Tag Archives: Real Estate Developer

The Menkiti Group Breaks Ground on Historic Project in Anacostia

January 8, 2020

MLK Gateway to serve as a new epicenter of commerce, culture and technology with a vibrant mix of neighborhood-serving retail

by. Maya Nadeem | Maya@menkitigroup.com

Photo Credit to Khalid Naji‐Allah — Bo Menkiti, founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group (right), is joined by Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Antwanye Ford, president and CEO of Enlightened Inc., at the MLK Gateway Groundbreaking Celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Menkiti Group was joined by Mayor Muriel Bowser and city officials Wednesday to celebrate the groundbreaking of the first phase of the MLK Gateway, a project being developed by The Menkiti Group and Enlightened Inc. in partnership as MLK Gateway Partners LLC (MGP). Located at the corner of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, MLK Gateway will become a catalytic center of commerce, driving economic opportunity in the heart of historic Anacostia.

“We are excited about returning Good Hope Road and MLK to the center of commerce in historic Anacostia. We believe this project is an innovative example of community-led participative development and serves as a model for how the public and private sectors can collaborate to drive neighborhood impact,” said Bo Menkiti, founder and chief executive officer, The Menkiti Group.

Phase One of the project includes a mix of uses and features the restoration of 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail as well as 20,000 square feet of newly built office space. The project is anchored by Enlightened Inc., award-winning minority-owned information technology and cybersecurity firm that will relocate its nearly 150 district-based employees to a new headquarters at MLK Gateway. The building’s design embraces and incorporates the site’s existing historic facades and is a rich backdrop for new vibrant street-fronting retail.

“We are proud to be a part of the MLK Gateway Partners and to be a change agent for tech innovation, job creation and economic development for small businesses in Anacostia and beyond,” said Antwanye Ford, president, and chief executive officer, Enlightened Inc.

Phase Two of the project will include the construction of a new building at 1909-1913 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE with street-level retail and multistory office space above.

“Today, we are continuing the transformation of this historic neighborhood by revitalizing the gateway of the Anacostia business area,” said Mayor Bowser. “My Administration never gave up on this project because we know it will help us bring jobs, housing, and new amenities to Ward 8. We thank all of our community and private sector partners for making this project a reality.”

The Menkiti Group’s engagement around the community’s vision for equitable and sustainable economic development began over four years ago. Through meetings with dozens of community groups, The Menkiti Group was able to gain a greater understanding of the assets and needs of neighborhood residents and business owners. The long-standing vacant site houses two lots and four storefronts that will transform into retail, restaurant and incubator space to support local small businesses. Neighborhood-serving retail will provide a vibrant tenant mix and activate the site for the greater part of the day as well as provide jobs and pathways to opportunity for Ward 8 residents and businesses.

“MLK Gateway demonstrates what we can deliver when the public and private sectors work together to make big, strategic investments and use new tools like Opportunity Zones to support existing communities,” said John Falcicchio, interim deputy mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

“We look forward to bringing this historic corner of the Anacostia business center back to life again.”

The MLK Gateway is a model for public and private collaboration with partners including The Menkiti Group, Enlightened Inc., the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), PNC Bank, RMS Investment Group and City First Bank of DC.

The project was financed using a combination of $4.25 million in New Market Tax Credits and $3.3 million in Opportunity Zone funding, grant funding and senior debt. The Project is the first in the country to deploy a combination of both Opportunity Zone funding and New Market Tax Credit. The project also received a $700,000 grant from DMPED’s Neighborhood Prosperity Fund. Hickok Cole is the project architect and Consigli Construction Co., Inc. will serve as the general contractor.

The MLK Gateway project will stimulate sustainable economic impact in Ward 8. Enlightened Inc. will become the largest private technology employer to move east of the Anacostia River in four decades, further accelerating job growth in Historic Anacostia. Enlightened Inc. also plans to launch a technology incubator to groom growing tech firms to do business with the federal government and will run a cybersecurity training program to enable local residents to gain marketable information technology skills. MLK Gateway will be developed and owned by a 100% DC-based local minority-owned Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) team comprised of The Menkiti Group and Enlightened Inc.

