Emerge Real Estate News

"Much of investing still comes down to pattern recognition." That was one of the first things Anna Blanding said during Part II of our conversation for Emerge Real Estate News, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Having previously served as Deputy CIO of Choate Rosemary Hall, overseeing a $350 million endowment, as well as trustee and investment committee member for prominent organizations including Casey Family Programs, William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, and The Kresge Foundation, Anna is uniquely positioned to share insights on how institutional capital is deployed. When conversations turn to why emerging developers and investment managers struggle to access institutional capital, it's easy to default to familiar explanations—bias, relationships, or track record. Those factors matter. But Anna offers a more nuanced perspective. Institutional investors are responsible for managing uncertainty. In that environment, familiarity often becomes a proxy for confidence. The challenge isn't simply whether institutions are willing to take more risk—it's whether they're intentionally broadening where they look for talent. It's a thoughtful conversation about pattern recognition, relationship capital, institutional decision-making, and why creating pathways for emerging firms isn't just about fairness—it's about expanding the opportunity set. I'm grateful to Anna for sharing her perspective so candidly. Conversations like this are exactly why we created Emerge Real Estate News. If you work at the intersection of institutional investing, real estate, philanthropy, and/or economic development, I think you'll find it insightful. Full interview link in comments: https://lnkd.in/gYA9FRuv #foundations #emergingmanagers #impactinvesting #socialimpact

Our latest Emerge Real Estate News article honors the life of real estate developer Keith Gordon, a fixture in NYC's affordable housing ecosystem. In preparing the tribute, I kept coming back to one thought: our professional journeys shared more than a few similarities. Wall Street. Harvard Business School. Entrepreneurship. Real estate. Although I never had the opportunity to meet him personally, learning more about Keith's work only deepened my respect for the company he built, his vision, and the impact he had on those around him. I'll highlight some of his key professional accomplishments here: -The $85 million recapitalization of Los Tres Unidos Apartments, preserving 135-unit affordable units in East Harlem in partnership with NERVE, Hudson Valley Property Group, and Belveron Partners. -The $100 million Mount Hope Renaissance project, preserving affordability in a 515-unit, 13-building portfolio in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx in partnership with Lemor Development Group. -The conversion of the old Odgen Theater in the Highbridge section of the Bronx to a 85-unit affordable housing complex, with specific focus on formerly homeless individuals in partnership with Unique People Services, Inc.(construction ongoing). This tribute captures only a small piece of Keith's story, but it is our effort to honor his contributions to the affordable housing sector and help ensure that his legacy continues to inspire others. His story is one worth remembering. Rest in peace, Keith. Article link in comments. #affordablehousing #emergingdevelopers #nycrealestate #hbs

"We always get the leftovers. We always get promises. But they never materialize." Those aren't my words. They came from a resident at a community meeting in New Haven's Dixwell neighborhood — once called the city's Black Main Street — a corridor that had doctors, jazz clubs, Black-owned grocery stores, and a thriving circular economy. Then urban renewal swept through. A strip mall was built. When it closed, wealth left. Many said capital was coming back. The promises didn't keep. For too many communities of color, that story isn't a chapter. It's the whole book. Anna Blanding has spent her career at the intersection of institutional capital and community impact — deploying capital across private equity, venture capital, real estate, and private credit at institutions like the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and now as Chief Investment Officer of ConnCORP. She also serves as a Trustee of the The Kresge Foundation. When someone with that depth of institutional experience says something special is happening in New Haven, it's worth paying attention. First HAVEN is the $200 million mixed-use development being built by ConnCORP. It's an attempt to reconstruct economic agency for a community that's watched investment flow through — not to — its residents for generations. Housing, retail, childcare, workforce development, business incubation, mental health services, arts and cultural space. All of it designed around what residents actually asked for, through 15 years of community-centered engagement. For Part 1 of our exclusive two-part interview, Emerge Real Estate News sat down with Anna to understand how institutional capital can be redeployed in service of a community, rather than at its expense. She talks about: → How real estate can function as a self-sustaining social enterprise → The blended capital stack holding Phase 1 together — and what Phase 2 requires → The emotional dimension of the built environment: why design quality builds community pride and agency → New Haven's overlooked history — Black Wall Street echoes, the Underground Railroad, Constance Baker Motley — and what reclaiming that legacy means for development today → Why First HAVEN's success could add 600 jobs and nearly $1 billion in economic impact over the next decade This is what community-centered development looks like when it's done with intention, not just intention-washing. For foundations and impact investors working to close the racial wealth gap, support local placemaking, or move beyond charitable giving toward structural economic change — this is a model worth studying. First HAVEN represents exactly the kind of blended, place-based capital strategy that deserves philanthropic catalytic support to scale. 🔗 Part 1 is live now at Emerge Real Estate News. Part 2 coming soon. Article link in comments. #RacialWealthGap #ImpactInvesting #CommunityDevelopment #Placemaking #AffordableHousing #FirstHAVEN #ConnCORP

