Romantic Pragmatism In Creating Sustainable Neighborhoods With Coby Lefkowitz

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Why is it important to have a passion for what you want to do? In this episode of Weiss Advice, we welcome Coby Lefkowitz. Coby Lefkowitz is a real estate developer, writer, and thought leader in the world of urban planning and development. Based in New York, and in addition to his own projects at his firm Backyard, Coby works with people and cities worldwide to create more beautiful, walkable, sustainable, and dynamic communities for all. Coby tries to marry romantic ways of looking at the world with how to actually implement them in our built environment, something he calls romantic pragmatism

Tune in to this episode as Coby shares how an individual got their feet wet in the development world!

[00:01 - 01:16] Opening Segment

• We welcome, Coby Lefkowitz!
• Coby is the Principal & Co-Founder of Backyard

[01:17 - 24:56] Romantic Pragmatism In Creating Sustainable Neighborhoods

• Creating walkable, dynamic, sustainable, and resilient neighborhoods by unlocking density near city cores and amenities
• Openness to opportunities and passion for architecture
• Opportunity zones have been used to help build in core neighborhoods
• Reforming zoning and building codes has allowed for more progressive infill development

[24:57 - 33:17] THE FINAL FOUR

• What's the worst job that you ever had?
  • Working in basement studios in the summer
• What's a book you've read that has given you a paradigm shift?
  • “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” by Jane Jacobs
• What is a skill or talent that you would like to learn?
  • Learn how to draw architecture
• What does success mean to you?
  • Coby says, “It's contentment, and then you can put a monetary or a material value to success.“

Connect with Coby Lefkowitz: 

Website: Coby Lefkowitz

Twitter: @Cobylefko

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Tweetable Quotes:

“You're never going to have 100% confidence. And so, you need to get a sufficient threshold. And then as soon as I feel sufficiently comfortable, I dive in.” – Coby Lefkowitz

“It was a real opportunity for us to kind of make good on what we preach of wanting to create more walkable and dynamic and sustainable and resilient neighborhoods, but actually b

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