitter - Coby Lefkowitz Medium - Coby Lefkowitz
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From Veterinarian to Public Servant, Managing Growth in a Rapidly Growing Metroplex with Darrell O'Quinn - Ep. 65About the GuestWe can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show we have Darrel O’Quinn, City Counselor of District 5 in Birmingham, Alabama. Darrell O’Quinn represents District 5 on the Birmingham City Council. Councilor O'Quinn is the Chair of the Transportation Committee, and a member of the Economic Development & Tourism, Education, and Utilities & Technology Committees. Darrell has a long history of civic leadership. He served as president and vice president of the Crestwood Neighborhood Association from 2008-2017. During this time, Darrell joined the Birmingham Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee (2014), became a member of Leadership Birmingham (2015), and was elected for president of the Citizens Advisory Board (2015-2017).In this episode, we learned about Darrell’s motivation for serving in the Public Sector. We discussed ways that the public sector and private sector can work more closely together to solve big-picture societal problems. Finally, we discussed the ways that Birmingham is looking at growing responsibly over the coming years! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Darrell O'Quinn and Birmingham, Alabama, Check out the Following Websites:LinkedIn - Darrell O'QuinnDistrict 5 Website - Darrell O'QuinnBirmingham, Alabama Website Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Improving Construction Projects, Profits, & People through the Use of Blockchain Tech with Robert J. Salvador – Ep. 64 About the Guest Can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Robert J. Salvador, CEO of Digibuild Software. Rob is the visionary driving force behind DigiBuild, an experienced builder, project manager and construction technologist. Since the age of 10, Rob has witnessed what it was like, firsthand for his Dad struggling to run his construction company. Rob eventually started his own construction company and those experiences and the lack of change over that timespan led to his mission of creating a better way to operate construction projects and the construction community. Rob’s passion and previous cryptocurrency startup experience is what led to him becoming a blockchain expert. In 2017 he had his ‘aha moment’ and the idea of 'how to' apply blockchain to construction took form and DigiBuild was born.
In this episode, we learned about Rob’s past experience in the construction industry and how his passion for helping businesses and people grew into what is now Digibuild. We discussed the key benifts of blockchain technology and how it can be utilized in construction. Finally, we discussed how owner’s and developer’s can benefit by utilizing blockchain to build an owner’s manual of sorts for their project! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Rob Salvador and Digibuild Software, Check out the Following Websites:
LinkedIn - Robert J. Salvador LinkedIn - Digibuild Software Digibuild Website Twitter - Robert J. Salvador
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P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free! If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Engineering a Path to Placemaking in the Built Environment with Matthew Loos - Ep. 63About the GuestMatthew K. Loos, P.E. graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with a minor in General Business. He has worked in the civil engineering consulting field since 2012. He specializes in commercial real estate development throughout the Southeastern United States. His projects include, but are not limited to multi-family residential, retail, campus, and office developments. As a business minor at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the U of A, Loos was given a unique taste of the vast landscape of business. This interest in business strategies has only increased since his graduation and was a driving force behind the writing of his book “The Business of Engineering” as well as this Podcast. Matt has always been curious about what makes for successful developments and has been driven to search for these answers from others in the industry. The candid discussions shared on this show are meant to inform and inspire others looking to make big impacts in their surrounding communities.
To Learn More About Matthew Loos, Check out the Following Websites:LinkedIn - Matthew LoosTwitter - Matthew LoosTwitter - Placemaking Podcast Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Building a Brewery, Timeless Architecture, and Suburban Sprawl with Mark SeiboldHello and welcome to Episode #62 of the Placemaking Podcast!Can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Mark Seibold. Mark is an architect, city planner and serial entrepreneur. With extensive experience in design and construction, Mark has worked in a variety of industries with a close relationship to the built environment. Mark and his team launched Ethos - a Public Benefit Development Corporation in 2021 pursuing healthy and walkable ground up multi-family and adaptive reuse development projects. Mark received his BArch from Oklahoma State University in 2001, architecture licensure in 2005, and AICP certification in 2011. In this episode, we learned about Mark’s past experience from architect, to brew master, to developer and everything in between. We discussed the philosophy of City Planning presently, suburban sprawl, and the psychology behind urban growth patterns. At the end of the show, we revealed some big news on the show moving forward. Be sure to listen tell the end! There is tons of great information in this episode! I hope you enjoy!As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
To Learn More About Mark Seibold and the Ethos, Check out the Following Websites:LinkedIn - Mark SeiboldTwitter - Mark SeiboldInstagram - Mark Seibold Recommended Reading Section
P.S. We spend (a lot) of time, sweat, tears, and money creating each episode of The Placemaking Podcast. We do this without the support of sponsors as we want to keep the advertisements out of the picture and provide an add-free listening experience. YOUR support ensures we can keep delivering these discussions ad-free!If you feel compelled to donate to the show (and receive some cool bonuses...) you can check out my Patron Page.
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Utilizing Augmented Reality as a Tool for Creative Placemaking with Ben Switzer – Ep. 61About the GuestCan’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Ben Switzer, Co-Founder and CGO of EXAR Studios. After working in sales consulting in the medical field, Ben created the first flexible cognitive enhancement program in Canada. His city-wide engagement toward innovation in mental health led to his coordination of multi-disciplinary teams to develop gamified neurotechnology. His experience with AR and the solutions it can provide propelled him to become Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of EXAR Studios. In this episode, we learn about the role of Augmented Reality (AR) in placemaking specifically, the science behind AR, special uses in which EXAR studios has provided a solution during this time of social distancing and limited travel, and the future of AR at least as it relates to the travel and tourist industry. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Ben for taking the time out of her very busy schedule to discuss this topic of Utilizing AR As A Tool For Creative Placemaking with me. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
Show Notes Matt (00:00):Hey, welcome to show Ben.Ben (00:02):Really glad to be here.Matt (00:04):Glad to have you on here. This is this is a topic that I'm pretty interested in and to be honest, I wish I knew more about, so this is great to have you on the show just to begin with let's, let's go over kind of your background, Ben, and then we'll transition to where you're at EXAR and, and go from there.Ben (00:25):Sounds great. Yeah, I have a, a bit of an interesting backstory. It's one of those cases where I became an entrepreneur because I had problems in my life that I had to address and there weren't really existing solutions for my particular problem. And my interest began actually in mental health. I had a brain injury and as a young person in my twenties, I was diagnosed with PTs D and I really struggled throughout my teens as well. and, you know, I, I'm kind of at that like perfect millennial age where you know, I remember I experienced depression in high school, but I had never heard the word depression at that point. Sure. So, at that time, I didn't have any frame of reference for the sensations and feelings that were happening to me at that time. And things had kind of changed a little bit, which I'm really glad about in terms of stigma and the conversation opening up mm-hmm .Ben (01:26):So I became very interested in psychology and neuroscience as I was having these problems and interfacing with the medical system and going through psychiatric and all that stuff, wasn't really working for me to the same extent. And so I had to make some adjustments. So I actually started, excuse me, one sec, no problem. In the, in the neuro rehabilitation space. And I was looking at different technologies that people were using to enhance their brain function or to deal with stroke or other neurodegenerative diseases. So I was looking at everything from, you know, and I was shocking my brain with electricity. I was meditating for long periods, taking all kinds of supplements, and I put this all together in a program and applied it to my own life and my own problem. And I was able to have success and restore my function so I could be healthy.Ben (02:26):I wow. And, and it was, that was kind of what sparked the entrepreneurial journey. And I,
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Utilizing Small-Scale Manufacturing to Boost Local Economies with Ilana Preuss – Ep. 60About the GuestCan’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Ilana Preuss, Founder & CEO of Recast City. She is the author of Recast Your City, co-author of Discovering Your Maker Economy and Made in PLACE: Small-scale manufacturing & neighborhood revitalization, and a chapter author for Creative Placemaking and Sustainable Nation. She is a TEDx speaker on, “The Economic Power of Great Places,” and a featured keynote speaker.In this episode, we learn about the importance of small-scale manufacturing on the local economy, some examples of where this method and focus for stimulating economies has worked, and the five-step method for "recasting" your own City with small-scale manufacturing. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Ilana for taking the time out of her very busy schedule to discuss this topic of Small-Scale Manufacturing and Boosting Local Economies.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
Show Notes Matt (00:00):Hey, welcome to the show.Ilana (00:02):My pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.Matt (00:04):Glad to have you on if you would just give us a little bit more about yourself to begin with, and then we'll kind of take that forward and, so kind of give us a Genesis of your professional background, and then we'll trail that into the book and your mission.Ilana (00:24):My pleasure. So my name is Ilana Preuss a city planner by training and I got into all of this work because I love places. I love downtowns. I love walking through places and it breaks my heart when I'm in a place that is clear not that it's unloved, but that people don't necessarily see the worth. And when I say people, it's not even necessarily people who live there, but it's the people who make the policy decisions or the investment decisions about that place. And for years, I worked in smart growth and community redevelopment, investing in downtowns and housing and transportation options. And over the years, I realized that we kept talking about jobs, housing balance, or, you know, mixed-use, but we never talked about what kind of businesses, what kind of jobs. And about 10 years ago, I went down a rabbit hole to try to figure out what kind of small businesses really do make.Ilana (01:19):The biggest difference for our neighborhoods really do make the biggest is difference for our economic resilience and really make the biggest difference for creating more equitable outcomes for more people both in neighborhoods, in bigger cities that have been historically excluded or neglected as well as rural smaller cities and towns that have been neglected in different ways. And I came aim to product businesses and these are, I call them small scale manufacturing. They're any business that creates a tangible product that you can replicate or package my shorthand for it is hot sauce, handbags, or hardware. The other one that occurred to me more recently is artisans to advance manufacturing. Okay. So it's really anybody who makes a, it can be food, it can be wood, it can be high tech, but it's, it's the product side of it because they can sell in person, they can sell online. And there is a very different kind of business for where we are right now with technology. But they're also accessible. People have a heritage of making things from every different part of our population. And so they're a, a really important part of our future economic development strategy.
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Creating Walkable, Urban Communities Through Missing Middle Housing with Dan Parolek – Ep. 59About the GuestCan’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Dan Parolek, Founder of Opticos Design. Dan inspired a new movement for housing choice in 2010 when he coined the term “Missing Middle Housing,” a transformative concept that highlights a time-proven and beloved way to provide more housing and more housing choices in sustainable, walkable places. Opticos Design is driving a radical paradigm shift, urging cities, elected officials, urban planners, architects and builders to fundamentally rethink the way they design, locate, regulate, and develop homes. Americans want and need more diverse housing choices in walkable neighborhoods; homes that are attainable, sustainable, and beautifully designed.In this episode, we look at the definition of Missing Middle Housing and how it fits into various neighborhoods and schemes, the keys to success that he’s found in this type of development, and the biggest barriers to achieving true Missing Middle Housing options. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Dan for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of Creating Walkable, Urban Communities through Missing Middle Housing.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
Show Notes Matt (00:00):Hey welcome the show, Dan.Dan (00:02):Thanks for having me, Matt.Matt (00:04):Glad to have you on this show. You're, you're quite the celebrity in the development real estate development rings with your introduction of missing middle housing and what you're doing with Opticos. I'd like to kind of just start off here by getting to learn a little bit more about you and where you started out and, and then we will, we'll kind of transition that to Opticos and, and missing middle housing and, and we'll just go from there.Dan (00:39):Sure. Well just a little brief. I I'm trained as an architect. I have an undergraduate degree in architecture from Notre Dame and I practiced architecture in New York City for a number of years before deciding that I really wanted to work at the block, the neighborhood, and even the sort of city and regional scale. So I moved out to Berkeley, to go to UC Berkeley's master of urban design program. And it was just, a perfect fit for indoctrinating me into the world of urban design and how to get projects implemented and, and really just good how to get good urbanism to happen and how to root those barriers. And so actually upon my, my graduate thesis won a design competition called housing, the next 10 million which was ha ways that the California central valley could grow thoughtfully and accommodate the growth without compromising its character and the agricultural economy.Dan (01:44):And so that, that, that launched Opticos just, just a little over 20 years ago. Now we had a 20th-anniversary CEL, well celebration. We didn't really celebrate much last year due to COVID, but we we've re reached the 20-year threshold last year. Congratulations. Yeah. And one of the other reasons I started the company is because I did want to work on both architecture scale building scale projects, as well as those, that neighborhood and city scale that I mentioned earlier. And there was really no opportunity to do that even here in the bay area. And so, I decided I was just going to, I was just going to do it with my own company.Matt (02:26):Yeah. Awesome. I've got several questions from just that,
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Designing Vibrant Urban Infill Multifamily Development in the Twin Cities with Sean Sweeney – Ep. 58 About the Guest Hello and welcome to Episode #58 of the Placemaking Podcast!
Can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Sean Sweeney, co-founder of Hall Sweeney Properties, an apartment developer that focuses on urban infill development. Sean focuses his efforts currently in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sean has an eye towards details and design in his projects and focuses on bringing great housing options for those in the Twin Cities. His projects have won several awards for design and thoughtfulness in and around the Twin-Cities area. Sean is very active on Twitter and has been seen as an authority on the subject of urban infill multifamily development. He’s well worth a follow if you’re interested in the topic.
In this episode, we look at how Sean started in real estate development, his definition of Placemaking and how it can be created great design and the keys to success that he’s found in urban infill multifamily development. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Sean for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of Creating Memorable Urban Infill Multifamily with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come.
Show Notes Matt (00:00:00):
Hey, welcome to the show, Sean.
Sean (00:00:02):
Hey, thanks for having me really appreciate it.
Matt (00:00:04):
Yeah. Glad to have you on here. You know, I follow you on Twitter as, as many of your followers do and enjoy all the discussions that you bring up. And you've got quite the following over the last couple of years. So I'm really excited for this conversation because you're doing something that I envy and it's, something that I'm hoping to try to reproduce myself in you know, initially a smaller scale, but worked my way up. SoI can't wait to get into this conversation first off. Let's just get a little bit more about your background where you started out and basically the Genesis of Sean Sweeney.
Sean (00:00:52):
Oh, no problem. So my, my career started in the early two thousands. I graduated from college in 2000, had a brief, but a unsuccessful stint as an actor in Chicago for a couple of years. I always tell people, I, I have some great stories and I met some really famous, interesting people during that time, but it wasn't a good long-term plan. I didn't want to be poor when I was 50 and live on people's couches and all that. Just wait, waiting for my big break. So made a transition ended up being my girlfriend at the time. Who's now my wife had gotten into grad school in California. I actually applied to law school as a kind of, you know, typical liberal arts major didn't know what the heck I wanted to do. It was like, oh, I'll go to law school.
Sean (00:01:39):
That's probably a smart move. Spent a few months in Chicago, working at a law firm, and quickly realized that would probably not be a good fit for me. But my girlfriend had already planned to move and I wanted to come along. So I went for the ride. We ended up in the San Francisco bay area and I just, I took some time I was working a sales job, but I, that was just kind of a placeholder while I tried to figure out, excuse me, what, you know, what I really want to do. And I have an uncle who I talked to a bunch of different people in a bunch of different industries. Cause I didn't, I didn't grow up in a business house. So they, and grow up with, you know, that kind of talk around the dinner table. But what I, what I learned quickly was, you know, business is a, is a pretty great way to make a living.
