Cultivating Relationships and Innovation in Real Estate with Stream Realty Partners

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In this episode of the Real Estate for Breakfast podcast, host Phil Coover and co-host Jay Augustyn are joined by another dynamic duo, Patrick Russo and Brian Duffy of Stream Realty Partners (Stream), a full-service real estate platform representing clients in connection with the investment, acquisition, development and management of real estate across asset classes throughout the United States.

On the podcast, Patrick and Brian explain how Stream’s core values inform their approach to pursuing new business relationships while cultivating the Stream team here in Chicago and throughout Stream’s geographical footprint. Patrick and Brian discuss the current challenges and opportunities for investors, owners and tenants when evaluating Chicago’s real estate market. They also share stories of Stream’s recent wins in the Chicago market and how asset management changes necessitated by COVID-19 presented new opportunities for innovations to a team that embraces innovation as part of its ethos. As an example, Stream describes the recent “Rapid Office” concept and how this new innovation is attracting tenants even in an office market environment with substantial vacancies. Patrick and Brian provide their expectations for Chicago real estate’s post-pandemic future and what that means for Stream’s clients and the market generally.

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Patrick Russo is an Executive Managing Director at Stream, where he leads the strategic direction and operations of the Chicago office. Patrick’s primary responsibilities include expanding Stream’s acquisition, development, leasing, and property management platforms and building Stream’s presence in the greater Chicago market. Prior to joining Stream, Patrick was with Lincoln Property Company for more than seven years where he most recently served as Vice President of Acquisitions and Asset Management. While at Lincoln, he assisted in acquisition activities on assets with an aggregate value of more than $700 million on behalf of joint venture and separate account clients. In addition, he was responsible for an asset management portfolio of more than 2.3 million square feet of commercial assets that was valued at more than $500 million.

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Brian Duffy is a Senior Vice President of the firm’s tenant representation team in Chicago. He is responsible for growing all facets of the tenant representation business including serving existing and expanding new client relationships while recruiting and retaining top-tier talent. In addition to driving the tenant representation business in Chicago, Brian is responsible for identifying and executing acquisition and development opportunities. Prior to joining Stream, Brian spent seven years at Cushman & Wakefield where he was most recently a Director on the tenant representation team. In that role, Brian participated in more than 125 transactions valued at close to $600 million. His experience spans all industries including professional services, technology, legal, manufacturing and finance.

For more information, please visit https://streamrealty.com/locations/chicago/.

Episode 15 - Dan McCaffery

Phil sits down for a cup of coffee with Dan McCaffery of McCaffery Interests.  Dan explains how he went from a college student in Canada to running a hugely successful real estate development and full service real estate firm in Chicago, Illinois, that has successfully completed over $2 Billion of commercial real estate developments.   Dan is a big picture guy who has made big developments his business, including the current development of The Lincoln Common in Lincoln Park, Illinois.   The Lincoln Common is the former site of the Children’s Memorial Hospital, and the project will cover a contiguous 6.04 acre area which includes 100,000 square feet of retail space, 538 apartment units, 40 luxury condominiums, a 5-story boutique office building, 850 garage spaces, and a 156 room senior living facility, with over 1 acre of open space and multiple swimming pools.  Dan explains how he and his team “imagineers” huge developments, his strategy for pricing the site while factoring in construction and other costs, and obtaining the vision to see the project completion and how it can transform a community.    Dan also discusses his developments in the West Loop and participating in the revitalization of that area, and how to build projects which are attractive to multiple generations including the millennial demographic.  McCaffery interests has been instrumental in pioneering the Strip District in Pittsburgh.  Dan’s story about the sale of the old Nike Town property exemplifies the attraction to real estate development and real estate property values.   Dan also explains why the retail sector may be a great opportunity for investment in this period of bad news surrounding retail.

It is readily apparent that what Dan values above all else is partnerships, and having partners that you can trust, and who share similar visions.  “Relationships over returns,” as Dan says.

McCaffery Interests Website:  http://www.mccafferyinterests.com/

The Lincoln Common Project:  https://lincolncommon.com/

DISCLAIMER – No information contained in this Podcast or on this Website shall constitute financial, investment, legal and/or other professional advice and that no professional relationship of any kind is created between you and podcast host, the guests, SATC Solution Center L3C, or Schenk Annes Tepper Campbell Ltd. You are urged to speak with your financial, investment, or legal advisors before making any investment or legal decisions.