Why Dallas Is Just Getting Started with Chris Kleinert

Terry Montesi and Chris Kleinert explore the complexities of large-scale real estate development in one of the country's fastest-growing markets. Kleinert, CEO of Hunt Realty Investments, shares how his background in banking workouts and private equity prepared him to lead major projects with permanent family capital. The conversation moves through the evolution of downtown Dallas, the strategic choices behind mixed-use development, and what it means to plan projects with a 20-year horizon. They discuss: - How Hunt acquired the 2,500-acre Fields development in Frisco and landed the PGA of America headquarters - Why Goldman Sachs chose the North End site in Dallas and what it signals about corporate migration - The challenge of activating downtown Dallas beyond office buildings and addressing vagrancy alongside homelessness - Why energy infrastructure and power availability will determine whether DFW can sustain its growth trajectory - How Ray Hunt's philosophy of fewer, deeper relationships shaped the company's approach to partnerships This episode offers practical insight for anyone working in urban development, real estate investment, or regional economic strategy. Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:00:56) - Welcoming Chris Kleinert to the show (00:02:06) - Chris's path from General Mills to Hunt (00:06:54) - Key lessons learned from Ray Hunt (00:08:36) - More dreams than memories (00:10:24) - Evolving Hunt into a world-class institution (00:11:34) - Reunion Tower plans and challenges (00:16:42) - The Fields acquisition story (00:24:30) - Fields West development details (00:27:11) - Long-term underwriting at the Fields (00:29:08) - North End and the Goldman Sachs campus (00:38:36) - The state of downtown Dallas (00:44:18) - Hunt's bullish view on DFW (00:47:45) - Big trends for the next decade (00:50:28) - Giving back and Ashley's Ruthie's Cafe (00:55:48) - Ray's question turned on TerryT