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Summary: Jamie and I talk all about what a land use attorney is and why they are important to the development process.

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Take Aways:
- How Jamie went from studying architecture to becoming a landscape architect to becoming a lawyer.
- The importance of an entrepreneurial mindset and advice for being an entrepreneur within a larger organization.
- “Raleigh, fundamentally friendly”
- Jamie’s favorite podcasts

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About Jamie Schwedler:
Jamie is a land use attorney practicing with Parker Poe. She regularly advises developers and landowners on a full range of real property and development matters.

Her representation has included zoning requests for large land development projects and infill sites, conducting due diligence and entitlement review on real estate acquisitions, navigating local and state regulations affecting development, and analyzing legal issues of transportation and infrastructure improvements.

Connect with Jamie: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
- Dirt NC episode with Ken Bowers
- Dirt NC episode with Paul Zarian
- [Podcast] WorkLife with Adam Grant
- [Podcast] Leading Voices in Real Estate with Matt Slepin
- [Podcast] Dear HBR - Harvard Business Review
- [Podcast] The Working Mothers Mentor with Julie Finn

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome, I am your host Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have covered just about all sides of the land use ecosystem. This show creates an opportunity for me to share what I have learned with you as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC my goal is to make sure you walk away learning something new about land use. I promise to keep it simple and straight to the point.

As always, I am grateful that you have chosen to share this time with me! If you have comments/questions/suggestions about Dirt NC or anything land use related you can connect with me on

Send us a Text Message.

Summary: Stephen and I talk all about the City of Raleigh Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Take Aways:
- Stephen's journey from a focus on physical education to leading a team of 1,800 (seasonal peak) team members
- How the department is funded.
- The value of an ethic of conservation.
- How the Raleigh Greenway system encompasses over 4,000 acres of land.

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About Stephen C. Bentley:
Stephen C. Bentley is the Director of the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department and part of the City’s Management Team. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has worked for public park agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government.

As Director of the Raleigh Parks Department, he is responsible for overseeing the mission, vision and equitable values of Raleigh’s system. For more than a decade, Stephen has worked with elected officials, community and business leaders on approximately $350M in park and recreation improvements across the City. Stephen has extensive experience in public park planning, community engagement, public space design, funding and public-private partnership strategies.

The values that guide Stephen’s work include collaboration, inclusion and empowerment.

Stephen has a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University in Recreation and Leisure Services Management in Pennsylvania and received his master’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administration from Michigan State University. He holds certificates from National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) Directors School, North Carolina State University Natural Resources Leadership Institute, and the University of North Carolina Municipal Administrators Program.

Stephen is active in several national organizations and local nonprofits supporting efforts for everyone to live a healthy life.

Connect with Stephen: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
City of Raleigh Museum
Raleigh Urban Forestry
Raleigh Parks Board
Raleigh Parks Newsletter - MyRaleigh Subscriptions
Recless Podcast
Podcast Raleigh: Ernest Dollar, City of Raleigh Museum

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial developm

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Summary: Travis and I talk all about the process of building out a tenant space!

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Take Aways:
- The importance of finding a good “fit” in your GC. Interview them like you would an employee.
- Travis’s journey from being a Radio Host to a General Contractor.
- The importance of learning to read your own plans.
- The overall timeline and process for a tenant upfit.
- The value of spending money on good plans.

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About Travis:
Travis is the Director of Commercial Construction for Williams Realty & Building Co., Inc. He has been with Williams for going on ten years. Travis is a native of the area, born and raised in Apex, and a proud graduate of NC State.

Connect with Travis: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
- WKNC 88.1 FM - North Carolina State University Radio

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome, I am your host Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have covered just about all sides of the land use ecosystem. This show creates an opportunity for me to share what I have learned with you as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC my goal is to make sure you walk away learning something new about land use. I promise to keep it simple and straight to the point.

As always, I am grateful that you have chosen to share this time with me! If you have comments/questions/suggestions about Dirt NC or anything land use related you can connect with me on www.oakcitycre.com.

Until next time, Thank you!

Send us a Text Message.

Summary: Anthony and I talk all about his path to development, development process, and the new Forge Apartments from on site at Raleigh Iron Works.

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Take Aways:
- A greenway system, like a chain, is only as strong as its weakest link.
- The challenges and opportunities of adaptive reuse development.
- The importance of having grace with critique and the impact of constraints.

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About Anthony:
Anthony Smithson manages ongoing development and construction activities at Grubb Ventures, including many of our award-winning multifamily communities and mixed-use commercial projects.

