Local Legends and Pivotal People Series: Dr. Owen Beitsch, PhD, FAICP, CRE Exploring Public-Private Partnerships, Development Challenges, Affordable Housing and Adaptive Reuse Issues

We launch our Local Legends and Pivotal People with a local person that exemplifies both, Dr. Owen Beitsch, PhD, FAICP, CRE.Come along for a whirlwind conversation with Dr. Beitsch, a seasoned Senior Director at GAI Consultants and respected professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF). As a founding member of the Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation and a member of the Orlando Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Dr. Beitsch is an authority on bridging the divide through regulation and interpretation of regulation. Drawing from examples of his early involvement in projects like the Kansas City Stadium, Dr. Beitsch gives us a peek into the world of economics and feasibility studies to determine solutions to offer clients. We discussed the influence of transportation projects, Florida’s need for housing, affordable housing tax credit programs, new opportunities from new legislation, accessory dwelling units, opportunity zones and adaptive reuse.  Dr Beitsch  talks about the many complexities of working with both the private and public sectors for the betterment of communities.  His experience in these areas locally and the reliance on his studies through GAI Consultants by local governments makes him a Local Legend.  Dr. Beitsch has been working on housing and economics in greater Orlando since the 1980’s.It was noted that office buildings are still struggling with vacancies that became more critical during and now after Covid. Dr. Beitsch references the need to think creatively and as a professor at UCF, he gets to work with young minds in his real estate classes.  Dr. Beitsch’s pronounced way of talking without necessarily burdening the listener to think similarly is likely helping to create thoughtful leaders in our communities. Many of his students have served or do now serve in local governments. This is why Dr. Beitsch is considered a Pivotal Person.Dr. Beitsch is the first in our series of Local Legends and Pivotal People, and he represents both.  He can be reached at: [email protected] or [email protected] ---Connect with Ginny Bolling on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnybollingPivot to Prosperity is a podcast that is sponsored by Pivotal Real Estate Investments, which focuses on helping investors build wealth and income through commercial real estate that improves communities. To learn more, visit www.PivotalREILLC.com Subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode.To watch other episodes, go to https://www.youtube.com/@PivotalREI