Driving retail real estate success through community anchors

Christine Mastandrea, President and COO of Whitestone REIT, shares how a community-first mindset can drive long-term value in commercial real estate. From tailoring retail environments to local culture, to acknowledging and leveraging psychographics and generational shifts, Christine lays out Whitestone’s strategy of turning shopping centers into vibrant and diverse hubs for community.

We explore how retail spaces can serve as the “living rooms” of their neighborhoods, and why flexible, experience-driven developments are key to succeeding in today’s constantly changing landscape.

Tune in to better understand the value of building resilience and relevance into a retail property investment.

Key Moments:

01:07 Meet Christine Mastandrea: Background and early Career

03:36 The rise of REITs

05:00 Teaching experience and generational Insights

06:32 Christine's role at Whitestone REIT

08:14 Strategic decisions and market focus

11:55 Whitestone's IPO journey

14:41 Wearing a lot of hats at Whitestone

19:51 COVID-19 response and adaptation

26:09 Entrepreneurial mindset and growth of the “small business”

28:45 Impact of high Interest rates and inflation

31:10 Generational shifts in consumer behavior

36:36 The role of retail in community building

42:44 Challenges and opportunities in retail development

49:03 Advice for breaking into the CRE industry

50:45 Redefining retail for the future

Resources Mentioned:

Whitestone REIT - https://www.whitestonereit.com/

ESRI – https://www.esri.com/en-us/home

Placer.AI - https://www.placer.ai/

Email us - altusresearch@altusgroup.com

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