If you’ve ever been told “that won’t work"
This edition is for you
Most investors would’ve walked right past it.
An old gas station site with contaminated soil, tucked into a tiny downtown corner lot. Not exactly prime real estate. But where others saw risk, we saw raw opportunity—just 5,000 square feet of overlooked potential sitting half a block from my office, with waterfront views and a story waiting to be rewritten.
This isn’t just about buying dirty dirt. It’s about unlocking value that others ignore—by thinking differently, acting boldly, and having a plan to back it up.
If you’ve ever been told “that won’t work,” this is for you.
In this edition, I’ll show you:
How to spot opportunity hiding in plain sight
Why short-term cash flow can fuel long-term vision
The bold move I pitched to my city that could change everything
1. Opportunity in Disguise: Why We Bought Contaminated Soil
The lot had a red flag for many—contaminated soil from a gas station shut down 30 years ago. But here’s what we knew: the site sits on a slope, making natural remediation through groundwater flow highly likely. Instead of seeing a risk, we saw a discount—and an opportunity to lead with data and smart environmental understanding.
This is what impact investing looks like at the ground level: identifying untapped value, assessing true risk (not perceived fear), and using knowledge as your edge. It’s not just about return; it’s about insight.
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2. Monetize While You Wait: Making the Lot Work Now
While we pursue zoning for a multifamily build (more on that in a moment), we’re turning the space into a summer social hub. Think food trucks, landscaping, and my wife’s dream: a pop-up wine bar that lets her test her concept with low risk and high visibility.
It’s a triple win:
Generates immediate income
Enhances community value
Lets us test and iterate before going big
This phase funds our holding costs, builds social capital, and lays the groundwork for a vibrant, connected space.
3. Vision Backed by a Plan: 30 Units and a Bold Ask
The long-term play? A 20–30 unit multifamily building. But we’re going bigger: I’ve already surprised our city by proposing a cantilevered design that extends over the adjacent municipal parking lot. They don’t lose parking, I don’t pay for more land, and we get a larger, more efficient footprint.
Bold visions often get dismissed—but when paired with a logical, value-driven plan, they gain traction. That’s where most go wrong: they dream, but don’t design the path.
The takeaway?
Vision without action is fantasy. Action without a plan is chaos. But when you fuse insight, creativity, and strategy—even a contaminated lot can become a cornerstone of community and capital growth.
Want to see how this turns out? Stay tuned. I’ll be sharing the journey, the wins, and the stumbles.
Until next time,
Jon
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