ULI Chicago’s Under 35 members recently held a Young-Leaders Only panel that focused on the sharing economy.  There were three speakers including, Sandy Albert, Senior Director of Real Estate, Common Living Inc., Jillian Brown, Director- Workplace, Convene, and Katherine Darnstadt, Founder, Latent Design & BoomBox.

The US and world are transitioning to an economy that prioritizes sharing access to goods and services that are often facilitated by a community-based on-line platform.  The ULI Chicago YLs learned about the role of flexibility and technology in how the sharing economy is influencing living, working, and retail space.  While these companies might be disrupting their respective traditional sectors, all panel speakers claim that their missions and goals are nothing new – to better facilitate community and provide services, often enhanced by technology, which would otherwise be unaffordable to many.

Sandy Albert claimed that co-living provides opportunities for Millennials to live in highly-amenitized, centrally located units for a significantly discounted price, in addition to fostering a sense of community.  Jillian Brown discussed how workplace events and meetings are being reimagined.  In their locations, Convene, make sure furniture, art, and seasonal menus / gourmet snacks are curated to reduce typical pressures that come upon large meetings/events.  Katherine Darnstadt claimed that their service, a prefabricated, climate controlled, 250 square foot pop-up storefront constructed from an upcycled shipping container, allows local venders to promote retail, cultural, community, and marketing experiences.

Following the program, the YLs had an opportunity for more discussion with the panelists and networking with fellow attendees at the Café 45 on the first floor of 311 W. Monroe.

See Event Photos

Summary written by ULI Chicago Young Leader Henry Nieberg, Associate – Investment Research, Heitman LLC