Art, Real Estate, and Environmental Stewardship with Jon Buerge

Dot Dot Dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast
Episode 20

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Did you know that 39% of greenhouse gas emissions on the planet come from buildings? And over half of the materials that go into landfills in the US come from construction? These are just a few of the insights shared by Jon Buerge, Chief Development Officer at Urban Villages, in this lesson-loaded podcast episode about the environmental impacts of real estate development. 

Jon emphasizes that as one of the greatest contributors to climate change, the commercial real estate industry must take responsibility for reducing our carbon footprint and creating more efficient and sustainable structures. He shares strategies his team at Urban Villages has implemented to build more mindfully – without sacrificing ROI. Plus, Jon talks about the power of art to preserve a neighborhood’s culture and character, especially in historic renovation projects where significant changes must be made to create more sustainable buildings and streetscapes.

Discussed in the Episode: 
Urban Villages
West Village
RailSpur Seattle
Larimer Square
Dana Crawford
Western Neon


About Jon Buerge, Chief Development Officer, Urban Villages:

Jon Buerge is responsible for new company acquisitions, corporate growth, and strategic positioning of all real estate assets. Previously, Jon oversaw real estate and expansion activities for national restaurant chains as Director of Development and Real Estate for CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries. Jon earned a JD and MBA from the University of Colorado, where he served as both Student Body President and Chair of the CU Honor Council. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics and business finance from CU as well. Currently, Jon is a voting member of Denver’s Climate Action Task Force and serves as Chair of the ULI Building Healthy Places Committee. He guides building policies through the City of Denver as a board member for the Denver Park Trust, the Denver Business Improvement District, the Downtown Denver Partnership, the LoDo District, and the High Performance Buildings Committee.


About Dot Dot Dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast

Dot Dot Dot is the continuing conversation around art in the built environment. Hosted by NINE dot ARTS CEO Martha Weidmann, episodes explore art, culture, placemaking, and more with a range of reputable art and business leaders. Tune in biweekly to learn how an original art experience can boost your business and make a social impact. Download the 2021 State of the Art Report to learn more.

All episodes are available on our YouTube Channel or wherever you get your podcasts!