Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities
The Built World Podcast is the premier biographical series and educational resource dedicated to the visionaries, risk-takers, and Institutional Operators shaping the landscape of Commercial Real Estate (CRE), Urbanism, and Property Development.
Hosted by Felipe Azenha and Ben Hoffman, active Commercial Real Estate Brokers and Co-Founders of Built World Advisors in Miami, this show is more than a market update—it is a deep-dive exploration into the life stories, personal philosophies, and investment strategies of the industry’s most influential leaders. Each episode is a professional masterclass delivered through the lens of a personal history, uncovering the "good, the bad, and the ugly" of the entrepreneur’s journey from their first deal to their most iconic project.
Conversations, Cocktails, and High-Level Banter
We believe the best insights happen when the guard comes down. Our signature "Conversations & Cocktails" format creates a relaxed, inviting atmosphere where the banter is light, the humor is sharp, and the drinks are flowing. But don't let the cocktails fool you—the dialogue is profoundly intelligent, offering a tactical look at the Capital Stack, Asset Management, and Market Economics. It’s the kind of high-stakes "shop talk" you usually only hear in a private boardroom or a closed-door partner meeting.
Virtually Every Asset Class Explored:
While Felipe and Ben are specialists in the Miami Industrial and Warehouse sector, The Built World Podcast explores the entire spectrum of the built environment. We provide high-level analysis across virtually every asset class, including:
- Industrial & Logistics: From Small-Bay Industrial and Last-Mile Distribution to Flex Space and Cold Storage.
- Multifamily & Residential: High-rise luxury, Workforce Housing, and Build-to-Rent (BTR).
- Office & Mixed-Use: The evolution of the workplace and the rise of Live-Work-Play environments.
- Retail & Hospitality: The transformation of the High Street, boutique hotels, and experiential retail.
- Niche Assets: Self-storage, medical office buildings (MOB), and life sciences.
What We Explore:
If you are looking for an insider’s read on the South Florida Real Estate Market and national CRE Trends, we dive deep into:
- The Miami Market: Navigating the Miami Skyline, Wynwood, Brickell, Miami Beach and beyond.
- Capital Markets & Debt: Real-time perspectives on Cap Rates, interest rate impacts, GP/LP structures, and why veteran operators are moving off the sidelines.
- The Operator’s Playbook: A look at the "Operator" side of the business—scaling income, professionalizing property management, and building high-performance brokerage teams.
- PropTech & Innovation: How AI in Real Estate, advanced prospecting tools, and new construction technologies are redefining Placemaking.
Our Guest List:
We feature a "Who’s Who" of the built world, including: Real Estate Developers, Principals, Institutional Asset Managers, Capital Markets Brokers, Architects, Attorneys, and Urban Planners.
Who This Is For: Whether you are a seasoned Commercial Broker, an Active Investor looking for a Value-Add play, a student, or an entrepreneur obsessed with the future of our cities, this show offers a front-row seat to the minds redefining the built world.
Built World Advisors Podcast: The Definitive Biography of the People Building Our Cities
Tim Petrillo & Alan Hooper, Co-Founders - Urban Street Development & The Restaurant People
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In this inspiring episode, we sip cocktails with Tim and Alan, whose 30-year partnership has left a transformative mark on Ft. Lauderdale and Tallahasse. It all began in the early '90s when they started acquiring properties in the quiet Las Olas area, breathing new life into the neighborhood by operating restaurants and bars. From there, they pioneered micro-unit loft apartments in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
But they didn't stop there. In 2009, they returned to their alma mater, Florida State University, to help develop College Town—a wildly successful mixed-use project featuring restaurants, bars, student housing, a hotel, and retail space. At the same time they began acquiring and assembling land in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.
Now, Tim and Allan are breaking ground on their biggest venture yet: FAT Village, a 5.6-acre, 835,000-square-foot mixed-use urban destination in Fort Lauderdale’s Flagler Village, just north of the Brightline Station. Partnering with Hines, they're crafting a space that includes 600 multifamily units spread across two residential towers, 73,000 square feet of curated food, beverage, and entertainment offerings, art studios, galleries, and a state-of-the-art office space in Hines' signature heavy timber T3 (Timber, Transit, Technology) building. And that's just Phase I. Phase II promises even more, with an additional 250-unit multifamily tower, street-level retail, and expanded parking.
This is the story of two visionary developers and entrepreneurs who started small and have quietly reshaped Fort Lauderdale. Today they own and operate 13 restaurants in South Florida and 1 one in Tallahassee. So grab a cocktail, kick back, and enjoy this incredible journey!
Want to dive deeper into Miami’s commercial real estate scene?
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