Most people have some familiarity with the process of buying real estate, either through popular media or their own experiences purchasing a home. But when you enter the world of commercial property development and investment, there is a "lingua franca" that is unique to the real estate business. While there may be a justifiable need for this "secret language" between real … [Read more...] about Investors as educators.
Articles
Create, don’t destroy.
The term "blight removal" conjures up images of construction cranes knocking down homes, displacement, and gentrification. But blight can take many forms and its removal has many remedies. Preservation of seemingly dilapidated structures can invigorate and reinforce a community’s value and sense of place. Historic preservation Instead of knocking down older buildings with … [Read more...] about Create, don’t destroy.
Striving for impact.
How can real estate developers and investors make substantial positive change in the places in which they build? It’s a vexing question that luckily has numerous answers. You just need to know where to look. Be direct and honest Let's face it, you're not going to be able to please all the people all the time. As an individual investor or developer, your project's scope … [Read more...] about Striving for impact.
The balancing act.
Modern community development is a balancing act For most of the history of urban development, community input was rare. Top down design and planning prescriptions, like those of “urban renewal” were how communities were made. These days, planners and developers need to be far more agile and responsive to create communities. Working in tandem with the local community is an … [Read more...] about The balancing act.
Taking the best path forward.
Nowadays, you can't throw a stone without hitting a "socially conscious" or "socially responsible" residential development project. Let's assume for a second that most of the firms involved in these projects are genuinely interested in making a difference while making a profit. The question remains: why aren't we seeing a substantive change in the amount and type of … [Read more...] about Taking the best path forward.