“The MLK Gateway project is an example of what is possible when residents, the D.C. government and the private sector come together,” said Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie. “This project will not just revitalize this prominent intersection and gateway to Historic Anacostia, it will bring jobs with a new technology company, Enlightened Inc., and a small business incubator to provide training and expand residents’ access to greater economic opportunity.”

Bo Menkiti and The Menkiti Group were joined at Wednesday’s groundbreaking by Enlightened Inc. President and CEO Antwanye Ford, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Ward 5 Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development John Falcicchio and community members as well as representatives and partners of the project.

“It is in our company’s DNA to pursue our commitment to enhancing the fabric of life in America’s urban communities. We are honored to be standing today with others that share a similar commitment as we break ground on this project that brings to life the community’s vision for the future of the Anacostia neighborhood,” said Menkiti.

Reported on January 8th, 2020 | by Maya Nadeem | Contact 202.733.5456

Bo Menkiti Recognized as a RisMedia Real Estate Newsmaker

October 23, 2018

RISMedia has announced it has chosen Bo Menkiti as a member of the Class of 2019 Real Estate Newsmakers, which will be revealed in the December 2018 issue of RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine, and featured online at RISMedia.com.

RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers is an exclusive group of industry luminaries who have contributed in newsworthy ways to real estate. The 2019 Class was chosen by RISMedia editors for headline-making initiatives and successes, including, but not limited to:

Advancing the industry
Impacting change
Technology achievements
Diversity and inclusion
Business accomplishments and growth
Humanitarian efforts
Industry activism and support
Thought leadership and influence
Excellence in customer service
Creativity and innovation

“RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmaker Awards honor the industry’s real newsmakers—the people who are positively affecting our industry and the millions of consumers we serve,” says John Featherston, CEO and president of RISMedia. “Our industry promotes and provides consumers with a pathway to responsible homeownership. Over the past three-plus decades, RISMedia has covered, chronicled and celebrated the professionals making news in real estate, and we are honored to continue to formalize these honors with the 2019 annual RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker Awards.”

For More Information, visit RisMedia.com.

The Menkiti Group To Buy Worcester Building From MassDevelopment

October 17, 2018

From massdevelopment.com:

October 17, 2018

The Menkiti Group, through its subsidiary 526 Main Street Partners LLC, has executed a purchase and sale agreement with MassDevelopment to buy 526-538 Main Street in Worcester, the former Pawn Shop building that MassDevelopment bought last year through its Transformative Development Initiative (TDI) Equity Investment program. MassDevelopment purchased the building in 2017 and made façade improvements before soliciting interest from developers through an RFP process.

The Menkiti Group, an integrated real estate services company, submitted a comprehensive proposal to reactivate the building by providing opportunities for retail, arts, and cultural amenities that will reinforce the neighborhood’s identity as a destination for arts and entertainment. The sale is expected to close in spring 2019.

“Our anticipated purchase of 526-528 Main Street will add to The Menkiti Group’s growing portfolio of projects in the Worcester Theater District, and further demonstrates our commitment to that neighborhood and to its future,” said Bo Menkiti, Founder and CEO of The Menkiti Group. “We recognize the significant architectural, cultural, and educational community assets that are here, and we look forward to working with existing stakeholders, local creatives, and entrepreneurs to enhance and harness those assets to develop a thriving, diverse, and economically vibrant neighborhood.”

“The Menkiti Group has a strong presence here in Worcester’s TDI District and throughout the city, and is the right team to lead 526-538 Main Street into the next stage of development,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “MassDevelopment was proud to invest in this key property through our TDI Equity Investment program and we look forward to seeing this revitalized building breathe new life into downtown Worcester.”

The redevelopment of 526-538 Main Street, a two-story building located across the street from the Hanover Theatre and Conservatory in Worcester’s Theatre District, is critical to advancing the city’s vision for transforming its downtown. Following the departure of the Pawn Shop from the building in March 2018, 526-538 Main Street contains 8,000 square feet of vacant space on the building’s first floor and 8,400 square feet of vacant space on the building’s second floor. The Muse Bar, a contemporary bar established in 2015, occupies 1,000 square feet on the building’s first floor. Since MassDevelopment purchased the building in 2017, the Agency worked with the Theatre District Alliance to install new signage that visually improved the building and marketed the property.