Sean (00:02:23):
You know, you can do all kinds of really interesting things at the ...
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Creating Heavy Value-Add Development OpportunitiesWhere People Can Flourish with Bobby Fijan – Ep. 57About the GuestCan’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Bobby Fijan, Partner of Form Developers. Bobby has been involved in startup companies for nearly his entire career. He left graduate school to start his previous company, Cross Properties, with 3 other partners in the basement of a seminary in 2011. He's worn every hat in real estate from finance, capital markets, fundraising, leasing, late-night maintenance, and semi-professional architect. At Cross, he was the Partner in charge of the Development and Design team and was responsible for every project from an empty lot to the stabilized building. In 2019, he left day-to-day operations at Cross to co-found Tailorbird, a construction technology company, and Form Developers. Through Form, he has invested in half a dozen real estate deals and real estate technology startups and has advised many younger developers.Form’s core belief is that real estate investments are best made through patient capital with aligned interests. Their strategic focus is on multifamily and mixed-use development in two categories:1) Ground-up or heavy value-add development opportunities in urban core and high barrier to entry suburban markets.2) Holding, and re-developing, suburban retail shopping located near major arterial roads and transportation hubs.Historically, multifamily has been the least volatile asset class during downturns. Additionally, as technology advances, they believe that land located near major arterial roads will become the new “transit-oriented” parcels that are more in demand for residents and investors.In this episode, we look at the ways Bobby is able to balance the risk/reward ratio on tough projects, his definition of Placemaking and how it can be created through floor plan curation, and the keys to identifying a great floor plan mix on your next multifamily development. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Bobby for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of Creating Heavy Value-Add Development Opportunities with me.
Show Notes Matt (00:00:58):Hey, welcome to the show, Bobby!Bobby (00:01:11):Great to be here, Matt. Thank you so much for having me.Matt (00:01:15):I'm honored to have you on the show! I know you've been on a couple other shows. I know Chris powers, a friend of mine that has been on this show before, but I want to take a slightly different twist and if you're ready, I'd like to just jump right in.Bobby (00:01:30):That sounds great.Matt (00:01:31):So let's, let's get a little bit about your background starting out Bobby and then we'll kind of transition that into Form and we'll just keep going from there.Bobby (00:01:43):Okay. Perfect. Well okay. Where to begin? Well I was born in Boston and my dad was a mechanical engineering professor and we moved around the country every two to four years. So he was at MIT and then Michigan, and then I moved to the bay area, Phoenix for a bit south Jersey and, and, and a few other spots, but I grew up moving all around the country. I was actually homeschooled K through 12. Actually, that's not true. I went to kindergarten, went to public kindergarten. I was homeschooled from first grade through 12th grade. And initially, then I initially went to school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where I studied history and film because I had the good fortune to get a scholarship. So I thought, yeah, I could study whatever I wanted.Bobby (00:02:34):And I went into an intro to film class and it sounded fun. So I thought, great.
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Understanding the Pathway to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions with Breana Wheeler – Ep. 56About the GuestHello and welcome to Episode #56 of the Placemaking Podcast!Can’t wait to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Breana Wheeler, Director of Operations for BREEAM USA. Breana Wheeler became the Director of Operations - US for BRE in May 2016 with a mission to provide a credible, rigorous, science-based option for existing buildings to understand their sustainability performance, set a pathway to improvement and to certify performance where there is value in doing so. Breana organizes and oversees the daily operations of the business, including the development and maintenance of the BREEAM USA technical standards. Prior to joining BRE, Breana worked for nearly ten years as an internal advisor on environmental and sustainability risk management for large, multinational corporations and was based in London, England.BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for masterplanning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognizes and reflects the value in higher performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use and refurbishment. BREEAM does this through third party certification of the assessment of an asset’s environmental, social and economic sustainability performance, using standards developed by BRE. This means BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the well-being of the people who live and work in them, help protect natural resources and make for more attractive property investments.
In this episode, we look at Breana’s top strategy for achieving net-zero carbon emissions in construction, common myths about sustainability certifications that need to be debunked, and how BREEAM is different than some of the other sustainability certifications out there currently. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Breana for taking the time out of her crazy-busy schedule to discuss this topic of Understanding the Pathway to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions with me.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show! Show Notes Matt (00:00:02):Hey, welcome to the show, Breana,Breana (00:00:45):Thank you very much for having me.Matt (00:00:47):I'm glad to have you on the show. I've read a lot about your background and some of the main initiatives of your group and thought it'd be fun to kind of dig in a little deeper. So I guess to start off, can you give us a little bit about your background and where you started in this, in this journey, and then we'll take it from there?Breana (00:01:12):Sure. So I started actually in the sustainability field around 2007. I was looking at environmental sustainability for big corporations. I worked for a couple of design and engineering firms, very internally focused. And I was living in London. I spent 10 years in London initially, and then I moved back to the United States and started looking at real estate and sustainability very specifically in the built environment. And in 2016 I became the director of operations for each year in the USMatt (00:01:47):Well, just curious, why London?Breana (00:01:52):My partner is British, so yeah, so I moved there initially, for love as one does. So yeah, it was a great move. And actually at that time sustainability in the UK was really consolidating a proper profession. There's a lot of, there are organizations that support professional development in a really fundamental way.
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Utilizing Curation and Implementation to Create Vibrant Places with Rob Spanier – Ep. 55About the GuestI am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Rob Spanier, President of the Spanier Group. Rob is a seasoned real estate professional specializing in mixed-use development and placemaking. With 20 plus years of hands-on experience, Rob has brought to life more than 80 legacy projects throughout North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Rob is an international real estate development advisor dedicated to creating innovative, next-gen destinations and places, with expertise in creating thriving communities with uniquely curated specialty retail experiences. By playing an integral role on multi-disciplinary project teams, Rob commits his extensive knowledge in large-scale mixed-use development, master planning, specialty leasing, and deal-making as well as programming and activation in order to create vibrant and prosperous communities.The Spanier Group provides real estate development and advisory services dedicated to the creation of vibrant next-generation destinations. With over 20 years of experience in strategic mixed-use development and placemaking around the world, Spanier Group specializes in leading iconic large-scale projects and supporting multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the successful creation of thriving places and communities. Their team specializes in mixed-use developments, placemaking, deal-making, community involvement, and much more.In this episode, we take a look at Rob’s top tip for creating memorable spaces, the keys to success in mixed-use developments, and we discussed what is truly important when trying to curate a specific sense of place. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Rob for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of Utilizing Curation and Implementation to Create Vibrant Places.
Show Notes Matt (00:05):Hey, welcome to the show, Rob!Rob (00:15):Nice to meet you and nice to see you.Matt (00:17):Yeah, I'm glad you could join me today. I've heard a lot about what you guys are doing there, Spanier group, and I thought it'd be interesting to kind of dig into that a little bit and kind of unravel what you guys are working on. So to begin, I want to get a little bit more about your background in real estate, where it kind of all began the Genesis of Rob and real estate, and then we'll kind of carry it through to where you're at Spanier.Rob (00:47):Sure. Sounds good. And thank you for having me on the show. Really appreciate the opportunity to just sort of connect and chat a bit. So my background is not a traditional one. I went to school in Canada and studied McGill University and had this incredible opportunity to join a company called Intrawest corporation Intrawest resorts, which in the mid to late nineties was the preeminent resort developer that was doing some incredible stuff around the world, Canada, the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. And when I joined them at the ripe age of 22, I knew very little about real estate, much less so about commercial real estate and even less so about retail. But I grew up in Montreal and Montreal is probably one of the greatest cities in the world that has its foundations and its bones that are, that come from the European design of cities.Rob (01:41):And so everything is so close. So where I grew up in the neighborhood of NDG, at the corner of my street was the fire station and the bakery and the fruit store and the bank, and then the larger grocery store and the tailor and all of those services. And so growing up for me, I lived in a world of mixed-use.
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Designing Buildings as Frames of Experience for the Public Realm with Marlon Blackwell, FAIA – Ep. 54About the GuestI am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Marlon Blackwell, FAIA. Marlon is a practicing architect in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and serves as the E. Fay Jones Distinguished Professor at the Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design at the University of Arkansas. Marlon is integrally involved in every phase of the design process, from programming through construction administration, for every project Marlon Blackwell Architects pursues. He is involved on a daily basis, working to establish the design direction and works directly with client leadership on critical issues, ensuring a successful outcome and meaningful relationship. Since 1992, Marlon Blackwell Architects has designed for its clients award-winning, environmentally responsive projects. Their belief that architecture can happen anywhere, at any scale, at any budget - for anyone - drives them to quite literally challenge the conventions and models that often obscure other possibilities. They use an economy of means to deliver a maximum of meaning in places where architecture is often not expected to be found. In every instance, they strive to express the richness of the places they work and the ideals of the people and institutions they so proudly serve.In this episode, we take a look at the importance of establishing a vocabulary in architecture, we dig into the elements of design that bring the most impact to the building’s surroundings, and we discussed the most important attributes of a successful project when taken in the context of framing the public realm. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Marlon for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of designing buildings as frames of experience for the public realm with me.
Show Notes Matt (00:07): Hey, welcome to the show Marlon. Glad to have you on here. Marlon (00:19): Thanks Matt! Good to be here. Matt (00:21): Yeah, it's an honor to have you on here. You're a pretty big name in architecture and I think it's going to be a fun discussion. So without further ado, you want to just jump right in. Marlon (00:32): Sure. Hit, hit me with your, your best shot. Matt (00:37): Well, let's, let's start off and learn a little bit more about you and your background basically where you started, where the story of Marlon began and then we'll, we'll kind of take it from there. Marlon (00:53): Okay. how I began in architecture, right. How far did we go back? So, well, I mean, I think it's something that the realization that architecture's something I wanted to pursue or study really came out of, you know, pursuit of other things initially. I mean, I when I was growing up, I grew up near the near the Everglades actually well I'm south Florida, so I had a, and I had a real love for nature I had developed. And of course, if you're in your, the Everglades, there's a lot of things that can eat you. So, a real fear of nature is a good thing too. So, but I had had this desire to be a paleontologist and you know, love to put in skeletons and bones together and pieces. And, you know, I was very interested in, you know, what you don't see in nature in history and then that sort of evolved into desire to right, to be a journalist or creative writer. Because I love to tell stories. I love stories. And then you know, then it starts to evolve again, I all through my junior high and high school and even part of college, I cartoon like drew had a real passion for developing my own characters against stories and, and reductive figures. I love the comics.
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Resurrecting Place and Redeeming Cities Through Redemptification with John Marsh – Ep. 53 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have John Marsh. John is the Co-Founder of Marsh Collective and host of the Redemptification Podcast, serial entrepreneur, a consultant helping steward over $1b in redemptive real estate in 9 small towns (with populations of 800-180k) around America, with love for building things that are beautiful and meaningful. Over the last 25 years, John and Ashely have guided over 40 startup businesses in various industries, such as Construction, Real Estate Investing, Advertising, and also multiple Restaurants. John and his wife have renovated 220+ buildings within 10 blocks of downtown Opelika to help save their city. Today, John’s current focus is on helping others make generational differences in their communities and companies by helping patrons bridge the gap between redeeming vision and execution. Marsh Collective is a collective of entrepreneurs who empower businesses and leaders to make an impact in their companies and communities. They help others to reach their goals through redemptive vision consulting. They believe in creating Emotional Architecture, where stories are considered before structures, where people are truly aligned with profits. They provide consultation services for clients from small towns to mid-size towns all over the United States. In this episode, we take a look at the importance of establishing a “Sandbox” in your own town, understand that people love things that are loved, and the importance of establishing a vision for you and your developments going forward. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated John for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of redemptification with me. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This episode was so much fun to record. John was an absolute pleasure to interview. He brought so much wisdom with a big dash of humility. We dove into the method behind his work in great detail throughout the episode. He showed us that this type of work could really be done anywhere and at any starting point. His love for his town and the structures that he works on show through with each new project. There were so many great talking points that Todd made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of placemaking and redemptive real estate that he possesses.
People Love things that are Loved Work Hard on your Vision Pick a Sandbox and Stick with it
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
People Love things that are Loved What I loved about this discussion with John is that all of the principles we discussed were simple but extremely impactful. He understood the basic principles that make development and redevelopment in a town very successful. All of these principles or doctrines can be implemented in your strategy with real estate development going forward. They aren’t necessarily hard to implement but do take initiative to make happen. This is what sets apart developers working within the same town. One of the principles discussed is the one listed above; People love things that are loved. People can identify “love” in a place just by simply looking at the structure and surrounding ...
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Utilizing Modern Construction Methods to Create Memorable Places with Todd Smith – Ep. 52 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Todd Smith of 356 out of Toronto, Ontario. What started as a (surprisingly plausible) model of a passive solar chalet for a Grade 4 science fair, culminated over many years as the creative work of developing places where people flourish. Today, through his development firm 356, Todd creates places where people love to live and are proud to call home. Humanizing, beautiful places in characterful, green neighborhoods that encourage health and wellbeing. While the role of a developer takes shape in literal built environments, Todd has learned that a developer's core value lies in holding a vision for what could be, then gathering, directing, supporting, and challenging talented people to be imaginative, solve problems, and work together to create something exceptional. This is what drew him to modular construction for a purpose-built rental enclave the company is developing which overlooks a 10-acre conservation area in an exurban community near Toronto, Canada. Todd and 356 are making places for people who want something different, something more responsible, something that inspires and enables. They're doing the same for purpose-driven place makers, aligned developers, and investors who share the vision of renewing people and places, while multiplying their capital resources, stewardship and impact. 356 doesn’t try to mimic the past. It doesn't aim for mass appeal. Instead, the company creates spaces for the many lifestyles that don’t mesh with the majority of homes being built. Design-forward spaces in architecturally engaging buildings that both respect and strengthen communities.
In this episode, we take a look at how modular is being used in this setting, what advantages it affords, some myths surrounding prefabrication, and why it's important to plan for contingencies no matter what the construction method. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Todd for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of modular construction in development with me. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another really fun episode to record. I enjoyed hearing about Todd’s intro into real estate development from his fourth-grade science project all the way up to the interesting work he’s doing now. His insights into the psychology of creating great places were truly eye-opening. As you’ll hear in this discussion, his experience with modular construction could potentially help you avoid pitfalls with your next project. There were so many great talking points that Todd made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of placemaking and modular construction that he possesses.
There Can Many Reasons Why Someone Would be Interested in Going Modular Common Myths for Modular Construction Busted You Can Learn Things from Everyone No-Matter Where they are in the Process
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
There Can Many Reasons Why Someone Would be Interested in Going Modular So, before we really dive deep into this topic, let us define modular construction. Who better to describe modular construction than the Modular Building I...
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The Art & Science of Making Places Into Living Spaces with Alberto Mattiello – Ep. 51 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Alberto Mattiello, the Creative Director of the Placemakers Group of Companies and Founder of Eitherland. Alberto is an award-winning entrepreneur, business futurist, author, and keynote speaker. Author of ‘Mind The Change’ and ‘Marketing Thinking’ and curator of the local edition of the MIT Sloan books, he is a technology and business innovation expert. As Creative Director of the Placemakers Group, Alberto guides the design direction of several companies that all revolve around enhancing public spaces. As you’ll hear in this episode, he is also the Founder of Eitherland, a company focused on outdoor workspaces.
