So, uh, where are the women developers?

Just for grins Google "female real estate developer".  The results aren't terribly impressive.

We started pondering this question after a recent Smart City Radio show profiled two women developers: one from Pittsburgh and the other from Boston.  Real estate in Spokane is hardly exclusively the domain of men in our area.  Look at any classifieds on any Sunday morning and you'll see any number of women representing fine properties and homes throughout our area.

But what is it?  Are we missing someone?  Something?  Is there any female developer out there doing interesting and innovative developments that we're overlooking?  Now don't think we're knocking the advances and projects the guys have brought to town...they're all doing some great things, and pulling Spokane - sometimes reluctantly - along with them.

We tend to think though that a female developer here in Spokane might take a new, different, and refreshing approach.  Perhaps doing something not previously seen here.  Retailers have long known that marketing to women is different than marketing to men.  But doesn't this hold true for developments?  In Great Britain, there exists WDS or Womens Design Services, and the company's vision statement says it all:

              Women’s Design Service looks forward to a future where all our buildings,               transport systems, streets, parks and open spaces are designed to               incorporate the needs of women

Maybe she's out there in Spokane, quietly going about her business, getting things designed and built with women in mind.  Until they're a household name around here we have to wonder what would a city or subdivision that developed with women in mind look like?  Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Comments

[Andrew Chester]

My wife (Kawal Chester) and I are developing the Iron Bridge Condos on the river near GU. We have absolutely 100% shared developing duties on this project from the very beginning phases. As this is the first development for either of us, (we share a profession that has absolutely nothing to do with property development) it has been an eye-opening, roller coaster experience for us-but overall quite positive. Her entrepreneurial spirit comes from her parents/siblings who have all been quite involved in real estate on a personal scale (not development). Thanks for bringing up this discussion!...she'll probably be mad I'm responding on her behalf but (no kidding) she's coaching our daughter's softball team as I type this!

[Jim]

Thanks to the Chester's for their innovative Iron Bridge Project. This will be a real asset to the neighborhood. I jog along the trail near the bridge and can't wait to see the bridge brought back to life and see this area come alive with folks living in this great location.

[Amy K]

What about Heather Hanley? She's developing First @ Washington downtown. Seven units, five of them townhome-style condos, plus retail on the ground floor, including a contemporary furniture gallery that she plans to run. They're having an open-house/info session tomorrow at 5:30 at the site, which is still very much in the throes of development. Check out Tuesday's Spokesman-Review for more - I just filed a profile on Hanley for the weekly HOME section.