Don Peebles

Where is Peebles Corporation going to be in 2026?

We will have firmly established ourselves as the nation’s top public-private partnership (P3) developer. We will have between $3 billion and $5 billion in P3 projects under construction in Boston, New York City, Charlotte, Atlanta and Miami. We will be one of the most active office conversion developers in the U.S.  

Where is Peebles Corporation going to be in 2028?

We will have completed $5 billion of new P3 developments. Angels Landing in L.A. and Affirmation Tower in New York will be under construction.  

Where is Peebles Corporation going to be in 2033?

The CEO will be my son, Donahue Peebles III, and he will have further established us as the dominant P3 developer in America. He will have led the company into investment management with private credit funds as well as real estate development and investment funds. He will have led us to be one of the most socially conscious, for-profit affordable, and mixed-income housing developers in the country. 

My daughter Chloe will have established and built an internal marketing and branding arm of the business that will service not only our projects but also third-party clients. Donahue and Chloe will be the nation’s most dynamic and successful brother-sister team in the nation. They will cement the legacy of the Peebles Corporation. My wife Katrina will continue to lead our philanthropic efforts, which will have scaled up with the growth of the company. Her focus will remain leveling the educational playing field for low-income children.

Tell us about a successful financing you’ve done in the last 12 months. Or tell us about an unsuccessful one.

We recently closed on an acquisition and pre-development loan for phase one of our Brooklyn Village development in Charlotte, led by Donahue. 

Despite the protests for economic and social justice following the murder of George Floyd and the announced initiatives by corporate America, we were unable to raise an emerging developers fund to invest in women- and minority-led developers.  

When will we know the market has stabilized? (Be specific!) 

When interest rates remain unchanged for a period of six months, employee attendance at work levels off, and the market has absorbed the glut of office buildings that will have transitioned back to the lenders and subsequently been put to alternative uses. 

How do you think the 2024 presidential campaign will impact the commercial real estate market? 

Minimal impact if President Biden is re-elected and positive impact if former President Donald Trump is elected. Trump will likely cut taxes, provide incentives for job creation, including in the construction industry, and sell off underutilized or vacant federal buildings. 

If you were to invest your own money in someone else’s real estate, who do you like and why?

Witkoff, as I think they are very creative, effective and strong on execution. 

What business advice are you most tired of hearing? 

“Worry about the downside, as the upside will take care of itself.” At Peebles, we play both sides of the field: defense and offense.

What’s the biggest market opportunity as we round out 2023?

Buying distressed mezzanine debt.

Have you had a lot of staff turnover?

No.

Who do you like for POTUS in 2024? Gavin Newsom.

Do you feel personally safe moving through NYC? Yes.

Jerome Powell: Are you a fan or critic? Critic.

Can’t-live-without technology now? Smartphone.

Elon Musk is…? Incredibly smart.

Taylor Swift or Beyoncé? Beyoncé.

Artificial intelligence — good or bad?  Good.

Mischa’s or Nathan’s for a hot dog?  Nathan’s.

Netflix or Hulu? Netflix.

What character are you in “Succession”? The president of the United States.