The Placemakers group is the world’s biggest street furniture manufacturer group. They are exclusively committed to anticipating future trends and designing urban spaces that enhance interpersonal connections, citizens’ wellbeing, engagement and performance as a whole. The group consists of six companies currently. They are Metalco, Bellitalia, CityDesign, MyEquilibria, 1984, and of course Eitherland. The Placemakers mission is simple: start with a beautiful public space and transform it into a living place that brings immediate and tangible benefits to communities, municipalities and people who use it.
In this episode, we are going to dive deep into the ideas behind effective placemaking, understand how being outdoors can actually reshape neural pathways in the brain, and a look into the future of public spaces and the various activities that will be brought back into the public realm. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Alberto for taking the time out of his tremendously busy schedule to discuss this topic of the art & science of making ordinary places into truly living spaces with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another enjoyable episode to record. I honestly threw out the topics I had written for the show and just began diving into various topics as they arose. Alberto really understood the built environment and was in tune with how people interacted with the public realm. The way the Placemakers group is literally re-shaping the public areas is unbelievable. There were so many great talking points that Alberto made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of placemaking that they both possess.
Citizens are no Longer Loyal to A Certain City The Pandemic and Theory “U” The Best Way to See How People will React to your Placemaking Ideas is to Actually Implement them
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
Citizens are no Longer Loyal to A Certain City This first point is one that we in the U.S. probably don’t always relate to but at some level we do have a loyalty to our hometown. The same is true for most around the world. However, with the globalization of the world, we are seeing less and less loyalty to the places our family is from or where we grew up. As Alberto mentioned, this trend is becoming more apparent in Europe where there was often a strong tie to stay “close to home” when starting adulthood.
This point was brought up due to the fact that cities are changing. People are moving to cities they actually want to live in. Employment locations are not as big as a factor as they once were due to the great reshuffling that is occurring in this pandemic.
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Providing Access to Technologies Through Investing in Communities with Bryan & Alex – Ep. 50 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Today on the show I have Bryan Feil and Alex Jones of Bitwise Industries. Bryan Feil serves as the VP of Real Estate Development at Bitwise Industries, overseeing the coworking, building development, and hospitality teams. Bryan assistants in locating, designing, and identifying architectural partners for each Bitwise Real Estate project. He especially enjoys being able to help Bitwise’s city expansion projects and revitalizing downtowns through growth and development. Bryan Feil grew up in Bakersfield, CA with the desire to use business as a tool to impact lives. That passion took its first form in co-founding and developing Neighborhood Industries, an organization focused on operating businesses that reveal value in people so that they can be positive contributors to their community. Alex has seven years of experience in the Civil Engineering industry. He has worked on water & wastewater treatment projects, residential subdivisions while working as an Assistant Engineering for consulting firms located within the Central Valley of California. Currently, Alex works for Bitwise Industries as a Project Manager for the Real Estate Development Team. Day-to-day activities include defining and tracking project scopes, schedules, and budgets to meet project targets. He also monitors progress and coordinates work with architects, contractors, and engineers. Since July 1, 2013, the day they opened Bitwise Mural District, they’ve focused on connecting humans from marginalized communities and stories of systemic poverty to skills and resources necessary to access opportunities in the tech industry. They do this through their three main pillars which include Bitwise Real Estate, Bitwise Technology Consulting, and Bitwise Workforce Training. This company has an interesting business model. I would highly recommend you learn more about their work by finding them online at bitwiseindustries.com.
In this episode, we are going to discuss how their campus projects help to fulfill the mission of Bitwise, a behind-the-scenes look into the criteria they use when evaluating potential projects, and how to build excitement in the surrounding community for your upcoming project. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Bryan and Alex for taking the time out of their extremely busy schedules to discuss this topic of providing access to technologies by investing in communities with me. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about Bryan and Alex’s experience at Bitwise. It’s fun to hear how two seemingly very different individuals can team up to make really cool things happen in these communities through Bitwise Industries. Some might say that the lack of formal training has actually been their greatest asset when tackling these projects. They don’t take anything for granted and ask tons of questions. This mindset will take them a long way with Bitwise. There were so many great talking points that Bryan and Alex made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of placemaking that they both possess. 1. How to Build Excitement and Connection with the Surrounding Community with your Project2. Who said Older Buildings aren’t Exciting3.
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Understanding the Importance of Placemaking in Masterplanned Developments with Brian Sutherland – Ep. 49 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Brian Sutherland, Vice President of Development at Argo Development Corporation, and the development lead for the Lakeview Village project on the shores of Lake Ontario. Brian Sutherland has over 15 years of experience in the land use planning and land development industry. With experience working for a municipal government, planning consulting firm, and land developer, Brian has a wide range and vast level of experience and perspective towards community building and land use planning. Brian has managed large landowner groups, obtained approvals for dozens of subdivision, zoning, and site plan applications, and overseen successful construction of large-scale residential subdivisions. Brian has experience working on projects across the GTA collaborating with residents, community groups, builders, elected officials, municipal departments, and agencies to create exciting, vibrant, and successful places for people to live work, and play. ARGO is a leading-edge land development company with more than 25 years of experience. They are a dedicated team of driven industry experts that rivals the largest developers in the Nation with a streamlined and nimble operation which enables us to provide a competitive advantage. Inspired by their successful past, today they proactively strive to create thriving communities. In this episode, we are going to discuss the impact that finding the right team can have on a large development masterplan, a behind-the-scenes look into several innovations their development team is exploring on their projects, and how to build excitement in the surrounding community for your upcoming project. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Brian for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of understanding the importance of placemaking in masterplanned developments with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. I thoroughly enjoyed the story Brian shared on the history behind the Lakeview Village project. The consortium that is working on this project is truly creating something special there on the shores of Lake Ontario. By handpicking the various members of the project team, they were able to bring on groups that could fortify their strengths and shore up their weaknesses on the project. There were so many great talking points that Brian made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of placemaking from the standpoint of masterplanned communities that Brian possesses.
Picking the Right Team is Absolutely Crucial Utilizing Effective Placemaking to Create Ideal Developments Creativity and Flexibility are Paramount When Designing Truly Unique Developments
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-aways” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
Picking the Right Team is Absolutely Crucial This is the first point for a reason. When forming this consortium of team members, they realized it was absolutely critical that the right group was brought together to tackle the unique challenges inherent in this colossal undertaking. The team as a whole represents various skills and expertise that form a true knowledge bank for the g...
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Building Better Neighborhoods Through the Use of Incremental Development with Monte Anderson– Ep. 48 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Monte Anderson is the President of Options Real Estate a multi-service real estate company specializing in creating sustainable neighborhoods in southern Dallas and northern Ellis counties in Texas. Monte began his real estate career in 1984 and since that time has concentrated solely on improving the living and working environments in these communities where he was born and raised. Monte is an outspoken and frequently recognized advocate for policies and practice to serve urban neighborhoods. He currently focuses his development practice in three areas in North Texas: the southern neighborhoods of the city of Dallas, the first ring suburb of Duncanville and exurban town of Midlothian. Options Real Estate was founded in October of 1991 as a full service commercial real estate company specializing in Southern Dallas County with one mission in mind: To make their neighborhoods and business owners better through the built environment. Their team believes in enhancing the quality of life of Southern Dallas & Northern Ellis Counties and advancing its image, in order to provide an enduring inheritance to future generations. They hope to build a community where residents can enjoy educational and employment opportunities that utilize the technologies of the 21st century, find cultural and spiritual fulfillment, and have a diversity of OPTIONS for shopping, dining, entertainment, living, or homes. In this episode, we are going to discuss the importance of finding and cultivating your own territory or “farm”, how to raise capital for your next real estate development deal, and what it truly means to be an incremental developer. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Monte for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of improving communities through the use of incremental development with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. I hate to pick favorites because it is so hard to do, but this one is up there as one of my favorite episodes to record. I thoroughly enjoyed Monte candidly sharing his story as well as the story of the Options Real Estate. Monte really provided some great inspiration for those looking to get into development but may not know how to get in to development. He showed through his story that anybody really can get into development. Even someone whose job is to pick up trash in a parking lot. There were so many great talking points that Monte made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of incremental development that Monte possesses. 1. Finding and Cultivating your “Farm”2. How to Develop Incrementally out of Necessity.3. Don’t chase money. Let money chase you. As always, I will dig into each of these “take-aways” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
Finding and Cultivating your “Farm” Monte provided so many great analogies during the course of our discussion to better paint a picture of what he is doing in south Dallas. One of the comparisons made was of the area he consistently “cultivated” for development to a farm. This is not hard to conceive visually. He is constantly tending to his farm by planting seeds of developmen...
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Creating and Sustaining Thriving Communities Worldwide Through ULI Membership with Wes Craiglow, AICP – Ep. 45 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Wes Craiglow is the Northwest Arkansas Coordinator for the Urban Land Institute. In this capacity, he is responsible for uniting the mission of ULI with NWA real estate trends and land-use professionals through the use of technical assistance, events, and leader development. Before joining ULI as the NWA Coordinator, Wes worked as a Planner and Deputy Director for Planning for over 10 years at the City of Conway, Arkansas. While studying Geography at UCA, Wes got a taste of how the built environment impacts the behaviors of individuals within the community. He then took this a step further in understanding and obtained a Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Development. ULI is a member-driven organization dedicated to advancing leadership in the responsible use of land and creating and sustaining thriving communities. At its core, ULI is the sum of its members, who themselves deliver the ULI mission, positively shaping the future of real estate and land use disciplines in ways that lead to the development of built environments that better serve more people. ULI members include real estate developers, builders, owners, finance and investment professionals, brokers, architects, engineers, urban planners, public officials, and more. In this episode, we are going to discuss the importance of the Urban Land Institute’s Mission, how members can benefit from the ULI Organization, and all about the various events that ULI hosts in order to provide benefit to its members. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Wes for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of real estate development and the Urban Land Institute with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. I thoroughly enjoyed Wes candidly sharing his story as well as the story of the Urban Land Institute. Wes is extremely passionate about the ULI organization, so I figured there was no one better to discuss the mission of this organization. His enthusiasm for the organization was evident when discussing the benefits of the organization to its members. There were so many great talking points that Wes made throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding in the mission of Urban Land Institute that Wes possesses. 1. ULI was started as a member network by real estate developers that wanted to share knowledge and network almost 85 years ago. 2. Networking and Education are essentially the two main pillars of benefits provided to members of ULI. 3. ULI is the “second-most” important membership that someone in the industry should be a part of. As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
ULI was started as a member network by real estate developers that wanted to share knowledge and network almost 85 years ago. According to ULI.org, “The National Real Estate Foundation for Practical Research and Education—the predecessor to the Urban Land Institute—is chartered in Illinois, with Walter S. Schmidt as its first president on December 14th, 1936. The model is that of a real estate college—a school of urbiculture—that could stand as an objective and recognized source of research an...
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From Venezuela to Miami, Learning Real Estate From the University of Life with Reinaldo Padron – Ep. 46 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Reinaldo Padron is a Civil Engineer, Real Estate Analyst, MSRE, and Blockchain Advocate to name just a few hats that he wears. Reinaldo has an amazing story that I can’t wait to share with you all. He was born in Venezuela in 1985. In July 2008 he graduated from his University as a Civil Engineer. Always choosing classes that were toughest to truly test himself. Soon after he graduated from the traditional University, his real test came in the form of government turmoil. In 2008, Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuela’s telecommunications, electricity, steel, and cement companies. This was only the beginning of the troubles that faced the citizens and Reinaldo’s father’s development business. Reinaldo was thrust into leading his father’s troubled real estate development business through extremely tough times in an area where corruption and violence was prevalent. He eventually moved to the United States in search of new opportunities to learn and grow in his real estate development skills. He ultimately ended up in Miami where he is now and has been partnering up on some really interesting projects in the areas surrounding the City. With an eye on the future, Reinaldo is hoping to integrate blockchain technologies and NFT’s in his real estate ventures going forward. Reinaldo’s story is one of passion, grit, and perseverance and I can’t wait to share it with you.
In this episode, we are going to discuss Reinaldo’s experiences in Venezuela, how he was able to persevere through extremely tough situations, and how he was able to keep the dream alive in his many ventures going forward. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Reinaldo for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of real estate development with me. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another interesting episode to record. I thoroughly enjoyed Reinaldo candidly sharing his story and the various revelations he came across on his journey. Reinaldo shared his personal experiences growing up in Venezuela and the various hardships he encountered along the way. At the age of 24, he was thrust into the leadership position of his father’s real estate development company that was $24M in debt and working on five residential developments at the time. Reinaldo learned quite a bit from this experience, mainly that if he could handle that, he could tackle just about any challenge that came his way. There were so many great talking points that Reinaldo throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of real estate development that Reinaldo possesses.
Nothing replaces perseverance and hard work when seeking success. It never hurts to ask. Even if you don’t think it’s possible that you will receive something. Always leverage the tools you have to achieve the outcome you want to obtain.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
Nothing replaces perseverance and hard work when seeking success. “Grit is that 'extra something' that separates the most successful people from the rest. It's the passion, perseverance, and stamina that we must channel in order to stick with our dreams until ...
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Finding Success in the Development of Workforce Housing with Scott Choppin – Ep. 45 About the Guest I am extremely excited to share this next conversation with all of you. There is tons of gold in this episode, I can promise you that. Scott Choppin is the Founder of the Urban Pacific Group of Companies. Scott oversees all operations of the Urban Pacific family of companies, including business development, capital acquisition, and strategic planning. Prior to forming Urban Pacific, Scott was Director of Land Acquisition for the Multi-Family Development Division of Irvine-based Sares-Regis Group. In that position, he was responsible for all land acquisition activities for the development of luxury, market rate and senior rental communities throughout California, Colorado, and Arizona. Before joining Sares-Regis, Scott was with Kaufman and Broad Multi-Housing Group. As Senior Project Manager, he was responsible for all activities related to multifamily development, including the acquisition, entitlement, syndication and development of over 1,900 affordable multifamily units throughout the Western United States. Prior to that, Scott was a project manager with Irvine-based Snyder Langston Real Estate and Construction Services. Needless to say, Scott has tons of practical experience in the real estate development field. For over 50 years, Urban Pacific and it's founding family have been developers of premier residential and commercial projects. Including development of the Long Beach World Trade Center, and the Axis at Westminster project, Urban Pacific and the Choppin family have built superior identities of trust, value, authority, and leadership in the real estate development domain throughout the nation. In this episode, we are going to discuss founding Urban Pacific, the attributes of successful developments and how they can impact the surrounding neighborhoods and towns, and how developers can potentially make the leap from working with a firm to owning their own development firm. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Scott for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of workforce housing development with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another interesting episode to record. I thoroughly enjoyed Scott candidly sharing his story behind founding Urban Pacific and the various revelations he came across on his journey. This was a really interesting look at not only the economic benefits of workforce housing but the potential societal impacts that such developments bring to the surrounding communities. There were so many great talking points that Scott shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding of workforce housing and real estate development that Scott possesses. 1. If you want to launch into your own real estate development firm, it might be best to work for a firm and build a large network before doing so. 2. There are many traits that make Workforce Housing desirable for development. 3. Building Trust is absolutely necessary in the Real Estate Development Industry. As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
If you want to launch into your own real estate development firm, it might be best to work for a firm and build a large network before doing so. As mentioned previously,
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Strategies in Building Strong Towns with Incremental Developments with Charles Marohn, P.E. – Ep. 44 About the Guest One of the best shows yet is coming your way! I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Charles Marohn is the Founder and President of Strong Towns and the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity. He is a Professional Engineer (PE) licensed in the State of Minnesota and a land use planner with over two decades of experience. He holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Minnesota. He has presented the concept of Strong Towns in hundreds of cities and towns across North America. He is featured in the documentary film Owned: A Tale of Two Americans, and was named one of the 10 Most Influential Urbanists of all time by Planetizen. “Strong Towns supports thousands of people across the United States and Canada who are advocating for a radically new way of thinking about the way we build our world. Strong Towns believes that in order to truly thrive, our cities and towns must:• Stop valuing efficiency and start valuing resilience• Stop betting our futures on huge, irreversible projects, and start taking small, incremental steps and iterating based on what we learn• Stop fearing change and start embracing a process of continuous adaptation• Stop building our world based on abstract theories, and start building it based on how our places actually work and what our neighbors actually need today• Stop obsessing about future growth and start obsessing about our current financesBut most importantly, they believe that Strong Citizens from all walks of life can and must participate in a Strong Towns approach—from citizens to leaders, professionals to neighbors, and everyone in between.”