“As our downtown revitalization efforts continue with a complete re-imagining of Main Street, reactivating this key property in our Theatre District is a vital piece of our overall development plan,” said City Manager Edward M. Augustus. “We thank MassDevelopment and the Menkiti Group for making this important project a reality through the TDI program.”

MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative is a program for Gateway Cities designed to accelerate economic growth within focused districts. The program works with cross-sector partnerships to engage community members in actionable planning, implement local economic development initiatives, and spur further public and private investment.

MassDevelopment uses its TDI Equity Investment program to make equity investments in properties with potential to spur transformative development in and around a TDI District. Through the program, MassDevelopment invests in near-term projects that will have significant economic impacts within a district; are consistent with Commonwealth and Agency priorities; engage and build capacity in local communities and partners; catalyze market demand and support district goals; and lack other sufficient funding sources to proceed.

Worcester is one of 10 Gateway Cities selected in 2014 to host pilot TDI Districts—along with Brockton, Everett, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Peabody, Pittsfield, Revere, and Springfield. As a part of the TDI program, each District receives a range of real estate development services to support local visions for redevelopment and to catalyze economic activity and investment. The vision for Worcester’s Theatre District is to become a bustling hub of cultural activity and entertainment within the downtown, leveraging institutional, residential, and commercial growth anchors to create a mixed-use neighborhood for residents and visitors alike to live, work, and play.

“The announcement of this sale is an exciting development in bolstering the great momentum that the Theatre District is currently witnessing,” said Craig Blais, President and CEO of the Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC). “This purchase is yet another example of MassDevelopment’s TDI investment programs and the indelible impact that they continue to have within the Theatre District. The 526 Main Street property has long been viewed as a distress property and the WBDC commends the Menkiti Group’s willingness to take on this difficult property. This complements our block by block strategy connecting CitySquare to Main Street.”

“The 526-538 Main Street building had been a real detractor to the area until MassDevelopment purchased it,” said Hanover Theatre President and CEO Troy Siebels. “We’re glad to see that they’ve identified a buyer in Menkiti Group that’s committed to using the building in a way that contributes positively to the theatre district.”

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, works with businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth. During FY2018, MassDevelopment financed or managed 384 projects generating investment of more than $4.1 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are estimated to create or support 10,994 jobs and build or rehabilitate 830 housing units.

Contact:
Kelsey Schiller, MassDevelopment
kschiller@massdevelopment.com
617-330-2011 & 617-694-9695 (cell)

Early Childhood Academy Public Charter School Breaks Ground

October 4, 2018

MAYOR BOWSER, THE MENKITI GROUP, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS CELEBRATE THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL

New Southeast school will provide a state-of-the-art, holistic learning environment for 300 young students

October 4, 2018, WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday Mayor Muriel Bowser joined The Menkiti Group and Early Childhood Academy Public Charter School to mark the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new 38,000 square foot state-of-the-art school building, slated to open in August 2019.

The new Early Childhood Academy (ECA) school building is located at 885 Barnaby Street, SE, and consists of a repurposed former church with a new, modern addition to bring the school’s learning, activity, music, administrative, and multi-purposes spaces all under one roof. The school currently operates from two disparate, non-school use centers on adjacent properties.

The project, which is being financed through a combination of ECA PCS funds, grant funding from the Office of the State Superintendent, DC Government facilities allotments, and federal New Markets Tax Credits, marks a milestone for new development in the Washington Highlands neighborhood. The deal was structured as a unique lease-to-own arrangement in which ECA PCS has acquired the site from The Menkiti Group to build equity for the future.

Mayor Muriel Bowser addressed the crowd of attendees from ECA, including members of the Board of Trustees, school administration, teachers, aides, students, parents, project stakeholders and partners, and members of the Washington Heights neighborhood by talking about the impact the new ECA will have on the community, stating “This is going to be the learning space and play space that the students, families, and staff at ECA deserve,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “When we invest in our school facilities, we’re investing in the future of our students and communities.”

In addition to Mayor Bowser, speakers included, Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White, Sr., Wendy Edwards, Executive Director of ECA, Dennis Sawyers, President of the Board for ECA, Thann Ingraham, Principal for ECA, and Mark Rengel, Menkiti Group VP of Development and Project Manager for the ECA project.

