Irving Blue, Community Builders of Kansas City’s (CBKC) new senior real estate analyst, has history with the organization, its mission and with Emmet Pierson, Jr., its CEO. While he joins CBKC to provide asset management services to the organization’s growing portfolio of residential and commercial properties, 20 some years ago he was a planner and development specialist for the city of Kansas City, Missouri, coordinating funding of block grants that Pierson managed for CBKC early in his career.
“Strong community development corporations (CDC) like CBKC are rare,” said Blue. “After cities cut program funding to CDCs, only the strong survived. You look at CBKC now and it has a strong portfolio of quality properties that are performing. I want to be a part of the organization’s continued growth plan.”
Blue, with a bachelors from Stillman College, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and masters with a concentration in urban and regional planning from Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University, Normal, Alabama, is a licensed real estate broker in Missouri, and has earned multiple professional certifications over the years including certified property manager (CPM) from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). Over his career he has excelled in guiding properties to perform to owners’ goals, assuring a quality living or working environment for the residential of commercial tenants.
“I pray every day that I have the opportunity to make someone’s life better,” Blue said. “When monitoring management companies, I can help ensure that housing standards are above standard and that our commercial properties serve as their own centers of economic development – giving our community members entrée to the employment opportunities they provide.”
Blue has provided asset management services for properties all over the country deploying a range of services – construction/renovation planning and coordination, development management, feasibility analysis, acquisition or disposition, deal structuring as well as contributing to design guidelines, finance models and public approval process.
“Emmet said he thought our combined professional experiences, CBKC team chemistry and the pursuit for improving or enhancing communities are aligned,” said Blue. “I agreed. To create progressive, long-lasting change I believe you have to truly care about the human and community factors. When caring intersects purpose and a commitment of talent, tools and resources, you have community building.”