Thought Leadership
We’re a firm that tells it like it is and gives you the unvarnished truth so you can make better, more strategic decisions. Sometimes adjusting course and not building something is a smarter move than diving headlong into an ill-conceived idea – and we’ll tell you if this is the case. In Unbiased Insights, we’ll share our data, resources, case studies, analytics, and real-world experiences so you can achieve the best outcomes for your stakeholders, citizens, and investors.
After 30 Years, I Believe We Need a Better Way to Build Great Places
By Rob Hunden
Over the past three decades, I've had the privilege of working alongside communities as they make some of the most important investment and development decisions they'll ever face. I've worked with leaders who had the courage to pursue bold ideas and have seen the lasting impact that those decisions can have on residents, businesses, and visitors for generations. Entire downtowns, campuses and communities have been transformed around the world by game-changing real estate and destination development projects. With more than one thousand projects, studies and processes completed over the past 30 years, experience becomes wisdom, then ideally, innovation to improve outcomes.
First, a reality check: most ideas never see the light of day. Or if they do, they don’t get past the master plan, the feasibility study, or the financing effort. For many, it’s the appropriate conclusion to the filtering process. Some ideas are simply not well-conceived or won’t survive the marketplace. Saving a leader or community from a bad investment is just as important as executing a good one.
For many others, excellent, well-conceived projects die prematurely due to lack of know-how, leadership, experience, expertise, timing tied to elected or leadership support, and frankly, unfortunate decisions.
Fort Worth: Two Decades of Shaping a Destination
By Rob HundenFort Worth's destination development demonstrates how convention center expansion, headquarters hotels, mixed-use development, and long-term development advisory can drive tourism growth and economic impact.
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Temporary and Semi-Permanent Venues Are Becoming a Strategic Tool for Cities and Developers
By Rob HundenTemporary and semi-permanent venues are reshaping mixed-use development by accelerating district activation, reducing development risk, and creating flexible entertainment destinations with long-term economic value.
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Looking Ahead: 20 Years In, Focused on What Comes Next
By Rob HundenTwenty years of destination development, placemaking, and real estate advisory have helped Hunden Partners guide transformative projects that strengthen communities and create lasting economic impact.
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Hunden Partners' Role in the Gateway District Transformation
By Rob HundenDevelopment advisory, feasibility studies, and mixed-use development helped transform the Universtiy of Kansas Gateway District from vision to implementation through strategic planning, developer selection, and funding strategy.
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2024: A Year of Growth and Impact for Hunden Partners
By Rob HundenDiscover how Hunden Partners helped shape the future of destination development in 2024 through placemaking, feasibility studies, public-private partnerships, and projects that delivered lasting economic impact.
Read moreTransforming Communities: Placemaking and the Public-Private Partnership
By Rob HundenSuccessful public-private partnerships begin with thoughtful placemaking, strategic planning, and mixed-use development that create vibrant destinations and long-term community value.
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Gather Together with Thankful Hearts
By Rob HundenLeadership is grounded in gratitude, purpose, and service. Rob Hunden shares a Thanksgiving reflection on the values, relationships, and perspectives that shape Hunden Partners and its work.
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Creating Vibrant Destinations
By Rob HundenDestination development begins with a clear vision, evidence-based feasibility studies, and a practical implementation strategy that transform ideas into vibrant places with lasting community impact.
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Los Angeles Goes for the Gold: Hunden Partners' Interview with Hilary Ash on the 2028 Olympic Games - Mixed-Use District
By Rob HundenMixed-use development, venue planning, and destination real estate are essential to delivering world-class events. Discover best practices from LA28 highlight strategies for creating lasting community and economic value.
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