Beyond the Building: Jason Bonnet on Collaboration, Culture, and Community (#141)

Icons of DC Area Real Estate · Nov 5, 2025 · 1h 58m

Bio

Jason Bonnet is Chief Development Officer at Essen, a next-generation development firm. Previously led East Coast Commercial Development for Brookfield Properties ($7B pipeline) and Forest City Realty Trust. Career spans $5B+ development: 4,000+ multifamily units, 1M sf office, 500K+ sf retail. Started Bonnet Development post-UNC. USC MRed, Harvard Business School alumnus.

Key Discussion Points

[00:00:09-00:04:24] Introduction: Background with Forest City, Brookfield, founding Esen.

[00:04:59-00:09:33] Esen Overview: Team of former Forest City/Brookfield executives. Large-scale mixed-use…