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Real Conversations, Real Estate

During a time of great uncertainty and rapid change, connection and information is a more important resource than ever before. Today's issues could be amplified or altered in a matter of days or hours, so it is vital that organizations and thought leaders frequently share knowledge, dispel rumors, and offer insight.

Hosted by Professor and Lusk Center Director Richard K. Green, Lusk Perspectives offers timely analysis and shares accurate data vetted by leading experts on the latest developments and observations concerning policy, real estate, urban economics and more.

Once interviews are conducted, resources and videos will be made available here and on podcast channels as soon as possible.

Latest Perspectives

From Clicks to Bricks: The Everyday Decisions Rebuilding Retail Watch Now

From Clicks to Bricks: The Everyday Decisions Rebuilding Retail
Rachel Elias Wein Founder and CEO

How are retailers adapting to a changing consumer base and evolving real estate needs?

Rachel Elias Wein (WeinPlus) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to explore what’s next for retail. From data centers to neighborhood shopping centers, consumer behavior is driving change. The conversation spotlights how ownership models, store management, and customer habits are reshaping commercial property strategy.

Highlights include:

  • Why some retailers sell off their real estate while others buy it back.
  • How energy access impacts location strategy.
  • What restaurants bring to retail destinations despite tenant turnover risks.
  • The strong link between store-manager tenure and store profitability.
  • Why omnichannel customers are the most valuable, and how real estate plays a role in retention.

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Measuring the Shortfall: Benchmarking LA’s Housing Crisis Watch Now

Measuring the Shortfall: Benchmarking LA’s Housing Crisis
Jorge De la Roca Associate Professor

What do supply numbers tell us about LA County’s housing crisis, and how can research guide next steps?

Jorge De la Roca (USC Price) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss the findings of the 2025 State of Los Angeles County Housing (SOLACHAN) Report.

At the center of their conversation is the modern city dilemma: while cities drive economic vitality, they also create steep costs of living. In LA County, permitting delays, demographic shifts, and a mismatch between incomes and supply add up to a housing market that’s falling short.

Highlights include:

  • Why building a multifamily project in LA takes nearly twice as long as the national average.
  • Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are driving new supply, but may not translate to housing.
  • The widening income split between renters.
  • Demographic shifts show fewer families and declining Black residents in LA.
  • Why the favored model of filtering can’t take hold at current levels of housing production.

 

Explore the SOLACHAN Report

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Building Through Cycles: It’s All Related in California Housing Watch Now

Building Through Cycles: It’s All Related in California Housing
William A. Witte CEO
Gino A. Canori President

What shaped Related California’s approach to housing, and how has it adapted across market shifts?

William A. Witte and Gino A. Canori (Related California) join Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to reflect on more than three decades of development, from pioneering uses of tax-exempt bonds to navigating today’s capital markets.

The conversation begins with policy and finance, including tax credits, bond cap programs, and the long-term value of rehab versus new construction, before moving to operations, the shifting geography of multifamily demand, and today’s market reset.

Highlights include:

  • How Related carved out a niche by combining market-rate housing with affordable units under the 80/20 program.
  • Post-COVID shifts in multifamily demand from urban cores to suburban, amenity-rich destinations.
  • Underwriting is still absorbing the spike in insurance and labor costs while the new normal continues to emerge.
  • Signs of recovery in San Francisco leasing and investment.
  • The economics and operational tactics of managing mixed-income buildings.

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