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Harold J. DeBlanc, III
HDB Advisors, LLC
Commercial Real Estate & Special-Use Income Property
Development, Transactions, Leadership
EXPERTISE
HDBA’s experience extends over several billion dollars of project value, involving a wide range of competencies. The firm delivers problem-solving capability and strategic thinking on projects which had discouraged experienced professionals and has accomplished unprecedented transactions that many believed could not be done and had not been done. The firm provides the expertise and experience to recognize marketplace strengths and weaknesses, and exercises the judgment to acquire, develop, reposition, recapitalize and sell assets opportunistically and profitably. HDBA structures transactions and manages multifaceted negotiations and documentation critical to closing deals. HDBA also leads workouts, including for example Lehman Brothers’ $23 billion acquisition of Archstone REIT.
HDBA’s proven ability to overcome barriers to entry creates leverage that facilitates greater control, strengthens negotiating positions, diminishes exposure to risks and creates a higher likelihood for project success. The firm provides the capabilities and leadership that enable clients competing in a national or global arena to win exclusive rights to development projects with long term phasing, and large capital and other commitments. It recruits practitioners and partners to satisfy a variety of needs from exclusive expertise to key relationships, community engagement, and risk sharing.
HDBA’s experience extends over several billion dollars of project value, involving a wide range of competencies. The firm delivers problem-solving capability and strategic thinking on projects which had discouraged experienced professionals, and has accomplished unprecedented transactions that many thought could not be done and had not been done. The firm provides the expertise and experience to recognize marketplace strengths and weaknesses, and exercise the judgment to acquire, develop, reposition, recapitalize and sell assets opportunistically and profitably. HDBA structures transactions and manages multifaceted negotiations and documentation critical to closing deals. HDBA also leads workouts, including for example Lehman Brothers’ $23 billion acquisition of Archstone REIT.
HDBA’s proven ability to overcome barriers to entry creates leverage that facilitates greater control, strengthens negotiating positions, diminishes exposure to risks and creates a higher likelihood for project success. The firm provides the capabilities and leadership that enable clients competing in a national or global arena to win exclusive rights to projects with long term phasing, and large capital and other commitments. It recruits practitioners and partners to satisfy a variety of needs from exclusive expertise to key relationships, community engagement, and risk sharing.
EXPERIENCE
- Development Executive – Multi-phase, mixed-use public private developments, including The Yards – 5.5 million square feet, Washington DC; The Science + Technology Park at Johns Hopkins – 2.5 million square feet, Baltimore, MD; and Zidell Yards – 5 million square feet, Portland, OR.
- Member, Board of Directors and Investment Committee – Archstone, a national multifamily company. Collaborated with corporate executives and investors on strategic planning, working capital and long-term debt modification, dispositions, development and re-valuation of this $23 billion acquisition by a joint venture of Lehman Brothers, Tishman-Speyer, Bank of America and Barclays Bank.
- Director of Finance – Terminal 4 at JFK, the $1.4 billion re-development of the busiest international passenger terminal in the US. Structured the business transaction with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (“PANYNJ”) and managed the $1 billion issuance of PANYNJ Special Project Bonds, including negotiation of The Report of the Airport Consultant, coordination of the Official Statement and roadshow presentations to prospective investors.
- Development Manager – 101 Hudson, a 1.2 million square foot office tower on the Hudson riverfront in Jersey City, NJ. Pre-leased to Merrill Lynch with most of the remainder leased to Lehman Brothers. At completion, the tallest office building in New Jersey.
- Development Director – Rivers Edge, a primary residence and vacation property development near Deer Valley Ski Resort, Park City, UT. Created master plan and secured new entitlements via rezoning from agricultural & livestock to mixed residential, retail and commercial uses.
- Corporate Capital – Directly sourced capital for the operating entity of LCOR Incorporated, including rights of 1st opportunity to invest in new projects.
- Joint Venture Capital – Directly sourced $45 million of equity investment for residential condominium developments in Southpark, Los Angeles, CA and the South Waterfront, Portland, OR – each kicking-off urban mixed-use master plan developments.
SELECTIVE CLIENTS – POSITIONS – RESPONSIBILITIES
- ZRZ Realty – Development Executive and Senior Advisor, Zidell Yards, Portland, OR – current assignment. Re-positioned leadership and management of Zidell Yards. Selected and managed team of professional consultants in development of a mixed-use masterplan including 5 million square feet of office/institutional, multifamily, residential condominium, retail and hospitality uses, plus a series of linked parks with direct access to the Willamette River and Portland’s Greenway Trail. Devised plan of finance and funding of approximately $100 million of public improvements.
- Forest City Enterprises – Development Executive and Senior Advisor on teams pursuing, winning, closing and executing mixed-use, multi-phase projects ranging from $250 million to $3 billion.
- Lehman Brothers – Consultant work spanned 13 years. Sourced investment opportunities for its Principal Transactions Group. Directed disposition of foreclosed properties. Managed Archstone workout through Board and Investment Committee representation and collaboration with corporate executives concerning preservation of value, development and daily operations.
- Vornado Realty Trust – Director of Development, Washington DC Region. Managed division staff and supervised various development, redevelopment and acquisition projects in Northern Virginia and Washington, DC.
- LCOR Incorporated – Senior Vice President. Directed predevelopment work and closed transactions for wide variety of projects, including office and multifamily buildings, mixed-use master plans, transit-oriented development, transportation infrastructure and special-use international development. Key contributor establishing LCOR as an innovator in the development of large scale public/private projects. Attracted Lehman Brothers investment for LCOR’s operating entity, as well as for discreet projects.
- The First Boston Corporation – Financial Analyst. Performed variety of financing and disposition assignments for owners ranging from Americold, the world’s largest refrigerated warehouse and logistics company, to regional multifamily and New York City office developers. Performed market research and financial analysis, prepared offering memoranda, supported marketing efforts, and managed lender/investor/purchaser due diligence.
- Pacific Development, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp – Development Manager. Qualified all major development opportunities. Assisted sale of company to The Durst Organization based in New York City. Sold former Sears retail store after securing entitlements for adaptive re-use; sold office building portfolio with take-back financing and re-acquired the property after borrower default; executed managing partner responsibilities for airport business and industrial park.
EDUCATION
University of Colorado, Boulder | 1985
B.S., Business Administration – Finance, Magna Cum Laude
PRESENTER & PANELIST
- Pension Real Estate Association (“PREA”) – 2018 Spring Conference, Los Angeles, CA
- Forbes – Privatizing America’s Infrastructure
- Regional Plan Association, NYS
- Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress
- Columbia Graduate School – Masters in Real Estate Development
CONTACT
Harold J. DeBlanc, III
Founder & Managing Director
917-912-4818
hdeblanc@ninic15.sg-host.com
ninic15.sg-host.com
CHRONOLOGICAL EMPLOYMENT
HDB Advisors, LLC, Park City, UT 2001–current
Founder & Managing Director
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc., New York, NY 2008
Senior Vice President
LCOR Incorporated, New York, NY 1994-2001 | 1988-1990
Senior Vice President, Vice President, Development Manager
Pacific Development, Inc., Portland, OR 1990-1993
Development Manager
The First Boston Corp., RE Finance Group, New York, NY 1987-1988
Financial Analyst
The First American Corporation, Nashville, TN 1986-1987
Associate, Commercial Bank Management Training Program