What does it mean to build community, not just property?

In our latest episode of Voices of a Highway, Vasti Pichardo, property manager for Atlanta’s Chinatown, a historical part of the Buford Highway corridor, shares what it looks like to lead with people first. What was once a quiet, underutilized space is now evolving into something much deeper, a place where small businesses are finding their footing, families are gathering, and cultures are intersecting in everyday ways.Rooted in her experience as the daughter of Dominican immigrants, Vasti brings a perspective that challenges traditional models of development. Her approach is not driven solely by occupancy or revenue, but by belonging, visibility, and long-term sustainability for the communities that call this corridor home.This conversation reminds us that spaces do not become meaningful by accident. They become meaningful when they are shaped with intention, trust, and a commitment to the people within them.