He began his career in commercial real estate as an Investment Analyst and Project Manager for Grubb Properties, where he managed the repositioning of several office portfolios and the development and construction of multifamily communities in North Carolina. Prior to transitioning into commercial real estate, Anthony worked as a structural engineer, designing office buildings, mixed-use developments, multifamily communities, and retail centers.

In 2011, Anthony earned his MBA, with concentrations in investment finance and real estate, from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and he holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Connect with Anthony: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Mentioned in the show:
- Modpools
- Forge at Raleigh Iron Works
- Book: Ann Lamott - Bird By Bird
- Book: Christopher Alexander - A Pattern Language
- Book: Keith Ferrazzi - Never Eat Alone
- Book: Yvon Chouinard - Let My People Go Surfing
- Book: Roman Mars - The 99% Invisible City
- Book: Robert Caro - The Power Broker

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome, I am your host Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have covered just about all sides of the land use ecosystem. This show creates an opportunity for me to share what I have learned with you as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old who are doing transfo

Send us a Text Message.

Summary: Phil and I talk all about Transportation Engineering and Design.
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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Take Aways:
- Multimodal transportation engineering: What is it? Why is it important?
- Breakdown of industry jargon and acronyms: VMT, LOS, VHOD…
- The importance of starting with a sketch.

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About Phil:
Phil Veasley is a Professional Engineer with Toole Design Group working to design safer multimodal infrastructure in cities throughout the US. Outside of the 9-5, his goal is to create cites that are safe and effective for all people to move about outside of cars. Whether it’s written articles, sketches, YouTube videos, or just starting a conversation on Twitter Phil is always spreading ideas focus on creating equitable, dense, and vibrant cities full of walkable neighborhoods.

Connect with Phil: Website | LinkedIn | YouTube | Twitter

Mentioned in the show:
- philveasley.com

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to the point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome, I am your host Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have covered just about all sides of the land use ecosystem. This show creates an opportunity for me to share what I have learned with you as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC my goal is to make sure you walk away learning something new about land use. I promise to keep it simple and straight to the point.

As always, I am grateful that you have chosen to share this time with me! If you have comments/questions/suggestions about Dirt NC or anything land use related you can connect with me on www.oakcitycre.com.

Until next time, Thank you!

Send us a Text Message.

Summary: Dave and I talk all about how he got into academia and helped build the UNC Real Estate Program!
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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!
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Big Take Aways:
- The power of mentors and exposure.
- How Dave went from an experimental high school to the birth of Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities on Wall Street to UNC for 36 years.
- How Dave helped grow the Kenan-Flagler Business School real estate program from a department of two to a conference of 900+.

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About Dave:
Dave Hartzell has been a faculty member at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina since July 1988, where he has taught thousands of students in finance and real estate courses in the undergraduate, MBA, Ph.D. and Executive Education Programs. He has also served for most of his years at UNC as the coordinator of the Real Estate Concentration within the UNC MBA Program, and as the Senior Director of the Wood Center for Real Estate Studies (www.realestate.unc.edu). He is the founding faculty advisor and an Investment Committee member for the student-managed UNC Real Estate Investment Funds.

Dave serves on the Board of Directors of Highwoods Properties, where he sits on the Investment Committee and the Audit Committee, and was a former Vice President at Salomon Brothers Inc. in New York. His first academic appointment was at the University of Texas at Austin.

He received his PhD in Finance from the Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill and his MA and BS in economics from the University of Delaware, where he was a multi-year starter on the Division I Blue Hen soccer team. He has won several teaching and service awards at the University of Texas and at UNC, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Lerner School of Business at the U. of Delaware (2000), and the North Carolina Youth Soccer Coach of the year (2000).

Most importantly, Dave is married to his high school sweetheart (Randee) and they are the proud parents of two grown children (Jamie and David), and grandparents to two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Connect with Dave: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
- Business School Expansion Project
- Movie: It’s a Wonderful Life
- Urban Land Institute (ULI)
- National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF)

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Sponsor: This show is supported by the Top Five Newsletter. If you want a simple and to-the-point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to the Top Five. It’s free if you want it to be!

Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces

Send us a Text Message.

Summary:
Chris and I discuss exhibit design and construction at Marbles!

Big Take Aways:
-The difference between goldsmithing and silversmithing.
- The power of “we didn’t know what we didn’t know.”
- Exhibits as “working prototypes.”

