KC Hardin, founder of Conservatorio, joins MoPo and shares his inspiring journey from corporate law in New York to real estate development in Panama. He discusses the revitalization of Casco Viejo - a historic district in Panama City, the lessons learned in navigating the complexities of real estate, and the importance of community engagement in urban development. KC also reflects on the current landscape of real estate in Panama, the challenges of affordability, and his vision for interconnected neighborhoods that foster community. He emphasizes the need for adaptive reuse of buildings and the role of developers in shaping vibrant urban spaces.
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Keyes Christopher (KC) Hardin is a co-founder of [Conservatorio](www.conservatoriosa.com/en/) and has been its president since its inception in 2005. KC also co-founded Esperanza San Felipe, a gang intervention and integration program in the historic district of the Panamanian capital.
Before moving to Panama, KC worked as a corporate lawyer in New York and Tokyo with the firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where he primarily focused on mergers and acquisitions and private equity. He is a member of the Central America Leadership Initiative of the Aspen Institute and a research associate at MIT's Community Innovators Laboratory (CoLab).
He holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.S. in Communications from the University of Miami.
Keywords
real estate, Panama, urban development, community engagement, adaptive reuse, Conservatorio, Casco Viejo, architecture, sustainability, housing
Chapters
00:00 Casey Hardin's Journey from Law to Real Estate
07:35 The Birth of Conservatorio and Its Impact
12:02 Adaptive Reuse and the Challenges of Development
18:48 Lessons Learned and the Evolution of Conservatorio
20:28 Community Development and Zoning in Panama
26:01 Mixed-Use Development and Community Engagement
33:37 Challenges in Design and Development Tools
40:01 Real Estate Landscape and Mobility in Panama
45:40 Future Projects and Urban Revitalization
47:32 The Vision of a Great City
Links
[Conservatorio](www.conservatoriosa.com/)
[Casco Viejo](www.cascoviejo.org/)
[Olde Good Things](ogtstore.com/)