In this episode, we are going to discuss the mission of the Strong Towns movement, the attributes of successful developments and how they can impact the surrounding neighborhoods and towns, and how developers can learn from the past in order to help build developments that ultimately benefit their cities and communities. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Charles for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of Strong Towns with me. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another interesting episode to record. I thoroughly enjoyed Charles candidly sharing his story behind founding Strong Towns and the various revelations he came across on his journey. From just beginning to ask questions about “successful” City spending to the formulation of his thoughts on what truly successful developments are and can be. As mentioned in the show, this wasn’t just a dive into the history of Cities, but truly a deep dive into understanding humanity as a whole. There were so many great talking points that Charles shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding in City Planning, Engineering, and Development that Charles possesses.
As an incremental developer, you are fighting against forces much bigger than yourself. (i.e. subsidized capital) Private Public Partnerships; the good, the bad, the ugly. There are a lot of basic business principles that Cities could very well adopt that will make them much stronger.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
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Engineering Successful Developments: The Process Behind Building a Development Firm with TJ Moore – Ep. 43 About the Guest Another amazing episode of the show is coming your way! I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. TJ is a Partner and President of ECM Development in Arlington, Texas. Born and raised in Arlington Texas, TJ Moore is a civil engineer who fell in love with land development. After getting his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, TJ worked for Graham Associates Engineering where he designed over 3,000 residential lots and several multifamily developments. He then decided to pursue a career in land development with David Weekley Homes. There he gained experience and cultivated his passion developing over 1,100 lots, specializing in high-density urban infill. In early 2019, TJ created his own development company, ECM Development. The guiding philosophy for ECM Development is to design and construct high-quality communities that create value, provide homes for a diverse population, and exceed every expectation of project stakeholders. They aim to achieve superior returns for their investors while mitigating the risk with a diversified portfolio of projects ranging from fee simple lot development to single-family rental communities. Every day they strive to live out their mission of creating value to restore hope by knowing Him and making Him known. In this episode, we are going to discuss the lessons TJ learned in transitioning from an engineer to founder of a real estate development firm, the role of single-family for-rent developments in commercial real estate, and the ways that ECM diversifies itself from the competition and other asset types. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated TJ for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of single-family rental real estate development with me.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends in the industry. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another really fun episode to record. TJ has an interesting, but not all to unique, background in Civil Engineering. He took that understanding in the horizontal realm of development and built on it by learning about debt, equity, vertical construction, and so much more. He noticed a real need in the community to provide for-rent single-family developments to the DFW metroplex. TJ decided to take a leap of faith and founded ECM Development in 2019 to fill this need. There were so many great talking points that TJ shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding in the real estate development processes that TJ possesses.
It’s about the WHO, not the WHAT. Single Family For-Rent Developments Provide Another Alternative to Traditional Multifamily Developments. Creating Processes in Real Estate Development is Absolutely Crucial.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
It’s about the WHO, not the WHAT. Real estate development is a people-business, plain and simple. TJ recognized this early in his career and lived by the principle of “It’s about the WHO not the WHAT” in all of the practices relating to his business. The beauty of this statement is in its simplicity. TJ has used this guiding principle successfully in steering his company closer to ECM’s Mission Statement every day.
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Real Estate Entitlement Hurdles & How to Overcome Them with Ryan Smith– Ep. 42 About the Guest Another insightful episode of the show is coming your way! I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Ryan is the managing member of Gemini Capital Management, LLC. Ryan has been working in the property development and management industry since 2008. Ryan has worked on a wide range of real estate development projects including build to suit for multiple Fortune 500 Firms, missing middle housing developments, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, hospitality, and small scale single and multi-family renovations to name a few. Ryan completed his undergraduate work at Alma College with double majors in Business Administration and Economics. In 2013, Ryan earned a MBA degree from Central Michigan University as well. As mentioned, Ryan is the managing member of Gemini Capital. Gemini Capital Management, LLC was created in 2012 by Ryan & Kirk Smith. Gemini Capital Management is located in Mid-Michigan and is a real estate investment firm which acquires, develops, manages, leases and operates commercial, industrial, and residential properties. In this episode, we are going to discuss the most important first steps when beginning the entitlement process on your next project, how to engage surrounding property owners when you begin this process, and some of the biggest lessons learned from Ryan’s experience as a real estate entrepreneur. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Ryan for taking the time out of his extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of real estate development entitlement hurdles with me.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. Ryan has had a passion to continue his learning even past college. With a “step-up-to-bat” mentality that Ryan possessed, he quickly found success in real estate investing and development. He started out in acquisition and then learned all he could about the management side of the business. This provided a sturdy foundation for his future endeavors in real estate development. With a “can-do” attitude, Ryan was able to persevere through many trials in building Gemini Capital into what it is today. There were several great talking points that Ryan shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from an understanding in entitlement processes that Ryan possesses.
The Law of 300 Feet. You’re never going to make everybody happy with your development, but it doesn’t hurt to try (a little). NIMBY’s to YIMBY’s
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
The Law of 300 Feet. I bet you might be wondering right now, what is so important about “The Law of 300 Feet”. We did not explicitly discuss this in the episode, but it bears discussion here. Essentially, the Law of 300 Feet refers to the 300-foot radius that can be drawn around your development and all those property owners that reside within that radius. Sometimes this boundary can be extended 500 feet or more but more regularly this boundary extends from 300-500 feet from your property. This varies from City to City so verify with your local jurisdiction. So why are we talking about an imaginary boundary around your property? Well as many of you already know, this boundary is typically used as an outer limit for sending out notifications for an upcoming public hearing for your property. When a project requires a public hearing, the City that your project is in is required to notify all surrounding property owners within a certain di...
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Curating a Development Through the Use of Data in a Post-Covid World With Sara Maffey – Ep. 41 About the Guest Another great episode is coming your way. I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Sara is the Head of Industry Relations at Local Logic. She has a unique mix of experiences that have helped to shape her to. She has worked as an Architectural Intern, Mechanical Superintendent, Consultant, a Fellow with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Developer, and Managing Director of Placemaking at Transwestern, all before starting her role at Local Logic. Needless to say, she knows her stuff when it comes to the business of real estate. As mentioned above, she is the Head of Industry Relations at Local Logic. The goal of Local Logic is to help individuals and developers make the right real estate decisions. They utilize AI and user-generated data to quantify location qualities for any address in the US and Canada. The company analyzes over 80-billion data points each month and currently interpolates them into 17 location scores. As Sara likes to say, they are the data and insights backing up your investment strategy - gut check your gut feel. In this episode, we are going to discuss the process of data collection at Local Logic, the certain data points, and trends that have most surprised her during the course of this current global pandemic, and what Sara sees coming next in proptech in regard to data usage in real estate development. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Sara for taking the time out of her extremely busy schedule to discuss this topic of real estate development data collection with me.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. Sara has seemingly worked in every facet of real estate. As mentioned, she has worked in the public sector as well as the private sector. Throughout her various roles in real estate, the underlying passion of creating great spaces has been her guiding light. She understands the importance of placemaking in a community and does her best to promote this ideology in all of the roles that she fulfills, especially in her current role as Head of Industry Relations at Local Logic. There were several great talking points that Sara shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in Placemaking that Sara possesses.
Local Logic makes the normally unquantifiable characteristics of an area, quantifiable. Data has uncovered some very interesting shifts in desirable aspects of areas and places due to Covid-19. What really is the future of data within the larger genre of PropTech?
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
Local Logic makes the normally unquantifiable characteristics of an area, quantifiable. As mentioned in the introduction, Local Logic’s goal is to help individuals and developers make the right real estate decisions. Seems straight-forward right. Well as we dig a little deeper, you’ll begin to understand that there is much more to this than meets the eye. Local Logic is currently working with groups like ReMax and Sotheby’s to provide homebuyers and the like with real insights on the less quantifiable characteristics of a properties surrounding areas. With metrics such as Vibrancy and Quietness, a potential homebuyer could get a better feel for what the neighborhood is like without even stepping food on the block. Sara also mentioned a project she is very much involved in that includes finding real estate that meets not only the objective metrics ut...
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Creating a Lasting Legacy Through Investing in Small Change with Eve Picker – Ep. 40 About the Guest Hello and welcome to Episode #40 of the Placemaking Podcast! Another great episode is coming your way. I am thrilled to share this next conversation with all of you. Eve is the Founder of Small Change. Her background as an architect, city planner, urban designer, real estate developer, community development strategist, publisher, and instigator give her a rich understanding of how cities work, how urban neighborhoods can be revitalized, what policies are needed to do it, and the unique marketing that creates the buzz needed for regeneration. Needless to say, she knows her stuff when it comes to the business of real estate. As mentioned above, she founded Small Change, a real estate equity crowdfunding platform. Their goal is to raise funds for meaningful real estate projects building better cities everywhere. Like Kickstarter for real estate—but with a return. They match developers to investors, providing investment opportunities for everyone who cares about cities and wants to make change. All through a fluid and compliant technology platform. It’s really a unique and interesting platform. The platform allows allows for everyone to invest in small change throughout their community. In this episode, we are going to discuss the genesis of Small Change, the difficulties that Eve and her team faced when starting up this platform, as well as understanding the process for offering and investing on projects within the platform. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Eve for taking the time out of her busy schedule to discuss this topic of real estate development crowdfunding with me.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was another fun episode to record. Eve has a seemingly traditional route into real estate development, but along her journey, has taken on careers and projects that have helped to shape her into the agent of change that she now is. Her main vehicle for change now is the crowdfunding platform she founded that allows developers the opportunity to obtain capital from those that might not have been able to provide it in the past. There were several great talking points that Eve shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the real estate development process that Eve possesses.
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act really helped to set the stage for crowdfunding startups. Small Change utilizes an index, called the Small Change Index, to judge a projects potential to provide lasting benefits to their surrounding community. Access to capital can often be the barrier to entry for developers looking to make an incremental increase to their surrounding communities; Small Change helps to combat this.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act really helped to set the stage for crowdfunding startups. Eve pointed out to me this very important piece of legislature that I didn’t really understand initially, but helped to provide an avenue for investment into small businesses everywhere. This was the Jumpstart our Business Startups or JOBS act of 2017. Signed into law by President Barack Obama on April 5, 2012, “Title III, also known as the CROWDFUND Act, has drawn the most public attention because it creates a way for companies to use crowdfunding to issue securities, something that was not previously permitted.” (Wikipedia Article)
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Telling the Story of Your Development Through a Well-Crafted Vision with Ashley Stiles – Ep. 39 About the Guest Another great episode is coming your way. I am thrilled to share this next conversation with all of you. Ashley is the CEO of Tribe Development located in Colorado. The foundation of her career was built in the design world as a landscape architect, with a focus on luxury resort projects. It is there that she learned from the best, about the importance of delivering positive and memorable customer experiences-to stand out from the competition and drive loyalty. For over a decade now, she has been focused on exceeding customers’ expectations in commercial development, in what we now refer to as experiential development. Tribe Development is a comprehensive real estate consulting and development firm born out of the desire to develop better spaces and experiences for everyone. Tribe’s goal is to expand the lens of development beyond a singular experience, and approach projects more holistically. They believe that by telling the stories of the community through well-crafted vision, and promotion of strong brands the outcome will be greater engagement and the creation of project ambassadors, netting greater financial outcomes as well as increased opportunities around recruitment and retention.
In this episode, we are going to discuss how they begin the initial design process at Tribe Development, the importance of branding your developments, as well as common roadblocks that people face when starting out in development. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Ashley for taking the time out of her busy schedule to discuss this topic of branding in real estate development. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This episode was up there with one of my favorites to record. Ashley is very open and candid when discussing her not-traditional experience jumping into real estate development as well as her observations of the industry as a whole. There were several great talking points that Ashley shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the real estate development process that Ashley possesses.
When branding a project or development, it’s extremely important to bring in all of the stakeholders involved in the project to really prepare a “vision” for the project. Once a brand is developed for a project, you can weigh all of your decisions against that brand or vision. This makes decisions much easier. Branding is more than a logo.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
When branding a project or development, it’s extremely important to bring in all of the stakeholders involved in the project to really prepare a “vision” for the project. The process of building the vision for Ashley’s various projects was fascinating. While the initial design charrette only lasted one day, the process of building the brand was carefully crafted over three months. The process begins by determining how this potential project will be reflected by the end-user. Then from there, they build an avatar of the project. If this project was a person, how would it act, feel, say, drive, etc… Once these initial ideas are flushed out, the branding team then goes to work on trying to bring the brand to life while constantly receiving feedback from the shareholders. It’s absolutely crucial to have the shareholders involved in this p...
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Season 1 of the Podcast Is In The Books with Matt Loos – Ep. 38 This is going to be a fun episode! In this episode, we are going to discuss the most impactful talking points from the entire first season of the show. This has been a crazy year no-doubt, but we would be remiss not to look back on the lessons learned during this last year. This year, we discussed everything from financing a project to historic tax credits and even transit-oriented developments. The guests that joined me on the show where industry professionals from all over the world and encompassed many of the roles included within the larger commercial real estate umbrella. I’m beyond blessed to be able to speak with these people and share their stories with you all. Stay tuned for even more discussions that will continue to inform and prepare you for this coming year in CRE. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share it with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Season This season has been so much fun for me to record. I learned so much from all of the guests that it is nearly impossible for me to pick just one main take-away from each episode, but I will give it a shot. I highly recommend that you search for a topic that most interests you and dive right in. Chances are we have at least somewhat discussed a question you might have in this first season.
