Welcome to the digital lair of
This is where we make Alon sound more interesting than he actually is. However, we’ve got to admit, moving from Malibu’s sandy shores to the vibrant streets of New Orleans, his journey has been anything but ordinary.
By day, he runs Urban Conversions, where his company turns old spaces into something worth talking about. (Think of it as Extreme Makeover, but with more dust and fewer tears.)
By night, he moonlights as a professor and a composer, molding young minds and crafting melodies that tell stories.
But wait, there’s more…
Whimsical escapades, like turning his cars into Batmobiles to cheer up sick kids, with his dogs donning Batman and Robin capes. When he's not visiting hospitals, he's making mini remote-controlled parade floats for his pups, because everyone needs a sprinkle of whimsy. Alon is such a film buff that he writes business books that come with a side of popcorn. And in his "spare" time, he's developing a tech app to helps people get along. Multi-tasking much?
He’s not a guru, a visionary, or any other buzzword that makes him sound more important than he is. What you will find here is a spotlight shines on the eclectic mix of adventures and passions that make up his life.
Dive in and explore the multifaceted world of a man who believes that life is too short to stick to one script.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Ah, awards. Those lovely dust-collectors that validate all the hours spent in meetings, on calls, and pretending to be interested in "synergy." Over the years, Alon’s accumulated a nice little collection that proves one thing: he’s mastered the art of looking busy and important.
Of course, Alon's award-winning streak started much earlier. Take his third-grade triumph at the Mench Awards at Solomon Specter Day School, for instance. For those not in the know, "Mench" is Yiddish for a person of integrity and honor. In third grade, this basically meant he didn't push anyone off the swings and shared his crayons.
Fast forward to his late 20s, and Alon was still collecting accolades. The Philadelphia Business Journal gave him a shiny plaque as one of their “40 Under 40,” which I assure you wasn’t just a ploy to get a free dinner (though the dessert was pretty good). These awards celebrate young professionals who are not only rocking their industries but also making their communities better places to live. So, basically, they thought Alon was the bee's knees long before he convinced people to pay him for his ideas. Frankly, when we asked Alon to comment about this accolade, he just insisted that “these days he just wishes he was under 40.”
And the awards didn’t stop there. Years later, when Alon started his own company, he was nationally recognized by the Entrepreneur Organization (EO) as a recipient of the Agent of Change award and EO’s NYC Chapter Rockies Award for Innovation.
Then there's his crowning achievement: winning the Howl-O-Weenie dog costume contest at Dat Dog hot dog restaurant in 2023. The prize? A $15 hot dog and a spot in the local paper. (His mother was prouder of that win than his graduate degree.)
Urban Conversions' trophy case is basically a shrine to Alon’s awesomeness. At this point, they could use the awards to construct a replica of the Eiffel Tower. Here are a few of the most recent additions:
Paper Factory Lofts:
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Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance at the 2024 Preservation Achievement Awards
Yarn Factory Lofts:
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Finalist for the 2019 Rouse Awards for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute (ULI)
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2019 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards - Construction Project Awards for Rehabilitation from Preservation Pennsylvania
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The Most Unique Historic Preservation/Renovation Project of 2018 from the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal
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The Best Developers Top Project of 2018 from the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal
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The Most Significant/Unique Multifamily Rental Project of 2018 from the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal
Sanctuary Lofts:
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2015 Preservation Achievement Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance
So yeah, these awards are great conversation starters at parties and make for excellent paperweights. There was a time when he used to look up to getting these awards like they were the Holy Grail, but now they're just a reminder that he should probably dust his office more often. But honestly, the real prize for Alon is knowing that he has managed to navigate this crazy world of real estate development without losing his mind.
In the end, Alon says it’s not about the awards, but about the journey—and the free hors d’oeuvres.
DESIGNER / DEVELOPER
Alon Barzilay is many things. Human, obviously. Half-visionary, half-outlaw, one-third bat, and five-eighths bleeding heart in skin form. And sure, you might say, that math doesn’t make any sense. YOU DON’T MAKE ANY SENSE! Alon doesn’t abide by PEMDAS. Get over it. This isn’t about you.
Through his city-transformative real estate development company, Urban Conversions, Alon gives historic buildings a second chance at life. So, naturally you wonder, “Does that make Alon Barzilay the Sarah McLachlan for cultural landmarks?”, when you really should be asking, “Is it true he can hear the high-rises cry?” Yes. They’re very loud. Unlike those heartless Ikeas. When not saving beloved churches from the disembowelment of boring architecture, Alon can be found producing movies, writing books, composing plays, or creating apps. For. Your. Phone. Not everything is about Chili’s. So, think of him as a high-powered idea generator. A material machine. A content… creator. No, definitely not that. Some say (the school directory) that Alon is a college professor at Tulane University and a public speaker with a 9.4 rating from Entrepreneurs’ Organization. Rumor is, Alon donated .6 of his rating to Eckhart Tolle to squash their longstanding beef.
Alon Barzilay’s personal life tends to flow from wherever his heart strings are being pulled; like some sort of pulmonary Pinocchio. And his heart wanted him in New Orleans to finish writing his magnum opus – a comedic musical. So, Alon traded the sun and sand of Malibu for the sin and soul of the Big Easy. But did his heart pay the moving costs? Of course it didn’t. “Must be nice,” said the lower back. All of this to say, the dilemma of having expertise is that often we are expected to have all the answers. That’s what Alon figured out when his professional career was well underway. But just when most people stick to what they know, his penchant for learning and doing new things drove him to take a deep dive in a wide variety of passions. Hence, New Orleans. Hence, the play. Hence, why you’re here for whatever weird reason. Alon Barzilay is very much a man of passion. A man of many skills. With endless, childlike curiosity. And a beating heart at the center of it all. “And with a ton of help from the lower back,” said one anonymous source. He is also the proud father to two beautiful mini greyhounds won’t stop quoting “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” WE’RE NOT SURE WHY AND WE CAN’T FIX IT!
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COMING SOON - FUR BABY CAFE
Fur Baby Cafe is the newest pet-friendly hotspot opening soon in Uptown New Orleans at 4826 Magazine Street. This unique café will offer a cozy space for coffee lovers and dog enthusiasts alike, featuring a menu of delicious treats for both humans and their furry companions. In addition to its café, Fur Baby Cafe will boast a private dog park where pets can roam and play safely. The venue will also host fun events, creating a welcoming community space for locals and their pets. It's set to be a must-visit destination for New Orleans pet owners!