Hunden Partners, a real estate development advisory practice that provides full-service solutions, has announced that Steve Haemmerle, the Executive Vice President, will be moderating a panel at the 2024 Public-Private Partnership Conference & Expo in Dallas, Texas. Haemmerle is an industry veteran who has extensive real estate experience in public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. The panel discussion will focus on the University of Kansas (KU) Gateway District, which is a mixed-use and public-private partnership (P3) stadium success story.
The panel is titled “University of Kansas Gateway Project: A Story of Transformation Via a Stadium and Mixed-Use P3.” It will take place on Tuesday, March 13, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT. The panelists will include Heather Blanck, Chief Procurement Officer at the University of Kansas, and Jeff DeWitt, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice Chancellor, Finance, at the University of Kansas.
“The University of Kansas Gateway District is an example of P3 at its best, and I’m delighted to lead such a distinguished panel at the conference,” says Haemmerle. “Our entire team at Hunden is proud to be part of this bold, visionary project, from our financial feasibility study to advising on an implementation strategy to bring KU’s vision to life for its student population and vibrant community.”
Haemmerle and the panelists will share their insights into the initial planning process, feasibility and financing studies, and the developer and operator selection process for a major mixed-use endeavor. The success and ambitions of the project have piqued the interest of other universities and their host communities. The panel will cover best practices, insights, and recommendations to inform similar P3 partnerships.
The Gateway District project aims to modernize the north entrance to the KU campus and create a literal gateway to a thriving multi-use district and upgraded football stadium. By transforming the entrance and football facilities into a vibrant destination, it will enhance KU’s ability to attract and retain students while providing economic benefits to the state of Kansas.
“Hunden Partners performed financial feasibility and development implementation services for the Gateway District, and it’s been exciting for all of us to see it move from an initial concept to a placemaking achievement that will benefit KU and its community for decades to come,” says Hunden’s CEO & Founder Rob Hunden.