If you have a topic that we haven’t discussed yet that you would like to learn more about, please email me with your ideas and questions and I will make it a priority to find a guest that can address your question. Without further ado, let’s try to tackle this season’s greatest lessons! Episode 002 – Selecting an Architect with Josh Kunkel – You want to select an architect that can speak to your vision. They need to align with your vision and values. Episode 003 – How to Manage a Ground-Up Development with Cameron Pybus – Communication is extremely valuable throughout the development process. The means of communication often changes throughout the process based on where you are in the process. Episode 004 – Understanding the Role of a GC on Your Next Ground-Up Development with Bridger Clader – A cohesive team from the bottom-up is absolutely crucial for a development project. From Owner to Developer to GC to Subs, everyone is on the same page. This is where you can find the most successful projects. Episode 005 – Deciphering Form-Based Code with Mike Brennan, AICP – Euclidean zoning creates districts based on land-use types. Form-Based code encourages mixed-uses as long as they are compatible. The rules are focused on the public realm between the buildings to encourage walkable districts. Episode 006 – What the Heck is a Geotech with Tim Tarbutton – In preparing a geotechnical investigation of a property, there is a diminishing return on the amount of borings that you do. However, it’s impossible to find every possible issue underground even with a geotechnical exploration. Episode 007 – Property Taxes and your Development with Alex Pace – Start getting with your local property tax advisor at the very beginning of your deal so that there are no surprises when you begin to develop your property. Episode 008 – Designing the Future of Transit-Oriented Development with David Leininger – One of the biggest hurdles facing transit-oriented development is the idea that this infrastructure will bring with it the introduction of unruly and mischievous characters that will disrupt the surrounding community. This is simply untrue and can be very toxic.
Episode 009 – From the Golden Gate to the Lone Star State, Finding Opportunity in CRE with Andrew Blake – When you’...
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Making it in Real Estate from a Lawyer turned Developer with John McNellis – Ep. 37 About the Guest I am thrilled to share this next conversation with all of you. John is a co-founder of McNellis Partners located in Northern California. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Hastings College of The Law, John practiced law until he co-founded McNellis Partners, a Northern California shopping center development firm, in 1982. John frequently lectures on the topic of real estate development and has currently written two books on the subject as well. These books are linked in the description below. McNellis Partners has been building—one project at a time—a reputation for fairness and thoughtful development. They take on a limited number of new projects, focusing their energy and enthusiasm primarily on building and redeveloping shopping centers, mixed-use projects, and office buildings. From the simply outdated to the outright neglected, these properties often occupy a significant place in their communities, and they take pride in renewing their productivity and importance. In this episode, we are going to discuss why some people fail to take the first step into real estate development, the common reasons some people don’t succeed in commercial real estate, as well as busting some of the biggest myths in CRE as a whole. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated John for taking the time out of his busy schedule to discuss this topic of starting out in real estate development.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come. Main Take-Away’s From This Show This episode was so much fun to record. John is very open and candid when discussing his experience in commercial real estate as well as his observations of the industry as a whole. With over 30 years of experience under his belt, he has no shortage of great wisdom to share with those starting out in the business as well as veterans alike. He shares much of this wisdom in the books he has written as well as his frequent speaking appearances at ULI conferences. There were several great talking points that John shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the real estate development process that John possesses.
You don’t need to be a brilliant marketer to raise money if you have a good deal. Commercial real estate is not a passive investment. All you have is time. The goal is to get the most return on your time.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
You don’t need to be a brilliant marketer to raise money if you have a good deal. Being able to market your real estate deal, no matter the size is one of the most important traits that a developer needs to have in order to scale his or her business. Arguably this is the most important attribute you need to have when starting out as a real estate developer. Starting out when you have little money and very little experience can be tough, but a strong ability to market yourself as well as your deals can make your foray into real estate much more manageable. As discussed in this episode though, it doesn’t take a degree in marketing to sell your deals if you can provide great deals to your investors, friends, and family. As Seth Godin stated, “when the product is right, you don’t have to be a great marketer.” When you believe you have a great deal, and you have numbers to back you up,
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Taking A Deep Dive Into Underground Detention with Steven Messina – Ep. 36 About the Guest Hello and welcome to Episode #34 of the Placemaking Podcast!I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Steve Messina graduated from THE Ohio State University back in 2007, majoring in structural engineering. After college Steve moved to Indiana to work for one of the top steel manufacturers in the United States (Steel Dynamics, Inc. - SDI) as a construction manager and engineer responsible for overseeing construction of new and existing facilities. After working for SDI for over 9 years, and holding several positions, Steve made a transition to Advanced Drainage Systems and relocated to Fort Worth, TX in 2016. Today Steve is the Engineered Product Manager for North, East & West Texas. In his role he focuses on three ADS engineered product lines; High Performance Polypropylene Pipe for storm and sanitary applications, StormTech Chambers for underground retention/detention applications, and water quality solutions ranging from hydrodynamic separators to filtration units for storm water quality. Steve is responsible for driving approvals and acceptance with local municipalities, agencies, and engineers.Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) is focused on drainage products and services that deliver solutions for the most persistent and challenging water management problems. From safely pre-treating and managing stormwater runoff, to helping developers and property owners harvest rainwater, we focus on the development of water solutions that make land more arable, cities more livable, and the world a greener place to live.
ADS is a leading manufacturer of high performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe and ancillary products, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and superior drainage solutions for use in the construction and infrastructure marketplace. Our innovative pipes, fittings, basins and other products are used across a broad range of end markets and applications, including non-residential, residential, agriculture and infrastructure applications. We have established a leading position in many of our domestic and international end markets by leveraging our national sales and distribution platform, our overall product breadth and scale, and our manufacturing excellence. Founded in 1966, ADS operates a global network of approximately 60 manufacturing plants and over 30 distribution centers. In this episode, we are going to discuss the need to provide stormwater detention on your next development project, the various ways that stormwater detention can be handled, as well as the pros and cons of utilizing sub-surface stormwater detention. There is loads of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Steve for taking the time out of his busy schedule to discuss this topic of stormwater detention. Main Take-Away’s From This Show I always enjoy it when I can talk shop with a fellow engineer. The topic of sub-surface stormwater detention is one that fascinates me on a professional level. The use of such technologies may not make sense for every developer, but given the right circumstances, they can be extremely valuable. There were several great talking points that Steve shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the design and utilization of underground stormwater detention in your future real estate development endeavors. 1. All ground-up developments that you tackle will need to address stormwater runoff in some way. Oftentimes detention will be required.2. There are many ways that you can detain stormwater on-site if ...
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How to Bring Stunning Historic Buildings Back to Life with Tax Credits with Elizabeth Rosin – Ep. 35 About the Guest I am beyond thrilled to share this next conversation with all of you! Elizabeth Rosin is the Principal and CEO of Rosin Preservation, located in Kansas City. Elizabeth came into the field of historic preservation through the study of archaeology, earning her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in anthropology and geography. The buildings that emerged from the confluence of people and place intrigued her. This interest spurred her to pursue a Master of Science in Historic Preservation at the University of Vermont. Since graduating in 1990, Elizabeth has held positions in both the public and private sectors that have involved her in historic preservation projects throughout the United States. In addition to the survey and designation of numerous historic resources, she has consulted on over 100 historic tax credit projects representing over $1 billion of National Park Service-approved rehabilitation. National, state and local entities have conferred preservation awards to numerous of these projects. In 2014 Elizabeth was recognized as Preservationist of the Year by the American Institute of Architects – Kansas City Chapter. On every job, Rosin Preservation contributes practical rehabilitation strategies and design direction appropriate to the nature and complexity of the project. They actively guide clients through regulatory processes triggered by local, state and/or national preservation law. By connecting clients to legal and accounting expertise and to tax credit investors, they help to ensure that each rehabilitation project has the most effective team to achieve a successful outcome. Rosin Preservations intimate understanding of the preservation process, the players and the rules and regulations enables their clients to accurately anticipate the time, costs and hurdles required to complete a successful project.
In this episode, we discussed the process of obtaining historic tax credits, the most challenging aspects of obtaining these credits, and the various benefits there are to obtaining these types of tax credits. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Elisabeth for taking the time out of her busy schedule to discuss this topic of historic tax credits with me. Main Take-Away’s From This Show When someone is passionate about a subject, you can really tell. It was easy to hear in her voice, that Elizabeth is very passionate about what she does. There is no doubt about that. She definitely knows her stuff when it comes to historic preservation and historic tax credits. There were several great anecdotes that she shared throughout the discussion, so it is extremely hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the process of obtaining historic tax credits and the inherent value there is in understanding their benefits in your future real estate development endeavors.
The Historic Tax Credit program has incentivized the rehabilitation of thousands of properties since it’s establishment in 1976. When coupled with the state programs, the historic tax credits could provide a tax credit of 40% to 50% of the value of the approved qualified expenditures. There is a certain hierarchy of improvements that are looked on more favorably then others when preparing the design for a HTC project.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
The Historic Tax Credit program has incentivized the rehabilitation of thousands of properties since it’s establishmen...
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Creating Desirable Places through Property Assemblage with Chris Powers, Jr. – Ep. 034 About the Guest I am extremely honored to share this next conversation with all of you. Chris Powers, Jr. is the Founder and CEO of Fort Capital, a real estate company focused on investment, acquisition, asset management, and property management in Fort Worth, Texas. Chris currently oversees the vision for the company, Fort’s largest real estate deals, capital relationships, executive level recruiting, strategic partnerships, and chairs the investment committee among many other responsibilities as Fort’s CEO. Creating meaningful relationships and building a team around a vision and Fort’s goals are the most important qualities that make Chris perfect for the job. Chris is a serial entrepreneur with over 14 years of real estate development and investment experience and has raised more than $110 million in equity financing through a multitude of high net worth and family office partners. To date, Fort has invested and developed over $504 million in multifamily, student housing, commercial/industrial, and residential & land development projects throughout Fort Worth and the state of Texas. Chris has been touted as a visionary with a demonstrated talent in looking ahead at what could be and understanding what must be done today to get there. His ability to conceptualize, raise capital, and execute are only a minor part of what Chris brings to the table. In this episode, we are going to discuss how to get everyone on the same page when assembling properties, how to structure contracts that are win/win for buyer/seller, and how to get a city on board with zoning, early, to make the area attractive for developers. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Chris for taking the time out of his busy schedule to discuss this topic of property assemblage.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was a particularly enjoyable show for me to host! I really enjoyed the candid discussion that was had with Chris as we discussed the difficulties encountered while assembling properties to create one of the most exciting districts in Fort Worth in recent history. I also enjoyed the periods of reflection that Chris shared as he discussed lessons learned from this larger assemblage project. There were several great anecdotes that he shared throughout the discussion, so it is hard to just pick three for my main take-away’s this week. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the process of property assemblage and the inherent value there is in understanding marketing in your future real estate development endeavors.
Buying un-entitled land for property assemblage can be a fairly secure investment with the possibility of providing large returns if done well. Timing is extremely crucial when executing a property assemblage. Barbells are not just for lifting. Utilizing the “Barbell Theory” to find your next project.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! Buying un-entitled land for property assemblage can be a fairly secure investment with the possibility of providing large returns if done well. Most people would say that what Chris and his team did when assembling the various properties was risky. There’s no guarantee that they will obtain all of the necessary entitlements to make the development work, right? Why would any body take such a risk in assembling properties of various zoning classifications in the hopes that they could somehow entitle these random, infill parcels into some cohesive district? They could do this because the risk was calculated.
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Financing Developments that Create Great Places with Ward Davis – Ep. 033 About the Guest I am really excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Ward Davis is a founding partner of High Street Real Estate & Development, a real estate company focused on urban and New Urban properties in vibrant, growing cities and towns. Ward recently served as President of the National Town Builders Association, a national trade organization for leading developers of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable neighborhoods and town centers. Ward has a BA in Economics from Davidson College, a General Course Diploma in Economics from The London School of Economics and Political Science, and an MBA from The University of Virginia. Ward, along with his partner, Morgan Hooker, first began toying with the idea of joining forces to form High Street back in 2004. Since then, they have built their portfolio to include a multitude of high-quality developments. High Street Real Estate & Development was born out of a need to build great new places and to redevelop properties in Northwest Arkansas’s downtowns. Their residential and commercial projects are influenced by philosophies that improve livability, adding lasting value to our neighborhoods and communities. They continually strive to make better places for communities, tenants, neighbors and local businesses as a whole. From renovations to adaptive reuse to from-the-ground-up neighborhood building, their end goals are always the same. These are improving livability, reducing operating costs and delivering unrealized value. In this episode, we are going to discuss the financial model for place oriented development and how that differs from conventional development, alignment of interest with investors, and what types of investors might be interested in placemaking and why. There is tons of great information in this episode and I greatly appreciated Ward’s candor in discussing these topics and how they relate to their company’s business model.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was an extremely fun show for me to host! I really enjoyed the candid discussion that was had when discussing the various business models utilized commonly by real estate development groups. Ward was able to intertwine his beliefs of creating great and memorable places with a strong financial foundation. These ideas combined to form the backbone of the real estate company that he is the co-founder of. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the role of strong town centers and the inherent value there is in understanding financial models behind successful real estate development endeavors.
Location, location, location…This notion is important for developers seeking guaranteed appreciation.
In this time of turmoil, investors seem to be looking for consistent returns. Not necessarily the highest initial returns.
Timeless architecture can truly be timeless when done correctly.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go!
Location, location, location…This notion is important for developers seeking guaranteed appreciation. The phrase “Location, Location, Location” has been utilized in real estate round tables for years. This saying shouldn’t be new to you or I, however the importance of this idiom cannot be understated. Especially for a real estate development model that counts on appreciation over time. As discussed in this episode, the majority of the projects that High Street takes on begin with the understanding that they will be invested in the project for the long haul. This is very different from the majority of real estate developers and companies who ...
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Developing Housing Solutions Where People Can Flourish with Tyler Arbogast– Ep. 032 About the Guest I am really excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Tyler Arbogast is the Vice President of Development at Fort Worth Housing Solutions. Tyler and his team work to create more affordable housing options in the City of Fort Worth through the acquisition or new construction of mixed-income residential communities with roles in project management, land planning, underwriting, due diligence, infrastructure planning, entitlements, financial analysis & budgeting, construction, and compliance. Tyler brings with him more than 15 years’ experience tackling complex real estate issues as a development consultant and owner’s manager / director on projects big & small; from master-planned communities to infill boutique multi-family. Needless to say, he has tons of experience in the field of real estate development. Fort Worth Housing Solutions is changing the face of affordable housing by providing mixed-income rental and home ownership opportunities that provide the foundation to improve lives in the Fort Worth area. They work closely with numerous community partners to promote economic independence and positive change in the lives of the thousands of individuals they touch on a daily basis. Their mission is “To develop housing solutions where people flourish.” In this episode, we are going to discuss the types of programs that FWHS supports, how they partner with developers and landlords, and then we discussed common myths about public housing authorities. As you will hear on the show, he brings tons of experience on the subject of real estate development and the role of public housing authorities in shaping the landscape of development.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was an extremely interesting show for me to host. I knew a decent amount about affordable housing programs, but admittedly not as much as I would like to know. Tyler has held several different roles in the commercial real estate world, which I think gives him an interesting vantage point from which to view public housing. He has been thrust into a role that has required him to learn about the ins-and-outs of the various federal programs that regulate low-income housing. The following main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the role of public housing authorities and the inherent value there is in understanding the role they play in development that Tyler possesses.
