Perspectives

Redeveloping public housing can improve surrounding neighborhoods, but those benefits are not always shared equally.

Valuing real estate increasingly means forecasting industries that may look very different a decade from now.

Cynthia Nelson (FTI Consulting) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to discuss the forces reshaping commercial real estate, from distressed debt and refinancing challenges to the future of entertainment production, data centers, and California's economy. Drawing on her experience in restructuring, Nelson explains how investors, lenders, and owners find solutions when markets shift faster than expectations.

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Water is increasingly behaving in ways that defy our plans. How should cities prepare when the risks keep changing?

Roni Deitz (Arcadis) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to explore how water is reshaping real estate, infrastructure, and long-term investment. Starting with recent storms like Hurricane Helene and their devastating impacts, the conversation expands to examine a new reality: the baseline assumptions guiding water and development may no longer hold.

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Making more affordable housing is challenging, but it’s far from impossible.

Kyle Ransford (Cardinal Investments) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to offer a practical look at operating in today’s multifamily market. The conversation covers Ransford’s path from early-90s dealmaking to building a portfolio focused on workforce and affordable housing across Southern California.

What does it actually take to rebuild after a disaster—and who gets to build back?

Longtime Altadena resident and development professional Joel Bryant (Bronzeville, Inc.) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to cover the real-world mechanics of post-wildfire rebuilding. Drawing on his decades of experience in multifamily projects, Bryant explains how homeowners are navigating surveys, insurance constraints, permitting, and construction costs while detailing the small but meaningful milestones that signal progress.

What’s driving the uneven recovery at the core of California cities, and how is that impacting housing and investment?

Sean Burton (Cityview) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) discussing the forces and fundamentals reshaping urban markets. The conversation moves from post-pandemic population shifts and the surge in AI-driven demand to the regulatory dynamics influencing Southern California development.

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California’s recent wave of pro-housing legislation has opened the door for more development on single-family lots and urban infill sites, but how much progress have we really made?

Shane Phillips (UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies) joins Richard K. Green (USC Lusk Center for Real Estate) to trace California’s evolving policy landscape, from accessory dwelling units to long-overdue CEQA reform.

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.

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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.

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.