ULI PHL’s 6th Annual Willard G. “Bill” Rouse III Awards for Excellence finalists represent superior development projects in the greater Philadelphia region that embody the ULI mission of pushing the standard of excellence in real estate and land use and creating sustainable, thriving communities.

Maria Sourbeer, Vice President of Development, Shift Capital, joins us for this week’s “Five Minutes with a Finalist”. Shift Capital has been recognized as a finalist for MaKen Studios North and South. Here’s what she had to say:

Who has had the greatest influence on your career and what was the best advice he or she gave you?

Recently my team has been talking a lot about the difference between reactive and proactive. There are often so many balls in the air that we’re in a constant state of reaction, heads down working hard. It’s really important to look up and see the big picture and make time to think deeply about setting the groundwork for future success.

What are you most excited about in the Philadelphia area and region?

I feel there is a renewed (and new) energy throughout the city. More people are staying long term and choosing Philadelphia as a place to live, work, raise a family. Philly has a unique sense of pride and it feels like it’s growing and changing. There’s a strong commitment to community and people and a real focus on solving our entrenched problems. We need to work together and I’m proud to see developers like Shift listening to the needs of the neighborhood and involving the community to plan projects and programs. Our people, neighborhoods, and city are better for it.

As a ULI PHL Awards nominee, what makes you most proud of your project?

MaKen North and South were redesigned to communicate a balance between old and new, heritage and modernity. Their reimagination has sparked a renewal across a spectrum of development – from the physical to the economic to the community. All working together so that businesses, neighborhoods, and people grow. We’re most proud of the impact we’ve witnessed since relaunching the buildings. We’ve seen the power this project has to activate and energize a community (both internally and externally) across a spectrum of growth and revitalization. We’ve been able to help increase the number of jobs created or brought into the neighborhood. Our spaces and studios are helping entrepreneurs, creative small businesses, and manufacturers establish themselves and evolve. We are also witnessing the positive development aftereffects throughout the neighborhood, including affordable and livable residential properties, new businesses filling vacant storefronts, and the City of Philadelphia’s stronger commitment to the community.

Winners announced live June 12