A Moment with Jared Jackson, L+M’s 2023 Development Intern
L+M reached out to the 2023 intern cohort to find out more about their intern experience and how it informed their professional development. This submission is from Jared Jackson, who interned with our Development team.
What impact did the 2023 summer internship program have on you professionally and personally?
The 2023 summer real estate development internship program significantly impacted both my professional and personal growth. It offered hands-on experience in market analysis, property valuation, and development planning, enhancing my practical skills and deepening my understanding of real estate processes. Collaborating with diverse professionals improved my technical, communication, and teamwork abilities, while real-world challenges with industry experts provided valuable insights into the complexities of the market. Personally, the internship boosted my confidence, adaptability, and networking skills. Overall, it played a crucial role in shaping my career, providing practical skills, industry knowledge, and personal growth opportunities for future success in real estate development.
How did L+M live up to its mission “Working Together to Building Stronger Communities” through its internal culture and the community they serve?
L+M embodies its mission “Building Stronger Communities” through a collaborative internal culture and impactful external initiatives. Internally, teamwork and open communication drive innovation. Externally, L+M engages communities, creating developments aligned with their needs, including affordable housing and partnerships with local organizations for education and empowerment.
Based on your experience at L+M, how will the summer experience for the next generation of interns impact their professional development?
The upcoming summer experience for interns at L+M could significantly boost their professional development. Real-world projects, diverse exposure, and collaboration with professionals can enhance their skills and industry understanding. The experience may align them with L+M’s values, develop networking connections, and provide a strong foundation for their future careers in real estate.
What advice do you have for the 2024 summer interns?
The 2024 summer interns should embrace a proactive learning mindset in real estate development, network with colleagues and mentors for guidance and future opportunities, don’t hesitate to ask questions, seek exposure to various aspects of development, and take initiative when possible. They should also collaborate effectively, maintain professionalism, welcome feedback for growth, approach challenges with problem-solving skills, reflect on experiences, and strive to leave a positive impact on the company and communities. Your enthusiasm and dedication can shape a successful future in real estate development.
A Moment with Aminata Sam, L+M’s 2021 Development Intern
L+M reached out to the 2021 intern cohort to find out more about their intern experience and how it informed their professional development. This submission is from Aminata Sam, who interned with our development team and is part of the Project Destined Program.
What impact did the 2021 summer internship program have on you professionally and personally?
The summer 2021 internship program solidified my path into the development of affordable housing, while gaining exposure to all the people and moving parts it takes to holistically complete projects. From my first week at the NUL groundbreaking and throughout the summer, I’ve been working with the development team and with government officials, community leaders, co-developers, consultants, Tenant Associations and most importantly, residents to build and renovate great homes.
How did L+M live up to its mission “Working Together to Building Stronger Communities” through its internal culture and the community they serve?
It was immediately evident that L+M was committed to its mission “Working Together to Building Stronger Communities”. First, there was a 300+ person all- staff call earlier in the summer to gain input from everyone at the organization about how we can live up to the mission through the company’s values like collaboration and integrity, and it was also shown at the various projects I worked on that required people from different teams.
What advice do you have for the 2022 summer interns?
My advice to summer 2022 interns is to attend as many site visits as possible. The team organized amazing site visits to projects around the city where we meet residents, Builders, and C+C team members, as we toured the properties.
L+M recently formalized its company values, and we asked our staff to share some of their stories that they feel exemplify our company values. This submission, the last in a series of six, came from someone on our Retail team, and we think it’s an excellent example of one of our key values: Dedication.
The Retail team is a dedicated unit that cares passionately about our tenants, and we will go the extra mile whenever needed. More importantly, our team has worked together throughout the pandemic and committed countless hours to assist our retail tenants.
Nowhere is this more evident than working with our commercial tenants to try to help them keep their doors open and lights on during this time so they can provide the much-needed goods and services to the communities we serve.
The Retail team received many calls from the business owners throughout the pandemic trying to figure out the best way to move forward. Our team was intentional about being available to listen and have those important discussions. We spent time with them walking them through their options and provided guidance to many who requested assistance in applying for small business relief programs.
Over the years, we have developed relationships with our retailers, and we understand the value these businesses have in our communities. Therefore, it was important for us to give each one the time and attention that was necessary to understand their circumstances.
While these weren’t the easiest conversations to have, our dedicated Retail team persevered and it’s been really rewarding to be able to help during such a difficult time.
L+M recently formalized its company values, and we asked our staff to share some of their stories that they feel exemplify our company values. This submission, fifth in a series of six, came from Nick Papakostopoulos on our Property Management team, and we think it’s an excellent example of one of our key values: Respect.
