Building Connections, The ULI Charlotte Podcast

Charlotte’s tree canopy is one of the city’s defining characteristics. But as the region continues to grow, can Charlotte maintain its identity as the City of Trees, especially with a goal of 50% canopy coverage by 2050 and current coverage sitting at 47%? In this episode of Building Connections, host Bart Landess of Catawba Lands Conservancy sits down with Eric Schmidhausler of Bartlett Tree Expe...

Charlotte has become one of the nation's most watched growth markets. But what are experienced developers seeing that keeps them investing here? In this episode of Building Connections, Charlotte Ledger Managing Editor Ashley Fahey talks with leaders from Republic and Hines about why Charlotte continues to attract capital, talent and ambitious development projects. They discuss the opportunities,...

Restaurants play an important role in shaping how people experience a place, but behind the energy and atmosphere is a business model under constant pressure.  In this episode of Building Connections, host Rachel Krenz sits down with restaurateur and celebrity chef Chris Coleman with Built on Hospitality and developer Bobby Speir with Crosland Southeast to explore the intersection of restaurants a...

In this episode of Building Connections, host Todd DeLong of the City of Charlotte Economic Development Department sits down with Jeff Brown of Moore & Van Allen and Daniel Malino of Levine Properties to break down how public-private partnerships (P3s) actually work. From the legal structure behind these deals to the financial realities developers face, the conversation explores how cities and pri...

In this episode of Building Connections, host Adam Rhew sits down with Lauren Harkey of Hodges Taylor and Andrew Baysden of Crescent Communities to explore how intentional public art transforms real estate projects into meaningful places. From Crescent's famous "Pete the Troll" at the River District, now drawing visitors from around the world, to the scrappy origin story of the Goodyear Arts progr...

In this episode of Building Connections, host Nathan Daniel is joined by Shaun Tooley, partner at LandDesign, and Patrick Cooley, interior designer at LS3P. Together they explore how thoughtful design across interiors, landscapes and architecture shapes the human experience. The conversation covers emerging design trends, collaboration across disciplines, designing within tight budgets, sustainabi...

Capital is cautious, but opportunity remains in the Carolinas.  In this episode, host Kris Fetter of Faison is joined by JP Conklin of Pensford and Patrick Gildea of CBRE to explore what lies ahead for the economy, interest rates, and commercial real estate in 2026.  They dive into investor sentiment, diverging Treasury yield forecasts, and the growing influence of AI on underwriting, investment s...

Housing is one of Charlotte’s most pressing needs, yet also one of its most complex and misunderstood challenges. In this episode, host Beth Silverman sits down with AJ Jackson of Leo Impact Capital and Andy Lucas of Beauxwright to unpack the facts behind the headlines. Together, they define what we really mean when we talk about housing, from affordable to market rate, and explore the realities,...

Charlotte is growing faster than ever, but how will we keep the city moving? In this episode of Building Connections, host Tracy Dodson sits down with Ned Curran and David Howard to unpack the upcoming 2025 Mecklenburg County Transportation Referendum. From the history of Charlotte’s transportation planning to the challenges of North Carolina’s state-controlled road network, they explore why new f...

In this episode of Building Connections, land use expert and host Bridget Grant sits down with developers Welch Liles (Asana Partners) and Brendan Pierce (Crescent Communities) to take listeners inside the full life cycle of a real estate development. From shaping a vision and engaging the community to navigating site selection, capital constraints, rezoning battles, impacts of AI and design pivot...

In this episode of Building Connections, guest host Mike Ortlip sits down with Matt Martin, Regional Executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Charlotte Branch. They discuss the Federal Reserve’s role in the economy, monetary policy, and interest rates and explore how national decisions ripple through to the Carolinas' real estate market, workforce and rural development. From cash circula...

In this episode, host Tobe Holmes goes in-depth with futurist and real estate innovator Nikki Greenberg to explore how technology is reshaping the spaces where we live, work and play. From drone deliveries to AI-driven real estate management, Nikki offers a dynamic look at what’s coming and how developers and planners can prepare today. They also discuss generational shifts, regulatory hurdles and...

In this episode recorded in late April 2025, we take a deep dive into the evolving retail landscape, from national capital trends to the local shifts happening across Charlotte. Host Brian Purcell, Partner at Cuadra Capital, is joined by Katie Grissom of Nuveen, who brings a national macroeconomic lens, and Charles Thrift of Thrift Commercial Real Estate Services, who offers deep insights into Cha...

Tune in as we explore the evolution of Charlotte with former ULI Charlotte Chair Peter A. Pappas and Chair-Elect Rachel Krenz. We discuss how ULI has helped shape Charlotte’s growth, influencing key developments like the light rail and setting the bar for smart urban planning. Looking ahead, we’ll discuss the creation of transformative projects while maintaining affordability, fostering resiliency...

In this debut episode of Building Connections: The ULI Charlotte Podcast, we examine the lasting impact of Hurricane Helene on communities west of Charlotte and across Western North Carolina. This once-in-a-thousand-year storm left a devastating mark on infrastructure, housing, and local economies, prompting swift response efforts from government agencies, relief organizations, and industry leader...