St. Louis-based Green Street Real Estate Ventures is collaborating with Chelsea Derrick Experiential Learning Center through Webster Groves High School to teach an 18-week course on real estate development this semester.
In addition to classroom and independent learning, “Keeping it Real: Real Estate 101” provides students direct interaction with real estate industry experts. Once a week, students spend time off campus with career professionals breaking down the various aspects of real estate development beginning with site selection and due diligence through design, financing and municipal approvals to completed construction.
Industry professionals who have shared their expertise include Mara Perry, director of planning and development for the City of Webster Groves; George Stock, president of Stock & Associates Consulting Engineers; Ron Carroll, principal of ATON Environmental; Jenn Brenner, realtor with the Joel Svoboda Team; Kyle Howerton, senior vice president with George Smith Partners; Eli Knight, preconstruction manager with Green Street Building Group; and Matt Bauer, development manager with Green Street.
As part of the curriculum, students toured two Green Street projects under construction, The Armory Building, a planned destination entertainment redevelopment; and Terra At the Grove, a 307-unit multifamily development in The Grove neighborhood of St.Louis.
The goal is that all students will have their own development portfolio to present at the end of the semester.