Summary
In this insight-packed episode of The Blueprint Tour, hosts Kenny Shultz and Carter Huddleston sit down with Robyn Letourneau, a Connecticut-based broker and investor, live at the 2024 CREI Summit in Atlanta. Robyn brings hard-won wisdom from the front lines of ground-up development, sharing why many projects stall—and what brokers, developers, and engineers can do to prevent expensive mistakes. From navigating multi-phase construction to understanding the real risks of adaptive reuse and high-cost debt, this episode pulls back the curtain on why collaboration is key. If you're brokering deals, managing design teams, or investing in ground-up projects, this conversation is a must-listen for understanding what really drives (or kills) a development.
Keywords
CREI Summit, real estate development, ground-up construction, adaptive reuse, mixed-use projects, development risk, Robyn Letourneau, construction finance, multifamily housing, Connecticut real estate, MEP engineering, PermitZIP, value engineering, affordable housing, psychrometrics, development lending, real estate consulting
Takeaways
Ground-up development is financially front-loaded, making early-phase risk management essential.
Multi-phase projects are especially vulnerable to delays, debt risk, and developer turnover.
Adaptive reuse projects offer big upside—but require careful planning, especially around zoning and infrastructure.
Engineers and brokers should collaborate earlier to avoid costly misunderstandings and missed design implications.
Understanding HVAC design and psychrometrics is critical in high-humidity markets like the Southeast U.S.
Development success hinges not just on funding—but on communication, timelines, and real consulting.
Sound Bites
“He didn’t want to lend because he didn’t want to own sticks.”
“Once it goes into receivership, nobody wants to touch it—even if the opportunity is huge.”
“Most engineers just answer the question—but don’t stop to ask if it’s a good question.”
“It’s not illegal to be uncomfortable, but it is expensive to be wrong.”
“Just ask them for the psychrometric study—and see if they flinch.”
Chapters
Welcome and CREI Summit Intro
Meet Robyn Letourneau
What Makes Ground-Up Projects High Risk
Development Gone Wrong: A Real Case Study
Lending, Infrastructure, and Escrow Traps
Affordable Housing and the Connecticut Landscape
Why Adaptive Reuse is Hot—and Hard
The Disconnect Between Engineers and Brokers
What Every Developer Should Know About HVAC
The Value Engineering Trap
Better Questions = Better Projects
How Consulting Saves Deals
Final Thoughts on Building Smart (and Together)
Where to Find Robyn Letourneau
Where to Find The Blueprint Tour
YouTube · TikTok · TheBPTour.com · Kenny (Host) · Carter (Host)
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