Gustavo Quiroga explains his role as a bit of a utility player. Gustavo leads early-stage planning & strategy work for neighborhood-scale projects, develops creative placemaking programs, fosters community partnerships, and manages special development projects for clients. He operates as a strategic partner to landlords, tenants, and developers focused on ground floor activation of mixed-use projects. His work spans from project inception to completion and exists at the intersection of retail leasing, neighborhood strategy, urban design, and branding. I ask Gustavo how retail will survive in a post-pandemic world?

With over 25 years in the real estate development industry, Francis Scire has leased outlets, open-air lifestyle centers, traditional enclosed shopping centers, and a downtown revitalized retail core. Before COVID-19, social distancing, and stay-at-home advisories, retail faced challenges from online shopping and changing consumer habits. How will retail survive in a post-pandemic world? My talk with Francis is a bit of a warm-up for our discussion at the Congress for the New Urbanism's annual meeting.