At the groundbreaking Menkiti Group Founder and CEO Bo Menkiti also addressed the crowd, offering his reflections on the project, stating: “The Menkiti Group is proud to have this opportunity to develop and deliver not just another transformative development project to the Washington, DC community, but one that truly exemplifies our mission of transforming lives, careers, and communities through real estate. We are particularly pleased that the new Early Childhood Academy will allow young students the opportunity to have a safe, holistic learning environment as soon as the doors open next year, and for many generations in this neighborhood to come.”

ECA Executive Director Wendy Edwards, who has been with ECA since 2005, the first year that the school was in operation, shared her thoughts on the milestone occasion: “After 14 years housed in two small community centers, we are thrilled that our students at Early Childhood Academy Public Charter School will start the 2019-2020 school year in the beautiful and spacious, brand new facility that they deserve.”

Many local organizations, financial institutions, and government leaders played a role in developing this project. Partners in the project include: DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education; Low Income Investment Fund; City First Bank; City First Enterprises; Chase Bank; United Bank; Industrial Bank; Cohn Reznick LLP; TenSquare; Cox Graae + Spack Architects; Meridian Construction; Built Environment Engineers; M.A. Design Group; Robert Silman Associates; DMY Capitol; A2 Services; Dan Triman, LEED AP+; CDKM Consulting; McKeever Services; New Columbia Solar, and DC SEU. Project progress is available at MenkitGroup.com/development.

The Menkiti Group Named One of the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Inner City Businesses

October 3, 2018

Washington, DC, October 3, 2018- The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced that The Menkiti Group has made the 2018 Inner City 100 list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in America, based on revenue growth. ICIC, a 25-year-old national nonprofit founded by Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter, promotes economic prosperity in America’s inner cities through private sector investment that leads to jobs, income and wealth creation for local residents.

The list was revealed at the 20^th Annual Inner City 100 Conference and Awards in Boston October 1-2. The full list is available on Fortune’s website. The Menkiti Group, led by CEO Bo Menkiti was ranked #93 based on its growth rate from 2013 to 2017 of 68.26% and 2017 revenue of $17,515,873.

2018 marked the 5^th appearance on the prestigious list for The Menkiti Group, placing the company into the ICIC fastest-growing companies Hall of Fame. Keller Williams Capital Properties was also ranked for a record 5^th appearance, this year at #92, which places the company into the Hall of Fame as well.

Said ICIC CEO Steve Grossman, “Inner City 100 companies are forces of economic opportunity, optimism and transformation in their communities. They lead the way in innovation, job creation and economic revitalization and it’s an honor to shine the spotlight on their leadership and accomplishments. In addition to excellence in business, these pioneering entrepreneurs have demonstrated a deep commitment to and passion for their communities, which significantly impact the wellbeing of their local economies”.

Now celebrating its 20^th year, ICIC’s Inner City 100 list has long celebrated urban entrepreneurship. Since its inception, ICIC’s list has recognized 975 companies, which have seen average growth rates of more than 400 percent during a five-year period and have collectively created more than 126,000 meaningful jobs in America’s distressed and underserved communities and neighborhoods. The Inner City 100 program opens doors for other budding urban entrepreneurs and stimulates inner city business development and job creation through recognition, networking and learning.

“These businesses and their owners are a testament to the impact innovation and entrepreneurship have had in rejuvenating urban areas across the U.S. Companies such as (COMPANY NAME) are experiencing revenue growth and increased investment, which are in turn creating more jobs and economic opportunity for citizens in the communities where these companies call home” said ICIC President and COO, Matt Camp.

2018 Inner City 100 by the numbers:

Average growth rate of 436 percent between 2013 and 2017
Represent 46 cities in 23 states
Employed 10,085 individuals in 2017
Created 5,516 new jobs in the last five years
On average, 36 percent of employees live in same neighborhood as the company.
Average company age is 15 years
Average 2016 revenue is $14.8 million
31 percent are women-led
38 percent are minority-led
Represent 26 industries

CEOs from the winning companies were invited to the Inner City 100 Conference and Awards, two days of robust networking opportunities and educational sessions led by Fortune 500 executives and academics from top-tier universities, including Harvard Business School. Past winners have reported connecting with multi-million dollar investors as a result of appearing on the Inner City 100 list and attending the Conference.

Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC)

ICIC is a national nonprofit founded by Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter. ICIC’s mission is to promote economic prosperity in America’s inner cities through private sector investment that leads to jobs, income and wealth creation for local residents. Through its research on inner city economies, ICIC provides businesses, governments and investors with the most comprehensive and actionable information in the field about urban market opportunities. The organization supports urban businesses through the Inner City 100, Inner City Capital Connections, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, and Santander Bank’s Cultivate Small Business program. Learn more at www.icic.org or @icicorg.

Capitol Vista Breaks Ground

September 25, 2018

As reported by the Executive Office of the Mayor on Tuesday, September 25, 2018:

“Today, Mayor Bowser broke ground on Capitol Vista, a 104-unit affordable housing community in the amenity-rich Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood in Ward 6. This groundbreaking follows recent affordable housing announcements by Mayor Bowser in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood, which include the grand opening of Plaza West, a 223-unit affordable housing community for seniors, families, and “grandfamilies,” and a groundbreaking on Liberty Place, an affordable housing project which will deliver permanent supportive housing units for those experiencing homelessness and units for veterans.

“As our city continues to grow and prosper, my Administration has remained laser-focused on ensuring residents of all backgrounds and income levels have access to safe and affordable places to live across all eight wards,” said Mayor Bowser. “Capitol Vista is an example of how we are meeting the diverse housing needs of Washingtonians and creating pathways to the middle class at the same time.”

Located at 810 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Capitol Vista will be comprised of 104 studio-, one-, and two-bedroom units for households earning up to 50 percent of the median family income (MFI) or $58,600 for a family of four. Capitol Vista will be a 100 percent affordable community with 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail and space for public art.

Capitol Vista is located in a transit-oriented, growing neighborhood within walking distance of four Metro stations and bus routes. It is also close to a grocery store, multiple places of worship, a library, recreation and restaurants, as well as downtown, employment centers and jobs.

Amenities for residents include a fitness center, conference room, clubroom, roof terrace, and bicycle parking.

The Capitol Vista affordable housing community was made possible through a collaboration of DC Government agencies, including the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development, the DC Housing Finance Agency, and DC Housing Authority. Voltron Community Partners comprised of Dantes Partners LLC, Spectrum Management LLC, The Menkiti Group and Bailey Real Estate Holdings, will develop the project.

Mayor Bowser has designated September 24 through October 1 as #RootstoRoofs Housing Week across DC. The Capitol Vista groundbreaking is one several events highlighting the Bowser Administration’s progress in providing all Washingtonians a fair shot by creating and preserving affordable housing. Since coming into office, the Bowser Administration has delivered 6,000 affordable units, with another 5,200 under construction.

At the event, the Mayor was joined by Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Brian Kenner and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen.”

Executive Office of the Mayor Newsroom

Learn more about Capitol Vista by visiting the project page.

Early Childhood Academy profiled in Commercial Observer

September 13, 2018

As reported by Christina Sturdivant-Sani of Commercial Observer on September 13, 2018:
“The Real Estate Struggle Is Real for DC Charter Schools”

“We’re incredibly excited to be able to bring a new building to this charter school serving very low-income students—it’s heavily aligned with our mission of transforming neighborhoods,” said Brian Burke, Executive Vice President at The Menkiti Group.

See the full Commercial Observer story here.

See our project page on the Early Childhood Academy PCS for more detail.

What’s Next After the Election? Bo Menkiti’s Perspective

November 9, 2016

Today in a special Washington Business Journal feature with other top Washington-area business leaders, The Menkiti Group CEO Bo Menkiti shared his perspsective on the potential impact of a Trump presidency for the regional business community.

In short, Bo’s perspective is that of any successful leader; that the long -term planning and visions that a company holds guide them through challenging and uncertain times.

“As a mission-based company fundamentally committed to a vision of America where communities are thriving, diverse, and economically vibrant, we naturally have concern about the impact of a change in administration on the regional economy and housing and economic policy.,” expressed Bo. “We plan to stay the course with our long-term growth strategy, and are parepared to take advantage of market opportunities should the economy shift.”

Read more of the reactions from Bo’s peers HERE.