Three named to Shenehon Center’s MN Real Estate Hall of Fame

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Three more leaders in the Minnesota real estate industry are being added to the Minnesota Real Estate Hall of Fame, which was established by the Shenehon Center for Real Estate at the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.  The 2016 inductees are developer Fred Wall, broker Walter Nelson and real estate attorney Mark Westra. Hall of Fame members are selected for their outstanding business performance, high standard of ethics, and activities in the community.

Fred Wall launched his career at the Spring Co., the most prominent residential real estate company in the Twin Cities at the time, and he was quickly promoted to sales manager. From there, Wall co-founded Wall-Martin Co. and Norse Realty, and later founded WallCo.  Wall’s real estate accomplishments included owning and renovating the Foshay Tower, and partnering with Trammel Crow Co. to develop the Normandale Office Park in Bloomington. His community involvement includes supporting the United Way and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, plus leading community outreach through the Fred and Alice Wall Family Foundation.

Walter Nelson’s career spanned 56 years at the Eberhardt Co., a Minneapolis real estate advisory firm. He joined the firm in 1939 and purchased the company in 1951 after Alex Eberhardt’s death, serving as president until 1976.  Nelson remained chairman of the board until 1995.  His contributions to the community include volunteer leadership positions:  director of the Minneapolis YMCA and president of the Minneapolis Downtown Council.  Nelson was president of the Mortgage Bankers Association of America in 1959 and received the Association’s Distinguished Service Award. He has also been a director at several mortgage and real estate related companies.

Mark Westra has been a leading commercial real estate attorney in the Twin Cities since 1975.  He’s been involved in hundreds of local real estate projects and has represented some of the largest lenders, developers, owners and investors in the Twin Cities.  A longtime partner at Fabyanske, Westra, Hart and Thompson, Westra’s expertise included real estate finance, zoning, land use, and leasing.  Westra has served as an instructor at Hamline Law School and has mentored many real estate attorneys in the Twin Cities area.