Understanding “Housing Choice Vouchers” vs. the “Rental Assistance Demonstration” program. Housing Authorities do much more than just distribute vouchers to those in need. Section 8 housing vouchers are often difficult to come by and can provide a reliable source of tenants for “for-rent” properties.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! Understanding “Housing Choice Vouchers” vs. the “Rental Assistance Demonstration” program. The terms “Housing Choice Vouchers” and “Rental Assistance Demonstration” were not unfamiliar with me. However, to be honest, I did not know as much about these programs as I believe I should. These programs provide relief for many who are in need of a helping hand in order to provide for their most basic of needs, shelter. My discussion with Tyler helped to open my eyes to this even more. According to Hud.gov, “The housing choice voucher program is the federal government's major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not li...
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Understanding Real Estate Valuations for Development With Dillon Cook – Ep. 031 About the Guest I am really excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Dillon Cook is a Managing Partner at Range Realty Advisors in Dallas, TX. Dillon has actively participated in the acquisition and disposition of over $100 million in properties across north Texas for individual and institutional clients. At Range, he specializes in the acquisition and disposition of mixed-use commercial and residential land. He works extensively with many local, regional and national developers and home builders. Dillon was born and raised in Dallas and graduated from Highland Park High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. Range Realty Advisors is a full service commercial real estate brokerage, advisory, finance, and investment firm. Their clients include individual, institutional and international investors, developers, family offices, and governmental entities. They represent clients seeking to acquire or sell real estate assets and assist in maximizing the return on those assets. To that end, they consistently add value to real estate properties through procuring entitlement and regulatory approvals; enhancing property value through infrastructure expansion; facilitating public/private partnerships; and negotiating economic incentives from municipalities and other governmental entities. In this episode, we are going to discuss how investors can determine the highest and best use for raw land, how property valuations shape the development process going forward, and we take a little detour to dive into the recently popularized “for-rent” single family housing phenomena. As you will hear on the show, he brings tons of experience on the subject of real estate brokerage and the amount of work it takes to ultimately market deals.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show This was an extremely fun show to host. Dillon brought an enthusiasm about real estate and entrepreneurship that was second to none. He’s fairly young but has already proved himself in the challenging field of real estate brokerage. The usual success stories in brokerage come from those that have been in the business for many years. Dillon’s work ethic and enthusiasm has quickly pushed him to great heights in the brokerage world as a managing partner of Range Realty Advisors in one of the largest real estate markets in the south, here in Dallas, Texas. The main topics of the show come from a deep understanding in the valuation process that Dillion possesses in real estate brokerage: 1. Brokers put in a massive amount of background work when preparing a property for commercial sale.2. There is a lot that goes into determining a property’s “highest and best use”. Many of these aspects are not always clearly apparent.3. Single-family built-for-rent developments are a growing niche of real estate that has been gaining some momentum recently. As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! Brokers put in a massive amount of background work when preparing a property for commercial sale. It’s not just golf tournament’s and social mixer’s for commercial real estate brokers. Dillon highlighted that very well in our discussion. The role of a commercial real estate broker includes a variety of tasks that most people wouldn’t even imagine. According to Medium.com, “ The broker has to be prepared to work collaboratively with clients over an extended time period while they do their research, comparisons and legal due diligence to ensure they are committing to the right property on the right terms.” I think this really sums it up nicely.
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Understanding the Property Developers Mindset with Justin Gehde – Ep. 030 About the Guest I am really excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Justin is a real estate developer with Gehde and host of the Property Developer Podcast located in Melbourne, Australia. Justin brings with him almost five years of experience in the real estate development industry. He has been sharing his discussions with other developers on the Property Developer podcast for over four years now. Originally started in 2015, the Property Developer Podcast was created by Justin because he saw a gap in podcasts geared towards property development. In his hunger to learn about developing and find out how to become a really good developer, he was going out and talking to people involved in property developing. He loved listening to their stories, and they all had such different views on developing. He thought it would be so great to share this with people. He also found that sometimes being a developer can be a lonely game, your family or partner doesn’t necessarily understand what is involved or what you are working on, and most people have a pre-conceived idea of what property developers are like. Hence, the genesis of the Property Developer Podcast. In this episode, we are going to discuss some of the greatest lessons learned he has heard on his show, how he got started in real estate development himself, and the path to understanding the mindset of real estate developers. As you will hear on the show, he brings tons of experience on the subject of real estate development and the various hardships that real estate developers see today. I think you will enjoy his take on real estate development after speaking with over 70 guests on his own podcast.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show It’s always nice to have a fellow podcaster on the show! Justin did not disappoint. His passion for real estate development was evident when discussing his own podcast as well as the projects he is undertaking right now. With over 70 of his own guest interviews under his belt, he has been able to draw on the wisdom of these guests when pursuing his personal property development projects. From our discussion, I was able to pull out some big take-away’s or nuggets of knowledge to pass on to you all. The following list is not an exhaustive one, but it highlights the major points gathered. As you will see after jumping into the topics listed below, the central theme of the property developer’s mindset is inherent in all of these topics.
Real Estate Development in its essence is the same no matter where you live on the globe. As a real estate developer, you are the conductor of the orchestra, not the violinist. You need equity to join the real estate development game, but it isn’t just a rich man’s game.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! Real Estate Development in its essence is the same no matter where you live on the globe. It’s incredible to me that I can be talking to someone across the globe and be able to discuss common issues that we see in such a particular subject as real estate development. We were able to do just that though. Justin develops property near Melbourne Australia, and I work on projects throughout Texas and yet we still run into similar roadblocks. Justin put it very nicely when he said that property development is really just a process, a set of steps to follow. It doesn’t really matter where the project occurs, it will involve a set (sometimes seemingly infinite) number of steps. Although some of the particulars of financing, construction, and leasing are different, the overall process is largely the same no matter where you go in the world.
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Setting our Sights on Understanding Land Surveying with Daniel Arthur, RPLS – Ep. 029 About the Guest I am pumped to share this next conversation with all of you. Daniel is the North Texas Survey Division Manager at Jones|Carter located in Plano, Texas. Daniel brings with him over 20 years of experience in the land surveying industry. After doing his time as a survey tech and office manager for 10 years in east Texas, he struck out to make a name for himself by forming Daniel Arthur Surveying, LLC. After almost 12 years running his own firm, he found himself wanting to join a firm in North Texas. After visiting several firms, he chose to come and be the North Texas Survey Division Manager at Jones|Carter. Originally founded in 1976, Jones|Carter has grown to more than 500 employees in 10 offices across Texas, their team is organized around 12 services that support nearly 20 public and private market sectors. Remaining true to their mission has helped them to be consistently voted a Best Place to Work by local and regional publications and an Engineering News-Record Top 500 National Firm. You can find out more about Jones|Carter by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page. In this episode, we are going to unpack the various types of surveys commonly used in land transactions, the current limitations and advantages of LiDAR scanning technologies, and the common myths about land surveying that he often sees and how he would bust those myth. As you will hear on the show, he brings tons of experience on the subject of land surveying and the implementation of the new technologies being utilized in surveying today. I think you will enjoy his take on the various types of land surveys utilized today and how new technologies in surveying might affect the future of real estate development. After listening to this show you will have a greater understanding of land surveys and how they affect your real estate development project.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show Land surveying has been around for thousands of years and a few things have changed along the way but at its core, the objective of surveying has remained the same. According to Britannica.com, surveying is “a means of making relatively large-scale, accurate measurements of the Earth’s surfaces.” This is no simple feet. It takes several man-hours to produce a document depicting the various attributes of a particular property. The complexity of this task often leads to confusion and a general misunderstanding of the product that these surveyors are delivering. That is why I believe this was a much needed conversation to have on the show. The main take-aways I got from my conversation with Daniel in this “unofficial” Land Surveying 101 course are as follows:
Land surveys come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, depending on the needs of the owner, developer, financial institution, etc… Understanding the needs of your financial institution when ordering various items on the Table A list for ALTA’s is extremely important. Utilizing Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) for surveying can be useful, but also has its limitations.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! 1. Land surveys come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, depending on the needs of the owner, developer, financial institution, etc… Land surveys come in all different types based on the needs of the end-user. There are boundary surveys, topographic surveys, and land title surveys (ALTA/NSPS surveys) to just name a few. Each one is utilized at the various stages within a real estate transaction or development. Boundary surveys are fairly common in nature and often are requested in the initial phases of your ground-up real estate development p...
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LEED-ing the Way with Sustainable Design in Architecture with Michael & Casey – Ep. 028 About the Guests I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Michael and Casey both practice architecture at CORE Architects in Rogers, Arkansas. Both are LEED accredited professionals as well as architects. I think you’ll enjoy our candid discussion on the importance of LEED Certification and sustainable design in architecture today. Michael received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas in 2006. Upon graduating, he worked in Chicago from 2006 to 2015 as designer and project coordinator at an international architecture firm on various large-scale projects. Michael returned to Northwest Arkansas and joined CORE Architects in May of 2015 with a desire to give back to the community that provided so much opportunity for him. Casey attended Oklahoma State University and received a Bachelor of Architecture in 2010 with a minor in Architectural History Theory. In 2011, she moved to Arkansas and quickly fell in love with the Northwest Arkansas region. Her can-do attitude, attention to detail, and capacity to work on every aspect of all project types make her an integral part of the team at CORE Architects. CORE Architects offers both architectural and interior design services, with experience in master planning mixed-use developments. Their experience ranges from preparing needs-assessment studies, conceptual design options, construction cost estimates, preparation of construction documents and specifications, bid packages, through full construction administration, including shop drawing review, payment application review, and project close-out. You can find out more about CORE Architects here: http://www.core-arch.com/ In this episode, we are going to discuss the LEED certification methodology for designing buildings, first steps when tackling a LEED project, and the common myths about LEED accreditation that they often see and how they would bust those myths.
https://www.usgbc.org/
Main Take-Away’s From This Show LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in the early 90’s. LEED was created to be a third-party certification program that would recognize a standard of design, construction, and ultimately operation of “green” building design. Although the cost and marketability of the LEED certification has been widely criticized, most do not discount the impact that this certification has had on the green building movement. Casey and Michael are both LEED accredited professionals with experience in LEED design. The main take-aways I got from this candid conversation with Casey and Michael in this “unofficial” LEED certification discussion are as follows:
There are various levels of LEED Certification for buildings with varying degrees of difficulty. In order to truly design a LEED Certified building, the sustainable discussions need to be made early in the design process. Although LEED has been criticized over the years, the impact LEED has had on the industry can not be disputed.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! There are various levels of LEED Certification for buildings with varying degrees of difficulty. The LEED rating system for the various types of projects consists of four different levels. The first, and lowest, level is the LEED Certified designation. This is achieved by scoring 40-49 points on the LEED checklist. Due to the increasingly efficient systems required by the various codes, this often fairly easy to achieve in most cases...
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Transforming Construction Through 3D Printed Structures with Scott Denney – Ep. 027 About the Guest I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Scott is the Executive Project Developer at Pikus Concrete & Construction located near Salt Lake City, Utah. Scott brings with him over 15 years of experience in the concrete construction industry. After graduating with a Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Utah, he struck out to make a name for himself in the construction industry in the Pacific Northwest. After 11 years there, he found himself wanting to come back home to Utah and sink his teeth into new projects with a progressive construction company, Pikus, that was willing to push the boundaries of common construction practices with the introduction of concrete 3D Printing. Together, we will discuss the future of 3D printing in construction! Originally founded in 1999, Pikus Concrete has grown from a small residential construction company to a nationally recognized commercial and industrial concrete contractor. In 2011 and 2012 they ranked #74 and #61, respectively, on the CC-100 / Top 100 Concrete Companies in the United States. Their project experience ranges from 90-foot-high shear walls, to multi-level concrete parking structures, to stadium and hospital concrete structures, and even industrial concrete; with their specialties being post-tension decks and tall structures. They are currently also looking to transform construction through the use of 3D printing. In this episode, we are going to discuss what the 3D concrete printing process looks like, the current limitations of 3D concrete printing in construction, and the common myths about 3D concrete printing that he often sees and how he you bust that myth. As you’ll hear on the show, he brings loads of experience on the subject of concrete construction and the implementation of new technologies in 3D printing. I think you will enjoy his take on the future of 3D Printing in construction and how it might affect the future of real estate development.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show The 3D concrete printing idea has been around for decades, but the implementation of such technologies is far from becoming mainstream at the moment. The people at Pikus Concrete & Construction really are on the leading edge of implementation and this discussion was eye-opening to say the least. Construction technology has always been somewhat slow to implementation but in my opinion could benefit the most from the adoption of certain technologies, such as 3D concrete building. The main take-aways I got from my conversation with Scott in this “unofficial” Construction 3D Printer 101 course are as follows:
The technology for 3D printing in construction is there, the slow down has been mainly with the materials needed. 3D printing could allow for more efficient designs once structural codes and designers are able to catch up to the technology. 3D printing affordable housing is currently still not economically viable at this time.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! The technology for 3D printing in construction is there, the slow down has been mainly with the materials needed. 3D printing as we know it has been around since the early 80’s. This fact initially blew my mind as it seemed like this is a fairly recent technology. The recent boom in the construction sector has come from increased development in materials suitable for construction. The materials used in these concrete printers consist of cement, sand, and various other admixtures needed to give the concrete additional strength. The exact mixtures vary from supplier to supplier. As mentioned on the website all3dp.
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Pitching your Next Real Estate Development Deal with Evan Knox – Ep. 026 About the Guest I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Evan is the Founder of Caffeine Marketing and small business owner located in Atlanta, Georgia. Evan started Caffeine Marketing as a way to make profitable marketing easy for small companies. In this episode, we are diving deep into pitching your next real estate development deal from the standpoint of someone within the digital marketing space. From Social Media, websites, and everything in between, Caffeine Marketing produces marketing that works. They’re able to price exceptionally competitively because of their efficient processes and low overhead from working remotely. Caffeine provides the following services for their clients: Social Media Marketing, Digital Marketing Campaigns, and Marketing Strategy. You can find out more about how they can help guide you on your Hero’s journey by visiting their webpage at https://caffeine.marketing/. In this episode, we are going to discuss the one thing that he believes is most important when pitching your idea/development to potential investors, the best resources that will help you market yourself or your projects, and common myths about raising capital that he often sees and how he you bust that myth. As you’ll hear on the show, he brings loads of experience on the subject of marketing to the table. I think you will enjoy his take on pitching your next deal from the perspective of a talented marketing entrepreneur.
Main Take-Away’s From This Show Pitching your next ground-up real estate development project or any other commercial real estate deal for that matter, requires many of the same techniques and tricks utilized by the various titans of business. Evan helps to bring this to light for me during this show. Many of the same marketing skills utilized to build a brand for, say a coffee shop, can be applied to achieve your goals in commercial real estate. The main take-aways I got from my conversation with Evan in this “unofficial” Commercial Real Estate Marketing 101 course are as follows:
Creating a website and sales funnel are useful in attracting potential investors. You are not the Hero; you are the Guide. There is no “one-way” to pitch your next project/deal/strategy.
As always, I will dig into each of these “take-away’s” every week on the blog. So, without further a due, here we go! Creating a website and sales funnel are useful in attracting potential investors. First off, we all know what creating a website entails, but what is a “Sales Funnel” and how can it help you when attracting potential investors? According to Salesforce.com “A sales funnel represents the ideal path companies hope buyers take to become customers. Most companies use the funnel concept as a method to track prospects as they move through sales stages and to align marketing and sales targets, activities, and processes. (Some may also refer to this as a purchase funnel or conversion funnel.) The sales funnel is one of the most fundamental concepts in sales and marketing. The top of the funnel signifies the goal of every business — to generate as many leads as possible — while the narrow bottom reflects how many of those leads are converted to customers by the end of the sales process.” (https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2019/04/what-is-a-sales-funnel.html) So how can you use this to help fund your next commercial real estate project or when pitching your next real estate development deal? Well it depends on your situation, but Evan gave a good example on the show when dealing with the hotel private equity group. The group produced a sales funnel meant to appeal to high net-worth individuals looking to diversify their portfolios and potentially earn ...