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About Chris:
Chris Alexander is the Vice President of Exhibits at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, NC.
His passion for designing and fabricating playful and engaging learning environments is driven by his curious nature, desire to problem solve, and the unique challenge of designing for a young and diverse audience.
After receiving a BID in Industrial Design from the NC State College of Design in 1993, Chris helped found the Antfarm Studios- a still operational creative collective for artists and designers in Raleigh's Boylan Heights. It was during this time that under the mentorship of acclaimed Goldsmith Mary Ann Scherr, that Chris continued his education in design by exploring metalwork through jewelry as inspiriting and interactive wearable objects.
The ability to play with scale, material, color, and whimsy eventually led him to his current work with Marbles creating exhibits that spark imagination, discovery and learning through play. Chris continues to engage and collaborate with the creative community in Raleigh, he has taught Design Camp sessions at the College of Design at North Carolina State University, and Metalsmithing at Meredith College as well as Penland School of Crafts. He has spoken on “Fear and Failure in Design” at Hopscotch Design fest. Chris designed and built his home employing adaptive reuse techniques to blend modern design with existing traditional structures.
Most importantly, Chris is doting father to his daughter, Tess and husband to wife Emily.
He believes in the power of play to transform children’s lives, and the power of design to create extraordinary experiences for children, families and communities.

Connect with Chris: Website | LinkedIn

Mentioned in the show:
- Mary Ann Scherr
- NCSU College of Design
- Antfarm Studios
- Giving at Marbles

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Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome, I am your host Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have covered just about all sides of the land use ecosystem. This show creates an opportunity for me to share what I have learned with you as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old who are doing transformative work.

With each episode of Dirt NC my goal is to make sure you walk away learning something new about land use. I promise to keep it simple and straight to the point.

As always, I am grateful that you have chosen to share this time with me! If you have comments/questions/suggestions about Dirt NC or anything land use related you can find me on twitter at @OakCityCRE and if you want a simple and to the point update on Raleigh commercial development you can subscribe to The Top Five, my free weekly new

Send us a Text Message.

Summary:
Brian and I talk all about his career history and how to make big ideas a reality. We also introduce a new segment, the “$100M Challenge.”

Big Take Aways:
- What would Brian do with $100M?
- I learned about the practice of “slugging in.”
- “If you want advice, ask for a job. If you want a job, ask for advice.”
- What is the secret to sales success? Curiosity.

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About Brian:
Brian Leary joined Highwoods Properties as executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2019. In this role, he has direct oversight of Highwoods’ eight geographic divisions as well as the development and marketing teams. Brian is ensuring Highwoods’ 28+ million square foot portfolio provides a compelling and competitive advantage to its occupants to return, retain and recruit the best and brightest talent.

Preceding Highwoods, Brian served as president of Crescent Communities’ commercial and mixed-use business unit from 2014 to 2019 - where he relaunched the commercial division and directed the company’s office, industrial and retail development across the country.

Prior to joining Crescent, Brian held senior management and executive positions with Jacoby Development, Inc., Atlanta Beltline, Inc., AIG Global Real Estate, Atlantic Station, LLC and Central Atlanta Progress. As the managing director of Jacoby Development, a national developer of corporate, mixed-use and retail projects, he launched ONE Daytona, a 4.5-million square foot joint venture with International Speedway Corp. Previously Brian served as president and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc., ‐ the organization executing the implementation of the BeltLine, one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment projects in the United States. When complete, the $3B+ project will provide a network of public parks, multi-use trails, transit, public art and thousands of units of housing along a historic 22-mile railroad corridor circling Atlanta.

Brian is a graduate of Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture with an undergraduate degree in architecture with minor concentrations in land development and real estate, and in addition, holds a master’s degree in City Planning from Georgia Tech. While focusing on transportation and land development in graduate school, he finished a redevelopment plan for the Atlantic Steel property that would provide the basis for Atlantic Station.

Brian, his wife and their two daughters reside in the City of Raleigh.

Connect with Brian: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter

Mentioned in the show:
- [BOOK] Where Good Ideas Come From
- [BOOK] The Power of Moments
- Slugging - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slugging

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Show Notes:
Welcome to Dirt NC where we talk all about the places and spaces of North Carolina and the people who make them awesome, I am your host Jed Byrne.

Throughout my career in engineering, construction, finance, and development, I have covered just about all sides of the land use ecosystem. This show creates an opportunity for me to share what I have learned with you as well as introduce you to some of my friends, both new and old who are doing t