Ep. 18 - Building Community and Sustainability

In this episode of The Loop, host Colin Stewart sits down with Alejandro Franqui and Deborah Solo to celebrate 75 years of Solo Real Estate and trace how three generations built a property management company that stayed rooted in Philadelphia while the city transformed around it.They share the family origin story, from early investments and a department store legacy to the business starting in 1951 and growing in the same neighborhood for decades.The conversation explores how the company evolved through changing eras of Philadelphia real estate, including redevelopment in Center City, the city’s rise and fall in population, and the shift from sales to property management.Highlights include:Origin story of Solo Real Estate in 1951 (10:45),Evolution of Philadelphia's property types (21:49),Gentrification and neighborhood revitalization (28:14),Property management's role in community building (40:09),And more...