William Haygood, Managing Partner, Boundary Street Advisors
In an interview with Invest:, William Haygood, partner at commercial real estate firm Boundary Street Advisors, emphasized “purposeful development” amid market uncertainty, highlighting the firm’s upcoming luxury residential development in Charlotte’s historic Wilmore neighborhood as an example of thoughtful urban infill investment. He sees opportunity in Charlotte’s east-west growth corridors and remains committed to community-driven, long-term investment. “In this climate, we’re focused on providing all the necessary information to our clients while staying cautiously optimistic,” Haygood added.
What trends have had the biggest impact on your strategy over the past 12 to 18 months?
The biggest trend we’ve seen lately is uncertainty. That’s what it has been. In this climate, we’re focused on providing all the necessary information to our clients while staying cautiously optimistic. We know projects can be delayed, funding can fall through, and clients might hesitate. It could be due to tariffs, interest rates, or any number of other macroeconomic factors.
People are hesitant to dip their toes in, and then all of a sudden, they’re ready to jump all in. So we need to stay prepared. We’ve been riding that wave, doing the work, staying ready, and helping our clients move forward when the time is right. That has been our approach.
Why is Charlotte the right home base for your firm, and how does the city give you a competitive edge?
I’m biased since I was born and raised in Charlotte, but it is a great place to do business. It’s a city that’s still figuring itself out, always evolving to meet the demands of the people moving here. Geographically, it’s perfectly positioned.
The airport plays a huge role in that. It’s such a valuable asset for business travel and accessibility. I’ve even had clients from Australia mention how easy it is to get to Europe from here, which you wouldn’t necessarily expect, but it’s true.
Then there’s the city itself. There’s a real charm to Charlotte: the warmth, the friendliness, the way people acknowledge you. It has that Southern feel. We’re not rural, but we are Southern, and I take pride in that. You can feel it if you live here. My clients feel it. My employees who’ve relocated feel it. My wife, who’s from New Jersey, definitely feels it. Charlotte gives you that “this is home” feeling. A lot of people move here and never leave.
How would you describe the sentiment in Charlotte’s construction and development market?
We have several developments about to come out of the ground, and that’s going to fuel growth on the development side of our business. Development is the culmination of everything: real estate, construction, financing, and design. For the past seven years, we’ve been laying the groundwork by building experience as partners, principals, and brokers. Now those experiences are allowing us to move the ball forward. “Purposeful development” is a phrase we use a lot. People are starting to see what that means in practice. These are higher-risk projects, but they also come with higher rewards. That’s the part of the business we want to be in.
Where do you see the greatest need for development in Charlotte? How are you approaching “purposeful development?”
Charlotte’s biggest opportunity lies in expanding east and west, rather than the traditional north-south growth. There are corridors of opportunity in those directions, areas that are historically underutilized or underdeveloped, but they’re close to everything.
Proximity matters. Even if a neighborhood isn’t where someone initially thought they wanted to be, the access and traffic flow often lead them through these areas anyway. That creates opportunity. We want to bring services and energy into those areas.
I’m especially focused on retail and housing. I’m also an infill guy. I don’t want to be in the suburbs. I believe in doubling down on urban commercial real estate. That’s how we maximize what Charlotte can be. Of course, that comes with challenges — traffic, parking, infrastructure — but that’s the nature of becoming an urban destination.
The city has to continue supporting that growth with smart, flexible policies. The Unified Development Ordinance is a step in the right direction. We need zoning that supports walkability and density, but without outdated parking minimums that make these projects impossible. We’re targeting infill pockets across the city, and there’s enough opportunity for everyone.
How does your Wilmore development project reflect Boundary Street Advisors’ approach to purposeful development?
Our Wilmore development is a great example of what purposeful development means to us. Rather than pursuing projects simply because they offer the highest return, we’re focused on creating developments that fit the character of the neighborhood while adding long-term value to the community. The project consists of luxury duets for rent in Charlotte’s historic Wilmore neighborhood, just outside South End. Like many infill developments, the project comes with its own challenges. Historic district requirements, entitlement work, and thoughtful design all require patience and collaboration. But those are the kinds of projects we enjoy because they demand creativity and produce something lasting.
This project is especially meaningful because we are partnering with a local family that has owned the property for years. Rather than simply selling the land, the family is taking a long-term approach by participating in its development, creating an opportunity to build generational wealth and establish a lasting legacy. Helping property owners realize their land’s full potential in a way that benefits both their family and the surrounding community is exactly the kind of work we want to be part of.
How are you approaching talent recruitment and retention in today’s competitive environment?
We’re fortunate to have the team we have. With hiring, I view it as a two-way interview. Candidates are deciding where they want to spend most of their waking hours and who they want to build with. That matters.
My background in recruiting and consulting plays into it. Our recent hires were intentional. I pursued them because I believed in the cultural fit and in their experience. We’ve brought in professionals from major global firms who see that we offer something different.
We treat our people like family. That starts with my partner, Rodney, and me. We’ve built a culture where people are supported and valued. One of my proudest moments was having employees’ family members join the firm. That speaks volumes.
We’ve also made a point to focus on employee satisfaction. I took part in an executive program at Dartmouth, where we discussed how happy employees lead to happy clients. We took that to heart. We’ve created internal groups that focus on process improvement, education, and technology. We empower our team to grow, take ownership, and solve problems. Everyone wins when that happens.
How has your use of technology evolved, and what kind of return are you seeing from those investments?
I’ll admit, I was a bit old-school when it came to AI. But it hit me that if I didn’t embrace it, I might be replaced by it. Since then, we’ve leaned into using technology wherever it can make us stronger and more efficient.
We’ve expanded the use of the platforms we already had, explored add-ons, and integrated tools to create a smoother, more streamlined experience. That’s helped a lot with how we operate in the field and how quickly we can move.
Our communications manager has been instrumental in bringing those ideas to life. And our team continues to suggest tools and improvements. Real estate hasn’t always been the fastest to adopt technology, but we’re committed to staying ahead.
What are your top priorities for the next two to three years, and how would you describe your outlook for the business?
Our priorities are to continue building assets that enhance our portfolio and to work with clients who invest in us as we invest in them. We also want to keep supporting small and local businesses. That’s something we believe in. Small business drives the economy, especially here in Charlotte.
As for the outlook, we’re cautiously optimistic. With 135 people moving here every day, it’s hard not to be. But we don’t take it for granted. The city’s plans around transportation are spot-on, and we’re moving in the right direction to support long-term growth. I think Charlotte is going to keep pushing forward. At least I pray it does.
