Tag Archives: Executive

Bond Bread Project Received Approval by Historic Preservation Review Board 

Reported onOctober 14, 2022 By The Menkiti Group

The Menkiti Group | 3401 8th Street NE | Washington | DC 20017

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The redevelopment of the 2.2-acre Bond Bread Factory / WRECO Garage site at Howard University received unanimous approval by the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) on Thursday, September 29, 2022. Redevelopment of Bond Bread/WRECO will be led by a master development team consisting of DC-based developers The Menkiti Group, Fivesquares Development, and EDENS. The project advances the guiding principles of the Duke District Plan, with an intention to emphasize the centrality of a “university district” to the future of the neighborhood and position that district as a dynamic, mixed-use area. With this approval, the project can move forward with design and permitting.

Bond Bread Project Rendering, Corner of U Street and V Street | Studios Architecture
Bond Bread Project Rendering, Corner of U Street and V Street | Studios Architecture

“Urban transformation is about so much more than bricks and mortar; it is also about the intangible and how well a project preserves and transforms the identity of the community. For me, this project is deeply personal as a local Black developer and real estate professional who has spent the last two decades building an organization in the District that is focused on transforming lives, careers, and communities through real estate,” said Bo Menkiti, Founder & CEO of The Menkiti Group.

“I have witnessed firsthand the power and impact of being able to incorporate both the cultural history and the restoration of historic buildings into transformative new developments. I am truly honored to have our firm leading this special project in partnership with Howard University and alongside our fellow developers at Fivesquares and EDENS. Together we share a collective vision and goal of preserving the history of the Bond Bread and WRECO buildings as well as reconnecting the community to its cultural history.”

The vision for the project is to enhance the cultural heritage and character of DC, the historic Shaw, Pleasant Plains and LeDroit park neighborhoods, and Howard University. The 9-story redevelopment, designed by Studios Architecture, includes 469 residential units, a 180-room lifestyle hotel, 50,100 SF of retail space, and a 19,800 SF open public courtyard with the historical truss reveal of the former WRECO bus garage. Façade retention of the two historic buildings will seek to respect the scale of the neighborhood while creating a harmonizing blend between preservation of existing design and contemporary design. By creating a vital neighborhood center, the development team aims to highlight the inextricable link to Howard University and will ensure the project reflects the culture and character of the University, the neighborhood and its history, and the surrounding community.

“This project will be the 18-hour, destination anchor for what is emerging as one of the most exciting districts in Washington DC where Howard University and the city come together in a new vibrant central square,” said Andy Altman, Principal & Co-Founder of FIVESQUARES. “As the former planning director for the city, it is especially rewarding to partner with the talented team of The Menkiti Group and EDENS to bring a community vision generated over a decade ago to life.”

In late 2017 Howard University released a highly competitive developer selection process which received more than 20 responses to its Request for Qualifications. After careful review and deliberation, Howard selected a development team comprised of diverse, locally based, locally operated experts in the areas of neighborhood building, retail development, and multi-family housing.

“Receiving this approval represents a critical next step in enhancing Howard University’s strategic efforts to energize and revitalize the community surrounding our campus,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The Bond Bread Partnership has enabled us to move forward with this development that will enhance the Shaw and Pleasant Plains neighborhood and create value for D.C. residents and businesses, while respecting the historic structures on this site.”

The Bond Bread Partnership comprised of The Menkiti Group, Fivesquares, and EDENS has defined their vision for this project as one that focuses on maximizing the benefits to the university as well as the neighboring communities. Together they are committed to reinforcing and expressing Howard’s historical legacy as a world-class and globally significant institution by defining the urban gateway of Georgia Avenue as a dynamic entrance to the university as it meets the city and dynamic surrounding neighborhoods.

“In repurposing this historic project, we acknowledge that these two landmarks have witnessed significant cultural shifts while embracing the nuances of their own stories – a time where one building fed the city and the other serviced the buses at Howard University’s front door,” said Steve Boyle, Chief Development Officer at EDENS. “Without diminishing the heritage of this site, we reflected on how the revitalization could lead the dialogue of the past, present, and future while continuing the interwoven story of service and legacy on the Georgia Ave corridor. The design of this emblematic project required active listening and discovery to craft a cohesive tapestry that amplifies the stories and voices of today while allowing for future stories to be told.”

The current design concept seeks to open up the site through various connections from W to V Street as well as a passageway through Georgia Avenue. The project design encourages and invites the local community to experience the robust programming and gather in a courtyard steeped in historical expressions of art, poetry, and literature of the neighborhood.

“We believe deeply in the power of preserving the cultural history and legacy of a place, and that is evident in the plan we are committed to executing.” said Bo Menkiti. “When this site is effectively preserved and carried forward into the future, we know it has the potential to be one of the great iconic sites in the city that will be a feature of the neighborhood and Howard University’s historical identity, as well as a beacon to their future impact.”

About The Menkiti Group

Founded in 2004, The Menkiti Group is a 100% minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Menkiti Group is an integrated real estate services company focused on a double bottom line, measuring success in terms of positive social impact and financial returns. The company was founded with the mission to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate, and they are committed to driving neighborhood impact and engaging in communities with a long-term lens. Their focuses include urban investment, residential and commercial development, residential sales, and a commercial brokerage.

The company’s approach to urban neighborhood transformation and investment is centered upon partnerships with capital investors, local developers, community stakeholders, and small business owners to create thriving urban spaces that drive sustainable neighborhood impact and produce economic growth. The enterprise is dedicated to making smart investments in neighborhoods that are often on the “other side of perception,” to directly impact community vitality. Projects range from residential renovations and the development and tenanting of main street commercial properties to large-scale, mixed-use, transit-oriented development projects. 