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it’s a reminder that recognition should not be limited to a moment — but sustained through continued visibility. At Emerge Real Estate News, our 2026 Women of Impact Series has highlighted leaders who are not only executing within the industry, but actively expanding who it works for. We’re proud to recognize: Adeola Adejobi — Founder, Avant-Garde Network Maggie O'Sullivan — Senior Vice President, Bank of America Tiffany Taylor— Executive Director, C3 Impact Fund Wilhelmena Norman-Hernandez — Vice President, The Community Preservation Corporation What connects their work is not just impact, it’s infrastructure. Each of these women is building the systems, relationships, and pathways that allow real estate to function more inclusively and more effectively — whether by creating platforms where deals get done, structuring opportunities that unlock capital, or ensuring development is grounded in community priorities. Adeola Adejobi is creating ecosystems where capital, relationships, and opportunity intersect through event forums like DCRE and the Avant-Garde Network — translating connection into real transactions and measurable outcomes. Maggie O'Sullivan brings experience across leading financial institutions including J.P. Morgan and Bank of America, helping connect capital to projects and expand access to financing across the development landscape. Tiffany Taylor is deploying community capital via C3 Impact Fund, serving as a critical source of financing and strategic insight for developers navigating complex capital stacks. Wilhelmena Norman-Hernandez is advancing community-centered development through her work with The Community Preservation Corporation, aligning capital with long-term neighborhood impact and equitable growth. This is what it looks like when the real estate ecosystem is not just operating, but evolving. Not just more deals — but more pathways into them. While Women’s History Month may be ending, the work and the recognition continues. We will continue to elevate and share the stories of women across the real estate ecosystem throughout the year, recognizing the many ways they are shaping the future of the industry. More to come!! Link to Site: https://lnkd.in/e2TBghNb #WomenOfImpact #WomensHistoryMonth #CommercialRealEstate #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstateLeadership #EmergeRE

Access to real estate isn’t just about capital. It’s about knowledge and connection. At Emerge Real Estate News Real Estate News, we’re continuing our 2026 Women of Impact Series by recognizing leaders who are not just opening doors, they are equipping people to walk through them. We’re proud to recognize: Taneshia Nash Laird — Executive Director, PROJECT REAP Tawanda Thomas, MSRE — VP Commercial Lending, The Harbor Bank of Maryland Brittany Rose — Co-Founder, Women In Real Estate® What connects their work is not just access, it’s activation. Each of these women is focused on helping individuals move from interest to action, whether by reshaping how culture intersects with development, guiding investors and developers through the realities of capital, or building the confidence and mindset required to step into ownership. Taneshia Nash Laird is advancing culturally grounded development while expanding access to the industry through her leadership with PROJECT REAP, helping cultivate the next generation of diverse real estate professionals and leaders. Tawanda Thomas, MSRE is demystifying capital, helping developers better understand how to navigate financing structures and position themselves to secure funding. Brittany Rose is focused on empowerment at scale, equipping individuals with the mindset, tools, and support needed to pursue ownership and long-term wealth creation. This is what it looks like when knowledge, culture, and capital come together. Not just more access — but more participation. More to come. Link to Site: https://lnkd.in/e2TBghNb #WomenOfImpact #CommercialRealEstate #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstateLeadership #EmergeRE

Most real estate deals don’t fail because of vision. They fail because the capital stack doesn’t work. At Emerge Real Estate News, we’re continuing our 2026 Women of Impact Series by recognizing leaders who are changing that reality — not just by imagining better projects, but by making them financeable. We’re proud to recognize: Laura Rapaport — Founder & CEO, North Bridge Nylah Oliver, MPA — Sustainability Director, City of Savannah Shubha Maheshwari— Strategic Sustainability Advisor (Barings, Artemis, Discovery Senior Living, Hillwood, Newmark) What connects their work is not just innovation — it’s execution. Each of these women is operating at the intersection of capital, policy, and strategy — where real estate either moves forward or stalls. Laura Rapaport is helping modernize real estate finance through tools like C-PACE, bringing longer-term, lower-cost capital into the stack to improve feasibility while aligning projects with sustainability goals. Nylah Oliver, MPA is embedding equity into the development process, ensuring community priorities are reflected not just in outcomes, but in how deals are structured and capital is deployed. Shubha Maheshwari is translating ESG from concept to execution — shaping investment frameworks that directly influence how projects are evaluated, financed, and delivered. This is what it looks like when capital, policy, and purpose are not competing priorities — but coordinated strategy. Because the future of real estate won’t just be designed differently. It will be financed differently. More to come! Link to Site: https://lnkd.in/e2TBghNb #WomenOfImpact #CommercialRealEstate #ESG #CPACE #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstateLeadership #EmergeRE

