Chicago Deep Dish: Future Of The West Loop

Following nearly two decades as its construction manager and development partner, David joined Belgravia Group in 2015 as a co-CEO. He brings an extensive background in construction, engineering and project management, having completed over $1.5 billion in development and construction including over 2,000 residential units and over 4 million square feet of total residential, commercial and retail development. David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Design from the University of Iowa and an MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Northwestern University. He is active with several community charities that focus on assisting families in and around Chicago.

Coldwell Banker Realty agent Damone Richardson welcomes buyers and sellers throughout the Chicago metro area, confidently delivering superior service and optimal results. Damone’s dedication to his clients is matched only by his extensive experience, diverse skill set and unwavering work ethic. Licensed in 2016, Damone is an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) and member of the Coldwell Banker® International Diamond Society, an honor reserved for the top 10% of all agents worldwide. Before entering real estate, Damone cofounded Alpha One Studio, the exclusive agent for the Italian luxury furniture brand, Flexform. Damone’s past roles include HR director; faculty member of the Cornell University School of Industrial Relations; speech writer and researcher for the Machinists Union in Washington, D.C.; and pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer. All these credentials equate to a seamless real estate experience defined by interior design expertise, excellent customer service, strategic negotiation and in-depth community knowledge. Damone believes that your home should be one of the pillars of your well-being, so he strives to find living spaces that enhance his buyers’ lifestyle while helping them build personal wealth. He knows that every client is unique, so he gives buyers his undivided attention, patiently guiding them to make wise investment decisions based on their specific needs, wants and budget. Sellers can expect the same individualized attention. Damone’s business relationships, well- honed people skills and years of experience handling complex negotiations give his clients a significant advantage in Chicago’s dynamic real estate market. His research background enables him to conduct thorough property analyses to price the home competitively, attract potential buyers and bring in top dollar. As a native Chicagoan, Damone has lived in neighborhoods as diverse as Sauganash, Lincoln Park and the West Loop, where he currently resides. Committed to community involvement, Damone is president of the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO), operating board member at the Chicago Maritime Arts Center, volunteer with Build Chicago and parishioner of Soul City Church in the West Loop. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding, swimming and yoga. Buying or selling a property is one of life’s most significant events, and having trustworthy representation is crucial. Laser-focused on protecting your best interests, Damone Richardson will stand by your side, advocate on your behalf and make sure you are 100% satisfied with your real estate transaction.

Ever met one of those people who everybody seems to gravitate towards? That’s Lauren. Couple that with her ability to see past the common and find unique business opportunities others overlook and you’ve got a pretty powerful secret weapon. Lauren began her career in commercial banking at JP Morgan Chase gaining valuable experience in portfolio management, underwriting, and relationship management. It wasn’t long before she started her own company as an independent strategy consultant for small businesses and startups. As a Corporate Strategy Manager for Brooklyn Boulders, LLC she focused on business development and partnerships. As the CFO for Azeeza, US she built financial forecasts and budgets and improved on the overall business strategy. And while Lauren’s education is all business, a BA in Business Administration from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, she’s anything but. With her keen ability to hone in on the non-conventional, Lauren has a secret love of punk music. She’s never met a music documentary that she didn’t love. She likes golf, yoga, and, of course, funny people. In other words, sense of humor ranks high on her list.

Scott R. Maesel serves as Managing Director for SVN | Chicago Commercial in Chicago’s West Loop/Fulton Market. With over 20 years of industry experience, Maesel is a highly regarded Chicago CRE veteran and named one of Crain’s Most Influential Commercial Real Estate Brokers. Early in his career, he worked for Glascott & Associates and Garrett Realty Development prior to co-founding the highly successful commercial division of Sussex Reilly Real Estate. In 2008, he affiliated his own independent boutique company with SVN, an International Investment Real Estate Company. SVN Chicago Commercial, which celebrates 12 years in operation, is consistently ranked as one of the top firms nationwide. Since its inception he and his partners have expanded the business to include over 50 advisors, servicing all commercial product types both locally and nationally. Since 2015, Maesel and his partners have opened and / or created: SVN Denver Commercial SVN Cuba (an exploratory company) SVN Chicago Property Management SVN Industrial Division (Rosemont) SVN Commercial Partners (Boca Raton) Konnect - a real estate finance company Maesel continues to be an active advisor and team leader of the SVN Urban Team formed in 2012 and consisting of 5 other specialized team members. He and his team have positioned themselves as the definitive West Loop/Fulton Market and near west side commercial property experts. With over 115 completed transactions of both sales and leasing no other firm has more market share than SVN in the area. Maesel is the former President of the Advisory Council for the highly acclaimed Mary Bartelme Park in the West Loop and past President of the West Loop Community Organization. He is a West Loop/Fulton Market business & commercial property owner. He enjoys adventure travel, adventure races, running, mountain biking and spending time with his family and young twins.