Over the past 18 years, The Menkiti Group has invested over $350MM in emerging urban neighborhoods, worked on the development of over 3MM SF of real estate, and has assisted over 2,000 families in purchasing their first homes. For more information, please visit menkitigroup.com or call (202) 733-5455.

SOURCE The Menkiti Group

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Keller Williams Capital Properties (KWCP) and The Menkiti Group Welcomes Simon Frewer as the New President of Home Services 

Reported on August 17, 2022 By The Menkiti Group

The Menkiti Group | 3401 8th Street NE | Washington | DC 20017

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — One of the nation’s fastest growing and most innovative real estate companies is proud to announce Simon Frewer, as the President of Home Services. Mr. Frewer joins the executive team at KWCP and The Menkiti Group to lead KWCP’s growth strategy and to integrate their world-class real estate brokerage with an expanding ecosystem of real estate service partners, all supported by integrated technology. In this new role, Mr. Frewer, who brings with him a long and impressive track record of leading tech-enabled service businesses, will lead the teams focused on empowering agents to deliver the Power of Home™. KWCP’s Power of Home value proposition is a highly differentiated, customer-centric approach that unlocks value for consumers throughout the homeownership-lifecycle.

“I am thrilled to have Simon leading the charge in our next evolution of growth as we focus on building and delivering the broader real estate platform of the future,” said Bo Menkiti, Founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group and KWCP. “His background makes him the ideal person to help us grow and fulfill our mission of transforming lives, careers, and communities through real estate by empowering agent entrepreneurs to deliver the Power of Home to the clients and communities they serve.”

The addition of Mr. Frewer provides an opportunity for the enterprise to further establish itself as a leader in the real estate services space and to partner with innovative and cutting-edge companies already focusing on delivering elements of the Power of Home platform to consumers.

“I’ve been so impressed by this company’s journey to date, and I couldn’t be more excited to lead the Home Services division as we empower our agents to deliver the Power of Home to their customers, and to continue to build the agent and brokerage experience of the future as our industry continues to evolve,” said Simon Frewer, President of Home Services. “Over the course of my career, I have been privileged to lead high growth companies that have disrupted the industries they play in, and I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to join this great organization to do that once again.”

Mr. Frewer is an experienced senior executive with an impressive record of building businesses and leading great teams through times of transition. He has held the CEO, COO, and President roles at several globally renowned companies, where he led through times of incredible growth and change. As the CEO of Challenger, he helped transform modern B2B selling as we know it, helping some of the world’s best companies grow via sales force optimization, business process design, leadership development, and evolving the customer experience. Most recently, Mr. Frewer was the President of DLP Capital, an innovative real-estate investment fund and real estate development company. At DLP, he led new divisions that supported real estate developers and investors via software, membership, training, and event-based products. 

“This is an exciting and transformative time for all of us at KWCP and The Menkiti Group as we focus on the future of the real estate industry and we are proud to have Simon leading our efforts to deliver the Power of Home,” said Kymber Menkiti, President of KWCP. “He has quickly become an integral part of our team and I look forward to seeing our continued growth and innovation with Simon at the helm.”

By expanding their Home Services division, the enterprise is formalizing their commitment to delivering the Power of Home to consumers while keeping agents at the center of the transaction. As they concentrate on national expansion and innovation, they are aggressively recruiting and developing talent. Mr. Frewer joins a team of established leaders which includes Bryan Felder, Vice President of Core Services and Marriah Unruh, GM & Area Director of KWCP.

About The Menkiti Group:

Founded in 2004, The Menkiti Group is a 100% minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional offices in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Menkiti Group is an integrated real estate services company focused on a double bottom line, measuring success in terms of positive social impact and financial returns. The company was founded with the mission to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate, and is committed to driving impact by empowering agent entrepreneurs to deliver the Power of Home™ to the clients and communities they serve, and by transforming urban neighborhoods through its award-winning capital, development, and asset management platforms.

The company’s approach to delivering the Power of Home is centered on building an integrated home services platform that provides agent entrepreneurs with the products, tools, technology, training, and support they need to build successful local businesses that drive impact for the clients they serve. The company’s tech enabled verticals include brokerage, title, mortgage, insurance, a consumer home management portal, and concierge home renovation services. 

Over the past 18 years, The Menkiti Group has invested over $350MM in emerging urban neighborhoods, worked on the development of over 3MM SF of real estate, and has assisted over 2,000 families in purchasing their first homes. For more information, please visit menkitigroup.com or call (202) 733-5455.

About Keller Williams Capital Properties

Keller Williams Capital Properties (KWCP), The Menkiti Group’s residential brokerage arm, continues its trajectory of growth, breaking multiple records in 2021. To date, KWCP stands out as one of the fastest-growing Keller Williams Realty International brokerages ranking in the Top 20 of all KW franchises. This year, KWCP set new internal benchmarks for future growth, exceeding $3.15B in total sales volume, serving nearly 7K families, generating over $80MM in revenue, and sharing nearly $1MM in profit back to its agents who contributed to the company’s growth.

KWCP has been honored seven times by the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City as one of America’s fastest-growing companies, placing the company in the ICIC Hall of Fame. In Spring of 2022, KWCP was ranked #6 in the Washington Business Journal’s List of the Largest Companies Owned by People of Color in Greater D.C. KWCP remains relentless in its pursuit to transform lives, careers, and communities through real estate. Through a constantly expanding diverse and talented team, KWCP successfully delivers on their commitment to provide outstanding client service while making a purposeful impact on our neighborhoods and deliberate difference within the communities we serve. As KWCP continues its growth, so does its Agent Entrepreneurs; with 100+ individual agents, teams & groups increasing their business over 20% year-over-year!

SOURCE The Menkiti Group

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