This Is Reclamation: Inside GardnerGlobal’s Vision to Build Legacy Through Land
Based on an interview on Almost The Weekend with Besa Janay Gordon and Curtis Delgardo
Our story begins with memory.
At the corner of 23rd and Union in Seattle’s Central District, on land that once held Almost The Weekend’s Co-host Curtis Delgardo’s family church, a new story is rising. GardnerGlobal now owns both sides of the street. In place of what once was, a new vision is taking shape: an eight-story, mixed-income building with 117 units, more than a third reserved as affordable housing.
But housing alone was never the goal. We’re building an ecosystem. A cultural landmark. A future.
Walk with us.
Picture a luxury apartment building with a market-hall feel. On the street level, you’re grabbing a Seattle Sorbet or a Boon Boona Coffee. Upstairs, the rooftop bar hums with energy—espresso martinis, sunset on your skin, a cool breeze, and Kaytranada playing just loud enough to move you. The air is thick with conversation, laughter, and the scent of summer.
People are connecting. The city feels alive in a way it rarely does. That’s not an accident, it’s design.
This is development as storytelling. As belonging. As reclamation.
Because that’s what it’s always been about. Not just building on land, but restoring what was lost on it.
Across town in Skyway…
GardnerGlobal is reclaiming more than three acres of long-neglected land, now undergoing environmental cleanup in partnership with the Department of Ecology. But beneath the cleanup is something deeper: resurrection. On that soil, we’re crafting a town center. Think U Village, a neighborhood hub. A space for commerce, culture, and community.
This work doesn’t come easy.
Real estate development is no sprint. There’s no instant cash flow. No renters waiting. Just risk. Paperwork. Long nights. And the quiet burn of belief. That’s the currency of vision.
GardnerGlobal was never here for the easy wins. We’re here for the long game. Because legacy is the long game.
Every property we touch is studied not just for economic viability, but for cultural significance. We ask:
Who lived here?
Who got displaced?
What can we restore?
Our approach is intentional. Our mission is clear:
Build wealth.
Center community.
Leave something greater behind.
This isn’t nostalgia. This is sovereignty. It’s saying we are still here and we’re not waiting for permission to build.
GardnerGlobal is more than a real estate firm. It’s a belief system.
Born from grit and vision from gum-ball machines to multi-million-dollar developments. From kitchen table brainstorms to rooftop vibes humming with soul and possibility. We’ve been underestimated. Counted out. But never distracted.
Every deal we close, every foundation we pour, is a reminder:
We don’t just own property. We own our story.
And our ownership becomes a tool for restoration, celebration, and generational wealth.
This is what it means to build with purpose.
This is what it means to build with GardnerGlobal.
Watch the Interview: Almost The Weekend
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