Mr. Dowling is Co-Founder of CRS and Owner of Durham, NC-based 1st & Main Development. 1st & Main focuses primarily on urban, mixed-use projects involving public – private partnerships and unique financing techniques. Rory’s ability to leverage these innovative financing tools is a critical component to addressing the challenges of these projects and achieving positive results where others have failed. With over $90M in completed development to date and another $75M under development, 1st & Main's portfolio spans across several asset classes including mixed-use adaptive reuse, multi-family, retail, hospitality, townhomes, and a parking garage.  

 

Previously, as Development Advisor to the Development Finance Initiative (an extension of the UNC School of Government), Rory worked with local governments to achieve their downtown redevelopment goals. During his 10 years with DFI, Rory managed over $250M of redevelopment efforts including the adaptive reuse of three prominent historic structures, master developing 20-acres of riverfront property for a mixed-use town center, and the adaptive reuse of an historic black commercial corridor across the street from two HBCUs. Rory is a frequent lecturer at the UNC School of Government and is a Board Member with Preservation Durham.

 

Rory received a dual master’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill in Business and City & Regional Planning and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Washington & Lee University. He lives with his wife and two children in Durham, NC.

Mr. Brennan serves as President, Project Manager and Development Director on development, design and construction initiatives undertaken by his company, Brennan Works. His responsibilities include project creation, pre-development and development management, and ownership team representation. Development projects include multifamily, hospitality, retail, and office tenant up-fits, with a focus on historic revitalization, tax credit projects.
Understanding how to implement historic tax credits and state tax credits into real estate development projects has made Brennan Works’ focus on historic preservation through adaptive reuse a resource to local governments and property owners throughout South Carolina. 

His latest adaptive reuse developments include the Whaley House Apartments and Pickens Street Cottages in the heart of the USC campus, the Curtiss-Wright Hangar in Columbia (the home of Hunter-Gatherer Brewery), the Waikiki Village Apartments and the Holiday Shores (a retro motel) in Myrtle Beach, 3rd & Laurel Lofts in Conway, the newly renovated Clarendon County Department of Health building know as 3 South Church, and the recently completed Hursey-Nofal Lofts in Florence. Mr. Brennan’s real estate, design, and construction experience assists with his Project Management and Project Development initiatives. 

Will understands the importance of community partners and local government involvement to drive successful development projects. He has been very involved in public service and non-profit initiatives in the Midlands region of South Carolina. He attended NC State University in Raleigh, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Will lives in Columbia with his wife and two children.