Who we are

Let me start out by saying my focus and career path is 100% real estate.

I have been working on how to position this set of offerings or brand that is Darn Good Places for years in practice but in regards to putting these ideas on paper, several months. I don’t quite think I fit into the traditional mold of a real estate developer but equally/maybe less in the model of placemaking culture.

Fortunately I have had a series of conversations with various people from both sides of that equation over the past few weeks and I now feel solid in what my goals are for this company.

Stating simply, “Help grow the number of developers in the Austin market".”

No reason to reinvent the wheel to find a new word for it, my focus is on increasing the number of small scale neighborhood based developers.

Rather than diving too deep into definitions, I want to focus on the shift in results between a neighborhood based small scale developer vs. a large institutional developer. What are my expected/desired results from small scale developers?

  1. Keyword small, small scale developers can focus on more niche infill, urban projects that it would be “big enough to be worth the time as they say” for institutional developers

  2. Small scale developers can put into practice the policies that advocates of urban density, well, advocate for, those policies create the opportunity for new types of developments that may be a little more difficult but are more approachable for someone with less money, that may not be able to play on the main streets

  3. Types of investors/funding sources usually allow for more flexibility to lease to smaller, more local tenants whereas large institutional investors

  4. These types of developments contribute to the urban fabric because they follow guidelines more development that allow for more pedestrian friendly, human scale neighborhoods

As I invite you all along on this journey with me, I want to share a big of what to expect, things I love and want to advocate for:

  1. Micro retail

  2. Public Transit (and not only trains, buses need love too)

  3. Neighborhood scale development

  4. Pedestrian friendly neighborhoods

  5. Small Business investment (incremental growth opportunities, micro retail, facade improvements, toolkits to minimize red tape costs etc.)

  6. City policy that encourages multi modal transportation and density

Part 2, Why do I say that I don’t relate with the placemaking career paths/consultant groups?

I want anything I put time and energy into to be actionable and have a real world result, which is why i am in real estate in the first place, I get to see the result of my hard work and the hard work and creativity of my clients in a physical form that real people can experience and has a tangible benefit for the city.

This is not meant to be negative towards any particular group of people, this is me, stating who i am and what I do, sometimes you have to draw a line in the sand to distinguish yourself.

Thus I will say again, my focus is 100% real estate. Anything I advocate for, is because I see it as a real life tool to increase opportunities for small scale real estate developers to join the market and find a niche for investing their money while also creating a better city.

This my friends, is how you create Darn Good Places.