U3 Advisors

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

Inclusive procurement is one way that large institutions can use their economic heft to make a huge difference in their communities. By connecting with local, minority-owned vendors, service providers, and other small businesses, institutions like the ones we worked with in Newark, Buffalo, and Memphis can help grow stronger and more equitable economies from the ground up and the inside out. U3 Advisors Senior Associate Antonina Simeti worked with the New Growth Innovation Network on the development of this new resource, "Inclusive Procurement Practices for Small and Midsize Cities: Advocacy Brief." We hope this guide jump starts more of this work in more communities everywhere. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/euUtyE3Y

This Pride Month, U3 Advisors reflects on the importance of public space and social infrastructure to the queer community. Applying the lens of Queer urbanism - which underscores the links between identity, liberation, inclusion, and public space - our company celebrates how the queer movement has harnessed the power of community to carve out belonging and meaning in the face of adversity within the cities they call home. Happy Pride Month from U3 Advisors! Photograph: Courtesy Visit Philly/M. Fischetti

Higher Education Development As a Tool For Urban Innovation" was the topic of a recent session at the ULI Spring Meeting -- something we happen to understand quite well. U3 Advisor co-founder and principal, Karen Backus, moderated this panel discussion about how forward-thinking cities are literally building on their academic assets to create competitive, knowledge-driven economies. We appreciate ULI for the invitation and our friends Seth Pinksy, Andrew Kimball, and Clare Newman for sharing their perspectives. Click the link below and fast forward to the 20-minute mark to view this discussion and please share your own thoughts on this trend in the comments. https://lnkd.in/eQ_xAgFH

While cities across the country are still struggling to rebound from the pandemic, Memphis' medical district is surging forward and showing growth in housing units, new businesses, and residents. In Next City, Rory Thomas, President of the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, reflects on some of these achievements and points out what he thinks other communities might learn from their work. Our thanks to MMDC's Board and funding partners for inviting U3 Advisors to catalyze and continue to support this transformative effort for nearly a decade. https://lnkd.in/ehCzqCdW

U3 Advisors has been proud to work alongside the Almono Partnership for years on the incredible transformation of Hazelwood Green in Pittsburgh. Our thanks to Monocle and their podcast, The Urbanist, for speaking with us about the progress that is being made there. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eWKy3WQB

The middle of March found us in Mohonk Mountain House, where we held our annual retreat. This time together is always a refreshing and invigorating opportunity to focus on what we’ve learned over the past year and craft our plans for what comes next. This year’s retreat took on special meaning for us, as we marked the tenth anniversary of the firm’s creation, but spent most of our time together talking about the future. There’s so much more we look forward to achieving over the next decade and beyond, and we appreciate the team members, clients, partners, and friends who will take us there.