Building Connections, The ULI Charlotte Podcast

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 and real estate from both sides of the
table. 

The conversation digs into the realities restaurant operators face, from
rising costs and labor challenges to the complexity of scaling and sustaining
concepts. It also examines how developers and landlords evaluate restaurant tenants, balancing the value they bring to a project with the risk they carry. 

Together, they discuss how expectations are shifting, where traditional deal structures fall short and what more collaborative approaches could look like moving forward.

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 private partners collaborate to deliver projects that benefit both the market and the community. Using real Charlotte examples like Camp North End, the Pearl Innovation District and Providence Square, they discuss the tools, timing and relationships required to structure successful P3s and how infrastructure investment and aligned public priorities can unlock development that might not otherwise happen.

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 program in Uptown Charlotte, Lauren and Andrew share real examples of art that drove leasing, catalyzed the community and gave developers the permission to dream bigger.

They also break down the practical side: when to bring art in, how to budget for it, how to manage community engagement without losing artistic integrity and why having an expert project manager makes all the difference.

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, sustainability best practices and how sensory elements like light, texture and sound influence the way people interact with spaces.

The episode also looks ahead at the future of design, including generational shifts, biophilic design and the role of AI as a tool in the creative process.

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 strategy, and asset management. The conversation then shifts to Charlotte’s evolving investment landscape—from the rebound in office and industrial sectors to multifamily headwinds and the future of retail and healthcare properties.

Whether you're an investor, lender, or developer, this episode offers grounded insights into how national trends and local fundamentals are shaping Charlotte’s next chapter.