Jed Byrne grew up in Baltimore County, Maryland, not the city of Baltimore, which is an important distinction to make, according to Byrne. After reading The Color of Law, which makes specific reference to the history of Baltimore, and Clemson University where he went to college, Byrne says he better understood how place, and the ways they are built, determine how communities thrive or suffer. (5:13)

Byrne graduated from Clemson with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2007, one year before the housing crisis. 5 years later, he would leave his career as an engineer to pursue his MBA at UNC-Chapel Hill in Real Estate Finance and Development. (19:32) After traveling around different communities (The Bay Area, Houston, Atlanta), Byrne began to realize that development is as much about architecture as it is psychology, and that many of us are more YIMBY elsewhere but NIMBY at home. (22:12)

To close out our conversation, Byrne and I walk through the typical development process and where community can, and should, get more involved. (48:04)

You can learn more about Jed's work at oakcityCRE.com.

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