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About Our Guest I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Antoin is the Founder and Vice President of Watson Worldwide Capital located in Houston, Texas. Antoin has spent nearly 20 years becoming The Matchmaker of Business. He has built relationships with industry experts, lead buyers to sellers and sellers to buyers, and he has opened many doors by creating opportunities to others through his ventures.
Today Watson Worldwide Capital is assisting many project managers and business owners dreams come true by connecting them with the right people in the industry with one common goal: for their project to receive funding and be complete from ground up. Currently Antoin, through Watson Worldwide Capital, is working on several projects in Puerto Rico and The Virgin Islands. Watson Worldwide Capital has assisted in many projects thus far. Some of which include commercial building financing, multi-family units, affordable housing project, condo fix and flip, cannabis project, and many more. Watson Worldwide Capital is your "all-in-one" stop. Your project can be funded, and you can be connected to those professionals that you need in order to complete your project.
In this episode, we are going to discuss how Antoin got started in brokerage, what his typical niche commercial real estate development brokerage deal looks like, and common myths about obtaining a commercial loan for real estate development that he wanted to debunk.
Types of Real Estate Financing
Real estate development requires many different capital-intensive processes to be successful. Oftentimes there is existing demolition that needs to be done on a perspective site, or various studies that need to be completed prior to even started the project. Each one of these processes leading up to project completion require capital. In order to make developers dreams become reality, financing will almost certainly be required in some shape or form. The proceeding paragraphs will provide you with a high-level view of the basics of real estate development financing.
These different loans can consist of either debt funding or equity funding. Debt funding allows the developer to obtain financing without surrendering any equity (value) in the project. Equity funding is considered a little more risky investment for most investors as the investor owns a “share” of the asset better known as equity. There are four main types of loans used in a real estate development deal. Each type is tailored towards different processes or events that occur within the development process.
To Find Out More About WWC Click the Link below to learn more about what Watson Worldwide Capital can do for your next Real Estate Development Project.
Click Here The main types are generally named as follows:
Acquisition Loan – Often used to finance the purchase of the existing lot or tract of land on which you plan to develop. Acquisition & Development Loan – A loan that combines the construction and acquisition portions of the real estate development project. Development Loan – This type of loan is used to prepare a potential parcel of land for future development by making improvements such as extending necessary utility lines and building access roads throughout the project area. Construction Loan – These types of loans are utilized when either revitalizing an existing structure or building a brand-new real estate development project.
As you can see, each type of loan is tailored for each step of the real estate development process. These loans can be further broken down into their financing sources. The typical financing sources that are most common in the marketplace currently are bank loans, private equity funds, finance companies, crowdfunding, REIT’s, etc…
In this episode of the podcast, we dive into the role of private lenders on your construction loans and how you can increase y...
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Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast!I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. Dak is the Founder and President of Hatfield Advisors here in Fort Worth, Texas. Since forming Hatfield Advisors in late 2005, he has successfully developed, redeveloped, and repositioned properties all over the United States. He has over 20 years of professional experience in not only real estate investment, but property development and large-scale project management. He has been regarded as one of the most innovative and resourceful developers in the CRE industry by combining his deep technical expertise with a creative approach to maximizing value for his clients.The firm he works with, Hatfield Advisors, is a commercial real estate brokerage, development, and investment company. The company has development projects and investments throughout the US and specializes in locating opportunities, comprising strategic development plans & structures, analyzing projects, and management throughout all stages of the development process.In this episode, we are going to discuss how Dak got started in real estate development, certain hurdles he faced when developing his first property, his experience in working with historic tax credits in Fort Worth’s Near Southside district, and tons of practical advice that he would give others that are looking to get into real estate development.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show!Resources:Hatfield Advisors Website: https://hatfieldadvisors.com/
This podcast is brought to you by Audible! I have used Audible for many years now. I love it. Audible hands-down, has the largest selection of audiobooks in the world! I listen when I’m taking I'm riding to work, I listen while I’m running, basically… I listen whenever I can. Audible is offering The Placemaking Podcast listeners a two-free audiobooks with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to Audible.com and browse the amazing selection of audio programs. Then, when you've found a couple books you like, download your free titles and start listening! It’s extremely easy. Simply go to Audible.com
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Episode #023 - Exploring Adventures in Commercial Real Estate About the Show Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast!
I am excited to sharethis conversation with all of you. This week, I have Spencer Burton on the show. Born and raised in the Northwest United States, Spencer Burton has nearly 20 years of residential and commercial real estate experience. Over his career, Spencer has helped close $4.5 billion and underwrite $30 billion of commercial real estate at some of the largest institutional real estate firms in the world. He is currently the Head of Real Estate Investments and member of the founding team at Stablewood Properties. He is also a co-contributor and co-founder of Adventures in CRE, which we will discuss more about in a bit.
The firm he co-founded, Stablewood Properties is a data-infused Real Estate Operator formed by a team of expert real estate and analytics professionals. Stablewood combines the best of traditional real estate investment and management with proprietary data analytics and machine learning to better incorporate previously inefficient processes throughout the investment life cycle.
Now to discuss his other passion project, the Adventures in CRE website. A.CRE focuses on sharing quality content around three main areas their readers care most about: 1) learning and using advanced concepts in real estate financial modeling, 2) gaining and enhancing skills used in commercial real estate via formal and informal education, and 3) preparing for and advancing a career in commercial real estate together with a comprehensive job board with hundreds of CRE jobs. I have provided a link in the description below for you to check out!
In this episode, we are going to discuss how Spencer got started in real estate, certain resources that he believes are most important to an individual’s success in real estate, and tons of useful tips he would give to other’s that are looking to get into commercial real estate.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.
So without further ado, let’s start the show! Resources: Adventures in CRE - https://www.adventuresincre.com/
For more on funding your next Real Estate Development Deal, check out Episode 21 with Tony Holzbach to give you a perspective on funding your deal through a financial institution. This podcast is brought to you by Audible! I have used Audible for many years now. I love it. Audible hands-down, has the largest selection of audiobooks in the world! I listen when I’m taking I'm riding to work, I listen while I’m running, basically… I listen whenever I can. Audible is offering The Placemaking Podcast listeners a two-free audiobooks with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to Audible.com and browse the amazing selection of audio programs. Then, when you've found a couple books you like, download your free titles and start listening! It’s extremely easy. Simply go to Audible.com
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Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast!I am excited to share this next conversation with all of you. This week, I have Elizabeth Fountain, P.E., CFM, on the show. Elizabeth is the Principal and Vice President at J.R. Evans Engineering in Estero, Florida. As director of the floodplain management department at J.R. Evans, Ms. Fountain specializes in services related to flood zone mapping and analysis, flood protection analysis and flood proofing services. Her insight into managing successful projects comes from a deep understanding in the value of hard work as well as an enjoyment in discovering solutions to multifaceted problems.The engineering firm she works with, J.R. Evans Engineering, provides professional services in land development design and entitlement, floodplain management, flood zone modifications and hydrologic restoration projects within Florida. The firm’s principals combine experience and expertise in the practice of Professional Engineering to provide clients with superior technical service.In this episode, we are going to dive into the often-misunderstood terminology used in FEMA Flood Maps. We will discuss common misconceptions when it comes to flood hazard zones and reclamation. Also, we will discuss the various means and methods for floodplain reclamation.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show!Click The Logo Below to Learn More About J.R. Evans Engineering
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Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast!I am excited to share this conversation with all of you. This week, I have Tony Holzbach on the show. Tony is a great friend of mine and Assistant Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending at Frost Bank here in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been successfully managing a commercial real estate portfolio and assists team members as the primary underwriter for all product types with experience underwriting office, retail, medical office, hospitality, multifamily, NNN Build-to-suit, and single family home builders. His insight into managing successful portfolios comes from an understanding in hard work and an enjoyment in discovering solutions to complex problems.The bank he works with, Frost Bank, is a regional bank located here in Texas. The bank was established in 1868. With a value-based approach to running the bank, the leadership has been able to weather the Great Depression and the Great Recession. They offer their customers a full range of banking, investment and insurance products to help them better manage their money, grow their wealth and protect their assets. They believe their disciplined relationship approach is what has allowed them to stand the test of time.In this episode, we are going to go behind the scenes of a typical commercial lending application for a real estate development project from the eyes of a banker. We will discuss the different loan types that are common when looking to fund your next project. Also, what types of things commercial loan officers are looking for when reviewing your proforma.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show!To learn more about Frost Bank, click the link below!
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Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast! Thank you for joining the show! I’m excited to share this discussion with all of you. I got the opportunity to meet Demont virtually through another Architect friend of mine and was told that he would be a great guest to have on the show. He did not disappoint! It’s not very often that you get to talk to a real estate developer during their first deal and that is exactly what we were able to do on this show. Demont is working through his first deal, a ground-up, single-family home in south Dallas. I’m honored to get to share his story with all of you. Demont is the CEO and President of Urban Nest Development in Dallas, Texas. He currently works as an architect full-time while doing architecture and real-estate development part time as well. His foray into architecture started at age 16 when he got his first internship with a local architecture firm in Dallas. Since then, he has hustled his way to a full-time position in an architectural firm and his first development project which has become the genesis of Urban Nest Development. Urban Nest Development started in 2019 when Founder Demont Campbell began to see an alarming lack of affordable housing options in Dallas. He then began to research how he could get involved with other local developers and community leaders. Together with his Grandfather, Dennis Ellis, they began to acquire vacant lots in Dallas, TX. With Demont's background in architecture they were able to design open concept floors plans, that are affordable and adaptive In this episode, we are going to discuss how Demont got started in real estate development, certain hurdles he has faced when developing his first property, and advice that he would give others that are looking to get into real estate development. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show! To find out more about Urban Nest and Demont, click here!
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Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast!I am excited to share this conversation with all of you. This week, I have Rodolfo Lomas, PE on the show. Rodolfo is a good friend of mine and Branch Manager at Giles Engineering Associates here in DFW. Rodolfo has been successfully managing the office in DFW with Giles for over 7 years now. His insight into managing successful projects comes from an understanding in communication strategies and an enjoyment in discovering solutions to complex problems.The firm he works with, Giles Engineering Associates is a national consulting engineering firm specializing in geotechnical (soils), environmental, subsurface exploration (drilling), and construction monitoring and materials testing services. With 6 regional offices across the U.S. they provide quality engineering solutions to 49 states. Their engineering philosophy is to provide all clients with innovative, economical and practical solutions to their specific engineering needs within their time constraints, and simultaneously provide them with the highest level of services.In this episode, we are going to go behind the scenes of the often-misunderstood role of forensic engineers. We will discuss the role of a forensic engineering firm on your project. What type of tests are performed by these types of firms and when might you want to utilize the services of a forensic geotechnical firm?As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the shows to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show!Click the link below to find out more about Giles Engineering Associates.
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Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast!I am excited to share this conversation with all of you. This week, I have Jamie Limberg on the show. Jamie works as an Advertising & Sales Consultant at CoStar + LoopNet in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She also hosts a podcast called Upbeat Urbanism which we will discuss more about in a bit. The firm she works with, CoStar Group has been around since 1987. Their mission is to create efficiency and transparency in commercial real estate. They offer real estate firms comprehensive, objective, reliable information. They have also expanded into operating some of the most active Internet marketplaces for buying and selling commercial real estate, apartments, businesses and land. They have been committed to excellence and creating the most inventive and insightful company in the commercial real estate industry.Now to discuss her other passion project, the Upbeat Urbanism podcast. The mission of her show is “creating healthy, intentional, sustainable communities… one conversation at a time.” I believe she is well on her way to achieving her mission! She really has a way with really connecting with guests on her show. Not to mention, the guests that she picks to join her lead extremely interesting lives and many of them hold roles within some facet of commercial real estate. I have provided a link in the description below for you to check out!In this episode, we are going to discuss how Jamie got started at CoStar Group, certain principles she finds important when connecting with not only clients but others in the industry as well, and tons of interesting real estate news in and around the Oklahoma City area.As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show!Resources:Jamie’s Podcast – Upbeat Urbanism - https://upbeaturbanism.podbean.comRecommended Book List from this Discussion:“The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America” By Richard Rothstein -https://www.amazon.com/Color-Law-Forgotten-Government-Segregated/dp/1631494538/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+color+of+law&qid=1591013537&sr=8-1“Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding... Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis” By Sam Anderson – https://www.amazon.com/Boom-Town-Fantastical-Basketball-World-class/dp/0804137331/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Boomtown&qid=1591013613&sr=8-1
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About the Show: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Placemaking Podcast! I am pumped to share this conversation with all of you. There are so many great talking points on this one! I’ll be sharing with all of you that have subscribed to the email list a copy of the show notes for free! Ari is the founder and CEO of Rastegar Property Company located in Austin, Texas. Since forming Rastegar Property Company in 2015, his firm has successfully developed, redeveloped, and repositioned over 4.9M square feet with properties in 12 states and 34 US cities. Ari has earned a reputation as a thought leader in real estate with his pioneering, investment strategies. He specializes in recession-resilient real assets and multifamily developments, building portfolios designed to lower risk and boost capital appreciation potential. Ari has frequented several publications such as Forbes, CBS, and even The Wall Street Journal. His firm is embarking on its first ground-up development project in Dallas and it’s not a small one by any stretch of the imagination. The development consists of a large up-scale multifamily tower located on 0.45 acres near Victory Park in downtown Dallas. The architecture on this tower is truly spectacular, boasting the largest “living wall” in North America. I’ve included a link to a few articles that highlight this development in the description below. In this episode, we are going to discuss how Ari got started in real estate development, certain principles he finds important when developing properties, and loads of advice that he would give others that are looking to get into real estate development. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show!
