This week a team of graduate and undergraduate real estate students presented their proposal to a panel of judges at the annual NAIOP Real Estate Challenge, a development case competition in which teams from the University of Washington, University of British Columbia, and Portland State University real estate programs compete. Students create an investment proposal for a well-located development site. This year the site was in our own back yard, the Sound Transit owned site in the University District, where a tiny home village is currently located. The UW proposal was heavily focused on affordable housing financing including low-income housing tax credits. This was a big challenge and a great learning opportunity for the students. Several industry experts were brought in to help the students with tax credit financing, land use code for high rise development in Seattle and other design challenges for this visible and important site.
The UW had a strong team for the competition. Although they did not take home the Bob Filley cup this year, the real world experience creating a development project from the ground up is invaluable.
A sincere thank you to Al Levine and Hal Ferris, our faculty and industry sponsors for all the time you devoted to helping the students.
2023 NAIOP Challenge UW Team
Ye Won Carey Jang, MUP ‘2023
Vivien Chim, MSRE ‘2023
Sam Jarvis, B.S. Real Estate ‘2023
Aarie Liebreich, MSRE ‘2023
Morse Lin, MSRE ‘2023
Jennifer Liu, B.S. Real Estate ‘2023
Tianyi Liu, MUP 2023
Jacob Melaragno, MUP 2023
Maren Grunnet, MUP 2023
Sam Shadkhast, MSRE ‘2024
Amy Towillis, MSRE ‘2023