Who gets access to real estate ownership — and the knowledge to navigate it — ultimately determines who builds wealth. At Emerge Real Estate News, we’re continuing our 2026 Women of Impact Series by recognizing leaders who are not just executing deals, but expanding who can participate in them. We’re proud to recognize: Davonne Reaves — Founder & CEO, Vesterr Sonya Rocvil, CPA, CRE® — Founder, Bedrock Real Estate Investments Divya Smith — CEO, Ascending Avenue Investments NICOLE PENDERGRASS — Founder & CEO, Noirvest Holdings While their work spans different sectors of real estate, a clear throughline connects them: they are actively lowering barriers to entry — not just to capital, but to understanding how capital works. Davonne Reaves is creating pathways into hotel ownership, equipping new investors with the tools and structure to participate in an asset class that has historically been difficult to access. Sonya Rocvil, CPA, CRE® is structuring syndications that open the door for a broader set of investors to participate in institutional-quality real estate deals. Divya Smith is advancing wealth-building strategies that demystify capital formation and help more individuals understand how to leverage real estate as a long-term financial tool. NICOLE PENDERGRASS is championing ownership by expanding access, education, and pathways for individuals to become true stakeholders in their communities. This is what it looks like when financial literacy, capital access, and deal execution intersect. Not just more projects — but more owners. More to come!!! Link to Site: https://lnkd.in/e2TBghNb #WomenOfImpact #CommercialRealEstate #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstateLeadership #EmergeRE

Who shapes where capital flows — and who benefits from it — ultimately shapes our communities. At Emerge Real Estate News, we’re continuing our 2026 Women of Impact Series by highlighting and honoring leaders who are not just participating in the market — they are actively redefining how it works. We’re proud to recognize: Alecia Hill, MPA I Vice President - Impact Investing, FCP Carrie Torres I Director Opportunity Programs, DASNY (Dormitory Authority - State of New York ) Gina Nisbeth I President, 9th & Clinton Advisory Julia Stevenson I Founder, J Kyle Alexander LLC What connects their work is not just expertise, but intentionality. They are influencing how capital is structured, how deals are executed, and how investment strategies translate into real outcomes on the ground. Whether advising on impact-driven capital, advocating for more equitable systems, or structuring transactions that bring complex projects to life, each is helping ensure that development is both economically viable and socially meaningful. This is what it looks like when capital, strategy, and purpose are aligned. And it’s exactly the kind of leadership shaping the next era of real estate. More to come. Link to Site: https://lnkd.in/e2TBghNb #WomenOfImpact #CommercialRealEstate #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstateLeadership #EmergeRE

Too often land banks are viewed narrowly as storage depots for a city's least favorable properties. This is antiquated framing and needs to be jettisoned. When pared effectively with capital, land banks have the power not only to facilitate but spearhead urban revitalization. Aarica L. Coleman and Land Bank Twin Cities, Inc. have proven this firsthand. Across the country, land banks acquire vacant or tax-delinquent properties and hold them until a responsible reuse emerges. Sounds straightforward enough, right? Not really. Many cities (perhaps most) struggle to spur re-development that is both balanced, scalable, and equitable in terms of who gets to participate. Why? Projects don’t fail for lack of intention, vision, or effort. They fail because: • Capital takes time to assemble • Approvals take time to secure • Developers need runway to structure deals We've all seen it happen. A site sit vacant for years. Trash accumulates. And every time you drive the block, you wonder will someone ever do something about that property? A few developers tried, but couldn't get it done. That's where Aarica and Land Bank Twin Cities comes in. They've re-imagined what happens when land control and capital move together. Under Coleman’s leadership, the organization integrates strategic land acquisition, community lending, and development partnerships into a coordinated platform that helps mission-driven developers access real estate they might otherwise be priced out of AND pare it with catalytic capital to bridge key funding gaps. This approach creates the breathing room needed for responsible development to move forward. Control the land, identify qualified partners, and help fund them along the way. When those tools move together intentionally, the role of a land bank expands, from property holder to market shaper. In my latest article for Emerge Real Estate News, I explore how the model being advanced by Coleman and Land Bank Twin Cities is helping expand the possibilities of what land banks can do—and what other markets may learn from it. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/egAd5ZXW #CommunityDevelopment #ImpactInvesting #RealEstate #AffordableHousing #LandBanking #EmergingDevelopers

“Traditional philanthropy often funds deficits. The opportunity is to fund agency.” That idea, articulated by Chanda Smith Baker, CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, captures an important shift happening in community development and impact investing conversations. For decades, many philanthropic strategies have understandably focused on distress: Distressed neighborhoods. Distressed assets. Distressed borrowers. But Smith Baker’s framing invites a more empowering question. What if philanthropy focused more intentionally on building agency through ownership? Because when communities have the capacity to own real estate and steward neighborhood assets, the impact compounds: • Long-term neighborhood stewardship • Durable local development capacity • Pathways to wealth creation within the community For emerging real estate developers rooted in the neighborhoods they serve, the distinction is profound. Funding a neighborhood because it's “distressed” is not the same as investing in capable visionaries committed to revitalization AND building wealth(for themselves and others). In my latest article for Emerge Real Estate News, I explore how this shift—from a distress narrative to an agency narrative—could expand philanthropy’s impact by supporting ownership, development capacity, and long-term community stewardship. It’s an empowering framework I encourage more institutions to consider. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eC7KSAgZ Curious how others in philanthropy and impact investing are thinking about this shift?? #ImpactInvesting #CommunityDevelopment #Philanthropy #RealEstate #EmergingDevelopers #Ownership