Resources: Learn more about 1899 McKinney (Dallas Highrise): https://cheddar.com/media/dallas-is-set-to-be-home-of-north-americas-tallest-living-wall https://archinect.com/news/article/150194826/north-america-s-tallest-living-wall-could-capture-1-600-pounds-of-pollution-annually
Recommended Book List from this Discussion: “Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable” By Tim Grover - https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Tim-S-Grover-audiobook/dp/B00R4TQNP6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=relentless&qid=1590416840&sr=8-1 “The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology” By Ray Kurzweil – https://www.amazon.com/The-Singularity-Is-Near-audiobook/dp/B07XPFT63D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2O97NZBRAPW8T&dchild=1&keywords=transcend+ray+kurzweil&qid=1590417337&s=audible&sprefix=transcend+ray%2Caudible%2C173&sr=1-1 “Becoming Supernatural: How Common People are Doing the Uncommon” By Dr. Joe Dispenza - https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Supernatural-Common-People-Uncommon-ebook/dp/B0746RN3G7 “Defy Aging: Make the Rest of your Life the Best of your Life” By Jacob Rosenstein, M.D. - https://www.amazon.com/Defy-Aging-Make-rest-your/dp/1945507888/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=defy+aging&qid=1590417639&sr=8-2This podcast is brought to you by Audible! I have used Audible for many years now. I love it. Audible hands-down, has the largest selection of audiobooks in the world! I listen when I’m taking I'm riding to work, I listen while I’m running, basically… I listen whenever I can. Audible is offering The Placemaking Podcast listeners a two-free audiobooks with a 30-day trial membership. Just go to Audible.com and browse the amazing selection of audio programs. Then, when you've found a couple books you like, download your free titles and start listening! It’s extremely easy. Simply go to Audible.com
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show!I’m pumped to have a local developer on the show today! Omar Diaz started as an architect in Mexico City but wound up as a real estate developer here in Fort Worth, Texas. Omar’s completed one project so far and he has already begun his second one.I love to highlight local developers on the show to share their stories to hopefully give excitement to others that may be interested in real estate development but might not feel like they are ready to make the leap. His story is truly fascinating and I think you will be inspired by his journey into development.Omar holds an engineering and master’s degree in business administration with more than 18 years of experience in the fields of Architectural and interior design, construction, remodeling, and project management for residential projects. He was a founder and business partner of Area Arquitectos, a renowned Architectural firm for its outstanding high-end residential Contemporary Design. Bringing the highest construction quality and first-class attention to its sophisticated clientele in Mexico City for more than 12 years.Most recently, he acted as developer and general contractor of the May St. Condominiums in Fort Worth TX, a 12-unit residential development in the Near Southside. This was his first project in the developer role and showed him that he could be successful in development. Since then, he has begun the first phase of another group of townhomes also in the Near Southside.In this episode, we are going to discuss how Omar made the leap into development, a brief overview of his previous project and the current project he’s working on, and the importance of having a strong team by your side for these type of projects. I am excited to share his story!As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show, and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.So, without further ado, let’s start the show!
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! I’m extremely excited about our guest today! Ben Stevens not only works as a project manager for a real estate development firm, but he also wrote his own book “The Birth of a Building”, as well as maintains an online interview series called the Skyline Forum. His story is truly fascinating. He spent his 20’s in the non-profit world in Europe. During his time there, he made friends with several architects. He became engrossed in the theories and ideologies that these architects possessed as it related to not only buildings, but City Planning and the built environment. One of them suggested he consider doing so as a “real estate developer,” and he decided to dive in. Ever since then, he has pursued his role with development with vigor, but still maintains his passions for related disciplines such as architecture and urban planning. Late last year, he published his book “The Birth of a Building”. Which has quickly become one of my favorites on the topics of real estate and construction. He does a great job in discussing the creation of a building from conception to delivery in an easy to follow dialogue. His goal was to pull back the veil on the various processes that are required from all the disciplines involved to construct a building. I have provided a link below for those interested! In this episode, we are going to discuss the psychology behind making tough decisions in development, a brief understanding of the complexities included in the real estate development process, and also how to wrap your mind around modeling a pro forma for real estate development projects. I’m excited to dive into the show! As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So, without further ado, let’s start the show! Resources: Learn more about Ben Stevens here: https://benstevens.me Find his book “The Birth of a Building” here: https://amzn.to/2WbgkRA
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! I’m pumped about our guest today! Scott is the founder and manager of the Market Urbanism Report. Market Urbanism Report is a media company whose sole goal is to advance this Market Urbanism idea, so that it becomes better known by the public and potentially utilized within cities. Along with founding and managing Market Urbanism Report, he writes columns for Forbes, the Independent Institute, and HousingOnline.com, and gives regular speeches and media interviews. While recently completing a 3-year cross-country trip to study urban issues in the US, he became fascinated with the various issues that seemed to hinder prosperity in the various urban environments he visited. During this trip, he started what is now the Market Urbanism Report to broadcast the idea of Market Urbanism to others. As mentioned previously, the goal is to advance the idea of Market Urbanism in the hopes that it would produce cheaper housing, faster transport, improved public services and better quality of life In this episode, we are going to discuss the goal of Market Urbanism, the underlying fundamentals of Market Urbanism, the various urban centers that Scott traveled to on his cross-country tour, and some examples of possible Market Urbanism success stories that currently exist in the U.S. I’m excited to dive into the show! As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So, without further ado, let’s start the show! P.S. You can catch the show notes in the "Members Only" section P.P.S. Here is a link to Scott's website where you can find out more about him and the idea of Market Urbanism: https://marketurbanismreport.com/
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! I’m pumped about our guest today! Jeff is a Managing Director and leads strategy, team and operations of the AEC and Real Estate Practice at Kaye/Bassman. As Managing Director, Jeff has helped numerous companies with recruiting, compensation and retention over the 22 years that he has worked with the company here in Dallas. The firm he works for, Kaye/Bassman is a Dallas recruiting and search firm providing global recruiting solutions with full range of permanent placement options ranging from retained and/or contingency search. The firm has earned many records over the years with a few of them being:
Ranked among the Top 10 U.S. Search Firms by Executive Search Review Ranked as the Largest Single-Site Search Firm in U.S. by Executive Search Review Ranked as the #1 Largest Retained Executive Search Firm by the Dallas Business Journal Recognized as the#1 Leading Training Organization for the Search Industry through Next Level Recruiting Training (a Kaye/Bassman company)
In this episode, we are going to discuss the current employment outlook for AEC professionals as we face historic unemployment here in the US, advice for someone looking to get employed at a real estate firm, and what certain skill sets are most desirable for individuals when searching for a job in the commercial real estate field. I’m excited to dive into the show! As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So, without further ado, let’s start the show! P.S. - For the show's meeting notes, check out the "Member's Only" page..
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show!I’m extremely excited about our guest today! Kelli is the Floodplain Coordinator at The City of Marco Island in Florida. She is a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) and with that has helped her to become the Floodplain Manager for the City. Before working at the City, Kelli worked with a coastal engineering firm handling the various permitting needs of their clients.The City she works for, Marco Island is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico off Southwest Florida. It’s linked to the mainland by bridges south of the City of Naples. As Floodplain Coordinator, she administers the FEMA regulations & local building code. She also handles plan reviews within the special flood hazard zone areas. On top of all of that, she has become a resource of knowledge on flooding for the citizens of Marco Island along with her Twitter followers that she lovingly refers to as her “floodies”.In this episode, we are going to discuss the various terminology & jargon involved with FEMA Flood Hazard Zones, ways to mitigate risks against potential flooding, and loads of advice for someone looking to develop within a special flood hazard zone. I’m excited to dive into the show!As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.So, without further ado, let’s start the show!Become a fellow "Floodie" by following Kelli's Twitter: https://twitter.com/FloodGeek101
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! There is a lot great information to learn in this episode, so stay tuned!
Today on the show, I have Aarni Heiskanen who is a co-founder of AE Partners and author of AEC-Business.com. His insights into construction technologies are second to none! Aarni was a pioneer in Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), co-founder of a business software company and a certified management consultant with a background in Architecture. Needless to say, he brings an enormous amount of knowledge on this subject.
On top of his demanding role at AE Partners, Aarni manages a podcast and blog called AEC Business that tracks emerging technologies and innovations in construction. He has also been hailed a “Top 100” influencer in construction.
In this episode, we are going to look at the common excuses for not implementing greater technologies in construction. We will be discussing some of the valuable resources out there to learn more about construction technologies. We will then finish up by looking at the future of construction technologies that you might not know about yet.
As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.
So without further ado, let’s start the show!
Here's a link to the AEC-Business blog to learn more about the subject: https://aec-business.com
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! I’m extremely excited about our guest today! Scott is a good friend of mine and project manager at Streetlights Residential in Dallas, Texas. Scott has been successfully managing projects with Streetlights for almost four years now. His civil engineering background gives him a unique perspective and skillset when tackling development opportunities. The firm he works with, Streetlights Residential is one of the premier developers of urban multifamily and mixed-use communities in the country with a home base here in Dallas, Texas. With their in-house development, design, and construction expertise, the StreetLights team creates custom luxury communities that rival the experience, lifestyle, and amenities of living in an urban boutique hotel. In this episode, we are going to discuss certain hurdles that Scott faced while managing his first project, ways that he and his team overcame difficulties on projects, and loads of advice for someone looking to become a project manager in a ground-up development firm. I’m excited to dive into the show! As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So, without further ado, let’s start the show!For Show Notes, please visit the "Members Only" section of this website! More about Streetlights Residential: www.streetlightres.com
More about Scott: Profile
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! This is going to be a great show! Andrew is a founder and managing partner of Presidio Interests here in Fort Worth, Texas. Since forming Presidio in late 2006, he has successfully developed, redeveloped, and repositioned over 180,000 square feet of urban infill commercial and mixed-use properties with combined value in excess of $40 million. The firm he works with, Presidio Interests is a forward-thinking real estate development and investment firm, based in Fort Worth, Texas that specializes in using creative strategies to carry out value-added investments and new developments. In this episode, we are going to discuss how Andrew got started in real estate development, certain hurdles he faced when developing his first property, and advice that he would give others that are looking to get into real estate development. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.
So without further ado, let’s start the show!For show notes, please visit the "Members Only" section! Link to Presidio Interests: http://www.presidiointerests.com/
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! There is a lot great information to learn in this episode, so stay tuned!Today on the show, I have David Leininger who is a Strategic Advisor of Sasaki & Associates & Founder of Leininger Analytics. His insight into Transit-Oriented and Transit-Adjacent developments are second to none. David has experience in both the public and private sectors. He has worked as the EVP and CFO of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Budget Director at the City of Dallas, CFO of the City of Irving, and also nearly 25 years in the private sector working on large-scale real estate development projects. Needless to say, he brings a wealth of knowledge on this subject.On top of his current roles as Strategic Advisor of Sasaki & Associates and Founder of Leininger Analytics, he also serves on the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Product council and DFW TOD Product Council for the Urban Land Institute (ULI).In this episode, we are going to unpack the real differences between transit-oriented development (TOD) and transit-adjacent development (TAD). We will be discussing some of the many benefits that come from the introduction of TOD’s. We will then finish up by looking at the future of these type of developments and transit in general. As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come.So without further ado, let’s start the show!For the Show Notes on this episode, Please see the "Members Only" section of the website.Link to Leininger Analytics: https://www.leiningeranalytics.com/
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! There is a lot to learn in this episode, so stay tuned! Alex is a very good friend of mine and Property Tax Advisor at Strategic Property Tax Advisors. On top of that, he is a real estate broker in his free time. His insight into Tax advising is second to none. He is truly a student of the craft and constantly stays apprised of current tax laws and legislation. With over 10 years of tax consulting experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge on the subject. The firm he works with, Strategic Property Tax Advisors expertise is focused solely in commercial real estate. Strategic has a thorough understanding of commercial real estate complexities and will work as an integral part of your team regarding property tax appeals, procedures, valuation and litigation support. In this episode, we are going to discuss the type of taxes would a ground-up real estate developer expect. What are some ways that developers could help to hedge their real estate tax burden and what is so great about depreciation and how can it be included in your overall tax strategy? As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-pace-0a05b170/
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! This is going to be a fun one! Tim is a good friend of mine and office manager at ECS Southwest here in Fort Worth, Texas. Tim has been successfully managing projects with ECS for about 6 years now. His insight into managing successful materials testing projects comes from a strong military background. The firm he works with, ECS Southwest is a leader in geotechnical, construction materials, environmental and facilities engineering. With 5 offices and testing facilities spread across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southeast and Southwest, ECS is currently ranked as number 72 in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms In this episode, we are going to discuss the role of a geotechnical and materials testing firm on your project. What type of tests are performed by these types of firms? Why are they important for ground-up developments? As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. So without further ado, let’s start the show! ECS Southwest, LLP: https://www.ecslimited.com/
Show Notes can be found in the "Members Only" page.
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! I’m really excited about our guest today! Mike is a good friend of mine and President of Near Southside Inc. here in Fort Worth, Texas. Mike took over as NSI’s president in 2018 after leading the organization’s planning and development efforts for 12 years. Mike joined NSI in early 2006 after six years with the City of Fort Worth’s Planning Department, where he managed the Comprehensive Planning division. Mike has served on the Board of Directors for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (now Trinity Metro) and on the Fort Worth City Plan Commission. He was the founding chairman and continues to serve on the board of Fort Worth Bike Sharing, Inc. In addition to those development and placemaking initiatives, NSI is responsible for a wide variety of promotional programs, including festivals and events that attract thousands, and a wide range of business assistance initiatives. In this episode, we are discuss the basics of Form Based Code, common objections for this type of code, and what situations offer the best opportunities to introduce form based code. I’m excited to dive into this one! As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. Near Southside Inc. : https://www.nearsouthsidefw.org/ Show Notes can be found in the “Members Only” page.
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Hello and welcome everyone! Thank you for joining the show! This is going to be a fun one! Bridger is a good friend of mine and project manager at Fort Construction here in Fort Worth, Texas. Bridger has been successfully managing projects with Fort for almost five years now. His insight into managing successful construction projects comes from a strong military background.The firm he works with, Fort Construction, is based here in Fort Worth, Texas and is a full-service construction firm offering design-build, preconstruction, construction management, and general contracting services. They are known for their excellent work here in Texas. In this episode, we are going to discuss the role of a General Contractor on your project, What type of traits should you look for when selecting a general contractor? How big of a weight should previous experience have when making your decision? As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. Bridger's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridger-clader-80696292/Fort Construction Website: https://fortconstruction.com/
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Cameron is a good friend of mine and project manager Cornerstone Projects Group here in Fort Worth, Texas. Cameron has been successfully managing projects with Cornerstone for almost three years now. His architectural background gives him a unique perspective and skillset when tackling development opportunities. The firm he works with, Cornerstone Projects Group is an award-winning development, architecture, and construction services firm, offering solutions for office, retail, and multifamily projects in North Central Texas. In this episode, we are going to discuss ways to mitigate risks to your development’s schedule and budget, selecting a project team, and ways to track the performance of your project throughout the development process. I’m excited to dive into the show! As always, if you have enjoyed the show, please subscribe to the show and share with your friends. There will be more exciting conversations on the show to come. To learn more about Cameron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camerontpybus/ To learn more about Cornerstone: http://www.cornerstonedbac.com/
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In this episode, we will be talking to a good friend of mine and founder of the Architecture firm Method Group in Tulsa Oklahoma. The firm was founded by Josh in May of 2018. Since then, they have burst on the scene in Tulsa with projects focused on creating memorable places. Their firm provides Architecture, Interior Design, Planning and Historic Preservation.
We will discuss the design phases involved in a development project, the role of an architect on your project, and the process of selecting an architect for your project as well! I think you will find that Josh brings a unique perspective on these topics due to his personal and professional background.
If you'd like to find out more about Method Group and Josh Kunkel, please see below for his contact information.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-kunkel-46730140/
Company Website: https://www.method.group/
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This is the first episode
Hey all! Welcome to the Placemaking Podcast!
So, I bet you’re wondering why this is called the “Placemaking Podcast”. Placemaking capitalizes on a local community’s assets, inspiration and potential, creating good public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and economic well-being. My hope is that if you are listening to this podcast, your goal would be the same. To utilize the potential of your surrounding communities to create developments that ultimately increase the well-being of the community at large!
Feel free to email me with any show ideas or suggestions!
Email: placemakingpodcast@gmail.com