1DROP's Fall 2025 Quarterly Convening
On November 13th, 1DROP members gathered for the Fall 2025 Quarterly Convening to reflect on growth, deepen knowledge, and align on the quarter ahead. The evening brought together developers at various stages of their journey—from aspiring to established—to surface insights, share strategic knowledge about land-use approaches, and engage in the critical conversations that move our collective work forward.
Fireside Chat: Aspiring to Actual
The Quarterly Convening opened with a section led by Keenan Grayson, 1DROP's Senior Program Manager, featuring four panelists whose journeys embody the progression from aspiring developer to active builder:
Haile Itref of Y&M Properties
The conversation centered on two fundamental shifts that distinguish those who dream from those who deliver: mindset and relationships.
Mindset Shift
Panelists spoke about the internal shifts that move developers from planning to consistent execution—the habits and systems that turn goals into completed projects. They highlighted operating with intention and building the daily structure required to move deals forward
Relationship Shift
Another key point of discussion was how relationship-building shapes a developer’s trajectory. Moving with intention, choosing partners wisely, and investing in genuine connections were highlighted as catalysts for growth.
Mindset and Behavior with Jeremy Rubin
Guest speaker Jeremy Rubin, of ACT II Coaching, expanded the mindset discussion with a session focused on mental bandwidth, clarity, and behavioral follow-through.
Using the framework of purpose + dream + legacy, he walked members through how emotional and mental focus becomes the foundation for effective decision-making. Jeremy highlighted the five primary categories of distraction that drain developers’ capacity and offered practical approaches for protecting attention, communicating clearly, and collaborating with intention.
His session reinforced a central theme of the evening: developers move faster when their internal systems are aligned with the outcomes they aim to produce.
HOAs, Unit Lot Subdivision & Legal Strategy with Katy Sweeden
Members then moved into technical training led by Katy Sweeden, Managing Partner at Dimension Law Group.
The session covered:
When to use condos vs. ULS to structure ownership
Timelines, required documents, and typical permit coordination
HOA requirements and insurance considerations
How utilities, submetering, and shared systems affect long-term operations
Legislative updates under Bills 1337 and 1110 expanding ADU and middle-housing capacity
Common pitfalls for early-stage developers and how to avoid them
Katy delivered a comprehensive overview of the legal tools developers can use to maximize project value - specifically condominiums, unit lot subdivisions (ULS), and current state legislation shaping middle housing opportunities.
1DROP Members Leading the Way
The Quarterly Convening also highlighted that the strength of 1DROP lies not just in what the organization does for its members, but in what members do for each other and the collective.
Between August and October, engagement across the network remained remarkably high. Members consistently showed up - attending group events, participating in one-on-one interactions, and contributing to the organizational infrastructure in ways that signal genuine commitment rather than passive membership. The level of participation reflects a network where developers aren't just receiving support, but actively investing in the collective success that makes individual progress possible.
As participation increased, so did the ways members stepped forward to strengthen the ecosystem—translating engagement into tangible contributions that support the whole network.
Lyle Crews and Jasmyn Jefferson helped shape practical frameworks for approaching pre-sales, giving members clearer steps and templates to manage early buyer interest with more confidence.
India Clark and Kevin Othieno are serving as 1DROP’s first residents through the Salishan–Hillside partnership, gaining hands-on exposure to a 316-unit renovation learning bid structures, contractor outreach, and real-world scope development.
Loundyne Hare continued supporting members with financial modeling and acquisition analysis, turning complex underwriting into tools that make evaluating deals more approachable.
Nicole Remy strengthened 1DROP’s marketing and social media presence, shaping brand guidelines and building content systems that elevate member visibility.
Ashley Gallacher participated in feedback sessions that helped refine membership criteria and clarify how opportunities are shared across the network.
Individual milestones further demonstrated the network's forward movement. Jeremy Rubin received his first building permits, moving from planning into active construction. Haile Itref completed and sold three new units, executing on market opportunities with speed and precision. Michael Hopkins completed and sold the remaining 4 units of his 9-unit development in West Tacoma (with 8 more units approaching completion). Rasheed Thompson and Kiara Daniels each secured project funding—critical financial commitments that enable developers to move from underwritten deals to breaking ground.
These achievements represent different stages of the development cycle, yet they share a common thread: members translating preparation into tangible progress.
This momentum continued as the network welcomed seven new developers:
Progress Across the Pipeline
The collective impact of this work shows up in the numbers. Across the network, 1,286 units now sit in the development pipeline spanning 32 member-led projects - a reflection of both scale and distributed capacity. Units under construction increased by 17%, signaling that projects are moving from planning stages into the ground.
With a 1DROP target of 2,750 member-built units by 2030, we are already 47% of the way toward that goal - a clear indicator that our model is working and our momentum is accelerating.
The quarter also celebrated four recent ribbon cuttings, marking the completion of 51 new homes:
Lakewood Station (June 27): 15 units
Dominique Remy - General Contractor
Birds Mill (August 14): 16
Claude Remy - Lead Developer
Rasheed Thompson – Co-Developer
Reggie Brown and Chris Brown - Mentors
Dominique Remy - Project Manager
Caleb Repp – Construction Resident
Ruth's Landing (September 4): 10
Christopher Brown - Lead Developer
Reggie Brown - Mentor
Veya (September 16): 10
Reggie Brown - Lead Developer
Lexie Brown - Project manager
These completions represent housing that expands options for residents, builds intergenerational wealth for developers, and strengthens the communities where they're located.
The Road Ahead
2026 lies ahead with clearer alignment, deeper technical knowledge, and a network that continues to prove its capacity. The work of reshaping development in the Puget Sound region requires more than individual ambition—it demands infrastructure, shared learning, and developers willing to lead by contributing to the collective.
1DROP's Fall Convening reinforced that this approach works. When underrepresented developers gain access to strategic knowledge, build authentic partnerships, and operate within systems designed for accountability rather than extraction, they deliver. The projects get built. The housing gets created. The wealth gets generated.
What started as a vision is now becoming reality - one permit, one closing, one ribbon cutting at a time.
Together, we’re building homes for good.
About 1DROP
1DROP is a collective of underrepresented real estate developers addressing the Puget Sound housing crisis. We are committed to empowering underrepresented developers to build housing for all wages, all stages, and all ages while growing access to generational wealth.
1DROP achieves its mission by, externally:
Advocating for funding for underrepresented developers and their projects.
Advocating for policy solutions that enable more housing.
And internally by providing:
Apprenticeships for aspiring underrepresented developers.
Co-development for emerging underrepresented developers.
Mentorship, networking, resources and support services for all underrepresented developers.
For those inspired to learn more or get involved in supporting equitable housing, visit 1DROP's website to explore our initiatives and join us in making an impact.
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