U3 Advisors

In the latest episode of the podcast Stop & Talk from the Conrad Prebys Foundation, U3 Advisors’ CEO Omar Blaik joins the Foundation's CEO -- Grant Oliphant for a long look at the future of downtowns. Their focus? The ongoing reimagining of San Diego’s Civic Center which is being led by U3 Advisors, a singular opportunity to reconnect anchors and assets, eliminate barriers, and give America's Finest City a dynamic downtown that belongs to everyone. Available now at https://lnkd.in/dx7YDJbX or wherever you find your podcasts. Watch a preview here: https://lnkd.in/dBUTfEUB

U3 Advisors is hiring a Real Estate Associate! Learn more about the position and apply here: https://lnkd.in/eFMiM38h

Meet U3's new Associate, Mariko Krause! Mariko joins our firm from the City of Memphis' Division of Planning & Development, but her association with U3 goes back almost a decade. Mariko applies her knowledge of placemaking and her ability to see how so many pieces link together to make communities healthier, stronger, and move livable. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eHPWC8Bd.

Meet our new Senior Analyst, Frances Murray! Frances has always been fascinated by the ways that planning, policy, and human behavior influence each other and have the potential to create healthier, sustainable communities for everyone. This interest brought her to Penn's renowned urban planning program, which in turn led to a successful internship at U3 Advisors. She is now working full time as a Senior Analyst, where she can put her interests to work for cities and clients across the country. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e2THF2uK.

When the Memphis College of Art left Overton Park, it left a hole in the city’s heart in more ways that one: historic Rust Hall, the breathtaking mid century modern complex that had been its home for decades, went vacant. U3 Advisors was invited to use our unique expertise in real estate strategy and public engagement to conduct a thorough community visioning process for the campus. We subsequently prepared and issued a request-for-proposal that allowed the City of Memphis to find the next tenant for this iconic building: the National Ornamental Metal Museum, whose compelling and catalytic vision for Rust will ensure that it remains a place of learning for generations to come. Congratulations to the Metal Museum and the City of Memphis for forging a bold new future here. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/evc82JRA

The Texas A&M University system continues to make transformative investments in the future of downtown Fort Worth, including the $260 million Research & Innovation Building -- the home for next generation advancements in engineering, aerospace, defense and health sciences, among many other sectors. U3 Advisors is proud to work with the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Innovation Partnership on this and other remarkable projects that are reshaping Fort Worth's downtown from the ground up. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eKJ5ru5Y

U3 Welcomes Interns Katya Rudnik & Ashley Zuo! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eM4UH-pH.

Yesterday we celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Union on Knox, a new mixed-use development which will provide nearly 800 beds for students at the University of Maryland and 20,000 new square feet of retail and other amenities to serve them. The project, developed by Greystar in partnership with the Terrapin Development Company, features a unique design that includes the creation of a new public street that makes this entire College Park neighborhood more inviting, walkable, and explorable for undergraduate Terrapins and their friends. U3 Advisors has worked closely with UMD and TDC for years on visionary projects like this to create a more vibrant College Park, and were honored to celebrate with our partners on this exciting milestone.

Reports announcing the “end” of America’s downtowns seem to be everywhere these days -- and without a change in course, they may turn out to be right. Omar Blaik and Alex Feldman from U3 Advisors were honored to contribute some ideas to the latest issue of Context Magazine about why downtowns matter and how they can take control of their destinies before it's too late. Our thanks to AIA Philadelphia for this opportunity and the many clients who inspired this piece. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eCjYYFf6 Image: Preliminary Architectural Rendering - Pelli Clarke & Partners/Stantec Architecture, Inc

What kinds of jobs will exist in an emerging innovation economy? Recently, Tatianna Swenda, a Vice President at U3 Advisors and the lead of our anchor strategy practice, shared some new labor and employment data that addressed that very question. Tatianna spoke at a workshop organized by the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Engagement and Community Affairs about the kinds of careers that will be available as the redevelopment of Hazelwood Green continues. Visionary projects like this one not only transform areas of the city -- they have the potential to provide new pathways for the local workforce. Our thanks to Pitt Vice Chancellor Lina Dostillo for this invitation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/egrUQwiC