The Built World Podcast: Nitin Motwani – Managing Partner Miami Worldcenter Associates

Written by & filed in Development Pipeline, Entrepreneurship, Interviews, Podcast, Urbanism.

In this episode we kick it with Nitin over some beers. Nitin got his first taste of real estate when his parents purchased  a rinky-dink hotel in Fort Lauderdale in the 1980’s. After graduating from Duke University, Nitin decided to pursue a master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University.  In 2004 he moved back to South Florida and started networking with local real estate leaders. Nearly 20 years later, Miami World Center is an almost completed mixed-use development that sits on a 27 acre assemblage in the heart of downtown Miami.  

Join us as Nitin shares his journey on how he became one of the most influential developers Miami has seen in the last two decades. 

Please find this episode of The Built World on Spotify or ITunes.

The Built World Podcast: Toby Cobb – Co-Founder – 3650 REIT & Grass River Properties

Written by & filed in Development Pipeline, Entrepreneurship, Interviews, Multifamily, Office, Podcast, Retail, Urbanism.

In this episode we sat down with Toby Cobb and enjoyed a couple Samuel Adams beers. A Miami native, Toby shares his story about his career in commercial real estate. After graduating from Southern Methodist University, Toby returned to Miami and began working for Southeast Bank in the heart of the savings and loan crisis in the late 80’s. 

Toby moved to New York City to attend NYU and received an MBA. He then spent the next 28 years on Wall Street working for Citi, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Deutsche Bank where he was the Co-head of US Real Estate. Toby provides an insightful macro view of commercial real estate from the last 40 years and where he thinks things are headed for commercial real estate in the not so distant future. Spoiler alert: Office-Armageddon is coming and there will be contagion for other asset classes. 

After leaving Wall Street, Toby returned to the 305 to lead LNR Property as Co-CEO. After a 3-year stint at LNR he Co-founded Grass River Property and dipped his toe in development. In 2016 he co-founded 3650 REIT, a loan origination and loan servicing firm. 

Join us for an incredibly educational and discerning conversation with Toby Cobb. 

Please find this episode of The Built World on Spotify or iTunes.

The Built World Podcast: Kieran Bowers – President, Swire Properties

Written by & filed in Commercial, Community, Condo, Development Pipeline, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality, Office, Podcast, Retail, Urbanism.

In this episode we kick it with Kieran Bowers, President of Swire Properties. After graduating from Oxford, he began his professional career as a management trainee at Swire Pacific where he has been for 25+ years. Kieran spent most of his career in Asia, starting with Cathay Pacific Airlines. He has lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Karachi, Sri Lanka, Riyadh, Amsterdam, Beijing and now Miami. We talk about the similarities and differences between the airline and real estate industries and Swire’s approach to sustainable demolition and construction. We also talk about how Swire got involved with the development of Brickell Key 40 years ago and how Swire integrated Brickell City Centre into the urban fabric and what’s next for phase 2 for Brickell City Centre. 

Please find this episode of The Built World on Spotify or iTunes.

The Built World Podcast: Jay Massirman – Managing Principal, Rivergate Companies

Written by & filed in Commercial, Development Pipeline, Entrepreneurship, Interviews, Market Watch, Mixed-Use, Multifamily, Podcast, Urbanism.

From valet parking cars in Miami during the Cocaine Cowboy days, to brokering  deals for CBRE for 20 years,  we dive into Jay’s career path which eventually led him to becoming an accomplished real estate developer. Jay is a humble and frugal entrepreneur that believes in giving back to his community. He is the outgoing  Board Chair of the University of Miami ‘s Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism program and he is also on the Board of Directors of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. 

Please find this episode of The Built World on Spotify or iTunes

The Built World Podcast: Raymond Jungles

Written by & filed in Architecture, Entrepreneurship, Interviews, Podcast, Quality of Life, Urbanism.

From his lush “demonstration garden/treehouse” at his Coconut Grove design headquarters, we chat with landscape architect Raymond Jungles.  The sculptor of spaces revisits his youth through stories: inspired by his love for nature in childhood, to his chance encounter with Burle Marx (his eventual mentor), we learn about how these events led him to a career as one of America’s most vaunted landscape architects. From Rio de Janiero, Antigua, Key West & Miami; his evolution as businessman and creator.  His principles: maximizing biodiversity, creating self-sustainable gardens, selecting plants that work well together, both aesthetically and with regard to their individual DNA.  Raymond tells us what inspires him: the power of oak trees, Flamengo Park in Rio & Central Park in NY.  He leaves us with the mission of “spreading the word of love of nature.”

Please find this episode of The Built World on Spotify oriTunes