UA Little Rock Students to Compete in Eisenberg Real Estate Challenge
UA Little Rock business administration students will compete in the 16th Annual Real Estate Challenge in Chicago on April 11.
Presented by the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, the Real Estate Challenge immerses students in real-world development scenarios. Teams research market conditions, community demographics, local history, and Chicago city policies to create viable project proposals.
Representing UA Little Rock are Kodiak Cannedy, Brennan Gasaway, Isabel Hortelano, Ryan Hunt, and Ashley Lopez, led by instructor Elizabeth Small.
Their research includes studying the surrounding real estate market, learning an area’s history, analyzing community demographics, and examining the Chicago City Council’s positions on economic development. Teams also evaluate the financial aspects of their ideas by exploring financing options, projected returns, and potential partnerships.
Through this process, students see how the fundamentals of successful development in Chicago apply anywhere. They also begin to understand how a concept can move from an idea to a real-world project, helping prepare them for future careers in the field.
“Watching students reach that realization is always one of the most rewarding parts of the experience,” Small said.
The Real Estate Challenge will welcome 29 undergraduate and graduate teams from universities across the country to compete in a high-profile redevelopment project in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. Each team is assigned the same project and core information, ensuring a level playing field to develop a comprehensive plan to maximize a property’s potential from financial and feasibility perspectives.
The UA Little Rock team will present its analysis and recommendations to maximize the site’s potential. A panel of industry leaders will judge the presentations and select the finalists and winners.
Small has taken four teams to Chicago for the Eisenberg Challenge. In 2023, her team took first place, and the 2024 team finished second in the final round.
“We are looking forward to this year’s challenge, and the determination to do well is strong,” she said.