LEARNING FROM MASTERS

We've just realized that the rare broker who likes golf might think our headline is a links reference. False alarm! It means Fifield Cos'Steve Fifield  and Wrightwood Capital's Bruce Cohen  offered sage advice at separate events yesterday to Chicago real estate professionals from (respectively) their development and finance perspectives.
 

Both men agreed: Gaining trust  of decision makers is key to getting through rough spots. Here's Steve being interviewed by Crain's Tom Corfman at the Chicago Club. Steve was once named King of Leverage by Crain's for loans he was able to get in the mid-'90s for his West Loop high rise office towers. Even after coming out of bankruptcy, he convinced lenders to help him buy the Civic Opera Building—due to relationships he had built. The Wacker Drive building helped turn around his career by as he went on to develop office and apartment towers along Clinton, Canal, and Jefferson.

Stifel Nicolaus' Stephen Geyen, The Habitat Company's Stephen Galler, and Parkway Realty Services Jay Buckley  nabbed front row seats. Habitat is working on leasing up the Roosevelt Collection, a fractured condo project recently converted to apartments. They're also managing more CHA units  than any other Chicago apartment manager. Stifel Nicolaus is helping Illinois banks recapitalize.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Chicago Newsletters
Related Stories

What's At Stake For CRE In Tuesday's U.S. Midterm

From Pandemic Darling To Cautionary Tale: Pickleball Clubs Face A Reckoning After Betting Big On Retail Space

Morningstar Releases New Details On Over 350K SF In Q3 Office Leases

New Bears Stadium Proposal Floated For Bridgeport

Prologis To Develop 3.8M SF Industrial Park On Former Casino Site

Foundry Robotics Leaves San Francisco For New East Bay HQ

Tenant Rep Firm Expands To Philly, Hires Industry Veteran

$120M Ambulatory Center Planned For Suburbs: The Chicago Deal Sheet

Data Centers Lose The Top Spot, San Francisco Jumps 40 Places: 9 Takeaways From ULI's 2027 Outlook

Obama Center Shows Chicago Is Starved For Development

Mapped: Major Chicago Office Sales Since 2024

Cushman & Wakefield, NYC Added To Suit Alleging $250K Agency Lease Shakedown