From Vision to Village: Charlotte Ustler’s Urban Legacy

In this episode, I spoke with Charlotte Ustler, Principal at Ustler Development, whose passion for thoughtful city-building is rooted in her upbringing. Raised by a father who was a regional urban planner and a mother who led grantmaking for the Dr. Phillips Foundation, Charlotte was immersed in conversations about responsible development and community impact from a young age. That foundation led her to pursue a career in commercial real estate, beginning at just 18 years old. Her journey included 14 years at Kimco Realty, the nation’s largest owner of neighborhood shopping centers, where she managed multi-state portfolios and honed her skills in community-focused development.Charlotte shares her bold decision to leave a corporate role to join her husband at Ustler Development, where they now lead transformative urban projects in Orlando. She opens up about the challenges of being underestimated early in her career and how she used that to her advantage at the negotiation table. One of her proudest achievements is Creative Village—a 68-acre public-private redevelopment in Downtown Orlando that combines education, workforce development, affordable housing, and innovative community programs that uplift the historically underserved Parramore neighborhood.“Don’t be afraid to do the work.” - Charlotte UstlerConnect with Veronica:https://www.capstackcommercial.com/veronica-malolos-ccimhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-malolos-ccim-401649218/Connect with Charlotte:https://www.instagram.com/citylovecam/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-ustler-36908410#womeninbusiness #CRE #commercialrealestate #businesspodcast #realestatepodcast #commercialbroker #entrepreneur #CCIM