35: Developing Denver’s Tallest Mass Timber Building with Andrew Katz, Katz Development

Andrew Katz is a real estate developer and co-founder of Katz Development, a family-owned development company based in Denver, Colorado. With a background in retail brokerage, Andrew brings a unique perspective to the development process. He is known for his innovative approach to design and his focus on creating high-quality, sustainable buildings.

Andrew Katz, co-founder of Katz Development, joins the podcast to discuss his journey in real estate development and the company's latest project, Denver's tallest mass timber building. Andrew shares his background in retail brokerage and how it helped him learn the city of Denver and the fundamentals of deal-making. He also talks about the importance of building places he would want to go and the focus on high design and decarbonization in their projects. Andrew explains how they acquired the site for their current development and the decision to use mass timber as the building system. He discusses the challenges and benefits of working with mass timber and the importance of surrounding yourself with experts in the field. Andrew also shares his advice for emerging developers and the value of gaining experience in the industry.

Key Takeaways:

1. Katz Development focuses on building places they would want to go, with a focus on high design and decarbonization.
2. Andrew Katz's background in retail brokerage helped him learn the city of Denver and the fundamentals of deal-making.
3. The decision to use mass timber as the building system for their current project was driven by the desire to differentiate themselves in a competitive market.
4. Working with mass timber presents unique challenges and requires expertise in the field.
5. Gaining experience in the industry and working for established developers can be valuable for emerging developers.

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