Matthew Drouin’s Post

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Partner at OakGrove Companies

Episode of 34 Of Go Big! Live Podcast Live now with Mike Strodtman, a former city planner turned real estate developer and investor! 📢⚠️️ Quick story on how I related to Mike's story.... We were turning an abandoned button factory into 39 loft apartments. 🏚️⏩🏗️🏨 When we first got a concept for the redevelopment, I scheduled a meeting with neigborhood groups to run the project by them. 👪 I made it clear that we wanted them to be first to know what our plans were and to proactively solicit their input. Where most real estate developers fail: 🛑 Not Getting community buy in before submitting applications to build a project. Generally when a developer presents a project, they are usually thinking “nothing is there right now at that site, so anything would be an improvement over things staying status quo." 💡 What the community is thinking is “what does this developer want to DO to our community?” 😡 Usually the developer never shows their face to the community until they are asking for a variance or a zoning change or whatever. So they are seen very much as the man / woman behind the curtain; some kind of evil genius type... 🧙🧙♂️ Because there is no relationship up until they are surprising the community with their "grand plans." This is a quick way to getting community push back and putting your project in jeapordy. 🫷 Mike dives into his development experience and how he used his stint as a city planner to make sure his projects have the highest probability for smooth sailing. ⛵ Whether you are doing ground up or establishing a foothold into a new community, it is essential that you introduce yourself as an ally to the community. A true partner. 🫱🏽🫲🏼 I learned so much from Mike in this episode and I'm sure you will too. So check it out on wherever you get your podcasts and up your Go Big! real estate IQ! If you want to get in on the exclusive live Q and A: ask me about how to join our free community so you can get access to the episodes months in advance also get your questions asked directly from our esteemed guests! #realestate #realestateinvesting #realestateinvestor #commercialrealestate #podcast

Jason Haremza

Town of Brighton, NY Building and Planning Department

7mo

I've also thought that many developers need to attend "finishing school". Learn to read the community/audience. If the neighborhood is a bunch of progressive-baby-boomer-ex-hippy types, maybe change out the slick European suit and put on some LL Bean. We shouldn't read a book by it's cover, but first impressions matter.

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