Forum鈥檚 Move from Denver to 91福利社 a Reminder that in Real Estate, Location Is Tops
CUREC鈥檚 annual showcase event attracts top industry players to discuss pandemic recovery, new projects and policy challenges.鈥
Sarah Wiebenson, center, director of economic development for the Downtown Denver Partnership, speaks during a panel discussion on opportunities for the industry as it shifts听out of the pandemic. She is working with partners across the city 鈥榯o reimagine downtown Denver, and to see this as an opportunity to not just build back, but build back better.鈥櫶鼴elow, a group of professionals listens to a discussion on policy trends coming out of Washington.
If the first three rules of real estate are location, location, location, it鈥檚 telling that for the first time, the CU Real Estate Center moved its annual forum from the skyscrapers of Denver to the foothills of 91福利社.听
It also signifies just how strong the ties between the Leeds School of Business and the real estate community have become. A full-capacity crowd of more than 260 attendees registered for the daylong event at Folsom Field, including 61 industry representatives who participated in a recruiting fair.
鈥淚 think bringing this event to 91福利社, back to the university, is a fitting way to connect this event back to what鈥檚 happening here, and to the impact the CU Real Estate Center has created in the community,鈥 said Bradley Segall, business development manager for Denison Parking and chair of the forum committee, in his opening remarks. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 fantastic to see so many students joining us today, as well.鈥澨
And like the collaboration between CUREC and the real estate industry, a major message of the forum was how to identify partners and work together in helping Colorado rebound from the pandemic.听
鈥楶edestrian life is disintegrating鈥
A fireside chat between Michael P. Kercheval, CUREC executive director, and Daniel McCaffery, chairman and CEO of McCaffery Interests, looked at the challenges of bringing people back to cities like Denver.听
On a typical night in Denver鈥檚 RiNo neighborhood, 鈥測ou can count the number of people walking by on one hand, maybe two,鈥 McCaffery said. 鈥淧edestrian life is disintegrating. We have to magnetize the streets once more.鈥澨
A big catalyst for bringing people back, he said, is small retailers. Most developments now have residential down to street level. Compared to bustling cities in Europe, with 鈥渟maller, but more energetic, stores that invite movement from place to place,鈥 American cities are offering fewer places to gather.听
As to the office sector, McCaffery said, the outlook remains uncertain.听
鈥淲e need peoples鈥 mindset to back to where it was, but I鈥檓 not sure how we turn that corner.鈥
Daniel McCaffery, chairman and CEO, McCaffery Interests
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