Thought Leadership

As home prices escalated, inventory shrank, and families sought more living space, communities of rental houses emerged as a growing option. Here’s why they appeal—and what you should know. When Pacific Coast Rentals broker-owner Elizabeth Campbell-Chase attended a lecture hosted by the California Association of REALTORS® five years ago, she learned about the advantages of…

The industry will see more economic challenges in 2023 but also new opportunities. A new year always means new opportunities for multifamily investors and developers. But this year begins with a set of challenges that were not present at the start of 2022. Rising interest rates, a slowing economy, and the impasse over pricing between…

The city of Oakland, California’s Community and Economic Development Committee is keeping a team of developers on the edge of their seats—again. On March 14, 2023, the committee was scheduled to vote on a resolution that would grant $18 million to Mandela Station, a 766-unit development project (including 240 affordable housing units) set for what…

There’s nothing like relaxing on a beach … in Paterson. Yes, the Passaic County city, 150-plus miles inland from the Jersey Shore, does have a beach — complete with sand, umbrellas and all. Blue Onyx Cos. and its founder and CEO, Levi Kelman, created the manmade “Paterson Beach” as part of its redevelopment of a 2-acre…

While tenants and investors have long been considered the primary stakeholders in residential development, another player is increasingly becoming a focal point, and it’s one developers have historically had a tense relationship with: the local community. Despite occasional town hall meetings and community engagement events to appease municipal concerns, communities have typically lacked an adequate…

The recent and rapid evolution and adoption of technology in the rental housing industry has created a stunning metamorphosis, bringing great benefit to owners, operators and residents alike. After lagging other industries in its embrace of technology, the rental housing industry is rapidly catching up. Results are transformative as owners, managers and residents benefit from…

This series gets into the heads of the decision-makers of CRE, the people shaping the industry by setting investment strategy, workplace design, diversity initiatives and more. Levi Kelman founded Blue Onyx Cos. in 2009 to develop, invest in and own transformative projects in its home state of New Jersey and throughout the greater Northeast region. Blue Onyx looks…

Never lose focus on team building: Every leader’s top priority should be on creating a team of professionals that can work collaboratively towards a common goal. As executives, it is our job to enable an organizational infrastructure that supports a strong, unified company mission. The ultimate sign of a successful business is when a leader can…

In today’s apartment marketplace, where rents and occupancy are at historically high levels, quality customer service is proving to be the differentiator. Of the many consequences of contending with the pandemic, one of the most visible has been a groundswell in expressions of frustration. From air travel to dining to work and school, the list…

We are just as excited today about 24+Half as we were when we first acquired the property pre-pandemic, with the focused goal of establishing a community at the property that will support today’s entrepreneurs and creators, bringing together art, commerce, culture, and technology while also providing a civic space for the wider community to explore…