“Growing up, I was taught to respect the school janitor as much as the CEO. You must give respect – no matter what race, color, religion, wealth status – if you want to be treated with respect.
When I think about the respect we should have for one another as people, I think about how our community came together after the fire at one of our properties a few months ago. Thankfully there were no injuries or casualties to report; however, there was a real sense of sadness seeing 20 families displaced from their homes due to the damage caused by the fire in one of the units.
Some of the displaced residents went to stay with family members, some of them found shelter with assistance from the Red Cross, but many of the families lost everything they possessed. As sad as this was to see, the events that transpired afterwards really showed me the respect my colleagues have for our residents.
It was incredible to see how my fellow property manager coworkers came together to secure shelter for the displaced residents and provide living essentials such as air mattresses, bedsheets, pillows, and toiletries. Several of my colleagues showed up to move donated furniture and distribute it to those most in need. In addition, staff throughout the company contributed over 100 needed items via an Amazon Wishlist that one of my colleagues set up.
What was even more remarkable to see was the reaction from staff working at the sites that the displaced residents were moving into; they were amazed that we were all pulling together to go to such great lengths for our residents. They also recognized the respect we have for our residents and, in turn, have expressed their respect to us as a company and people.
In closing, respect for one another goes a long way, and we should never lose sight of that.”
L+M recently formalized its company values, and we asked our staff to share some of their stories that they feel exemplify our company values. This submission, fourth in a series of six, came from Andrea Pilat on our Builders PreCon team, and we think it’s an excellent example of one of our key values: Quality.
“Norman Towers is a preservation project in East Orange, NJ, seeking to improve the quality of life for more than 400 senior residents through renovations to the building and improvements to the property amenities.
Our team has upgraded the residential units and corridors by replacing the flooring, paint, cabinetry, and appliances throughout all 16 floors of the building. We have also modernized the community spaces, and now they are cheery, functional gathering spots featuring interesting artwork and a colorful geode mural Outdoor seating areas have also been upgraded, with the addition of an outdoor kitchen and BBQ zone, and new communal garden boxes with potting benches which offer residents the opportunity to engage with nature and really get their hands dirty!
The Norman Towers’ residents will also have upgraded building amenities with access to an in-house 12-seat “movie theater” (complete with a real popcorn machine!), revamped billiards room, a new hair salon, and a gym with senior-friendly recumbent machines. The final transformation is underway in the main lobby. The original terrazzo floors are being restored, and a custom reclaimed oak and moss feature wall is being installed which will create a relaxing, inviting entry point to signal to each resident that they are home.
By focusing on quality of design, we are able to help improve our residents’ homes and hopefully contribute positively to their quality of life.”
L+M recently formalized its company values, and we asked our staff to share some of their stories that they feel exemplify our company values. This submission, third in a series of six, came from Elaine Braithwaite on our Development team, and we think it’s an excellent example of one of our key values: Innovation.
“High quality affordable housing is just one component of helping people live healthier and happier lives. Over the last few years we have been looking at innovative ways to integrate the other pieces of the puzzle, including accessible healthcare, healthy and affordable food, childcare, and access to greenspace. For example, 20% of high-need Medicaid recipients use up to 75% of all Medicaid spending, many of whom end up staying overnight at hospitals because they are homeless. Providing these high need users with a place to live will hopefully decrease pressure on the Medicaid system.
To that point, we recently completed a project in the Bronx which was a partnership with St. Barnabas Hospital (SBH). The project provides 314 units of affordable housing, including 50 units of supportive housing for high-need Medicaid users through the State’s Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) program, as well as 45 units of supportive housing for formerly homeless households. The project also includes a new 50,000 SF wellness center for SBH, a 10,000 SF daycare, community-serving retail spaces, and an office for Bronxworks, a non-profit which is providing services to the project’s supportive housing units. In addition, SBH is also operating a fitness center and teaching kitchen in the project so that hospital staff can “prescribe” healthy meals and exercise to patients as well as offer low-cost gym memberships to the community at large. Also, Project Eats, a non-profit dedicated to creating small-plot, high-yield farms to grow and distribute fresh foods locally, is operating a rooftop farm at this project where they are growing produce and selling it at affordable prices to residents and hospital staff. There’s even an apiary!
Project EATS rooftop garden
The apiary where thousands of bees live and honey is harvested
Next up, we are looking to integrate health and wellness in another project, located in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. Phase 1 will be completed at the end of the year and will include 348 affordable apartments, ground floor retail and community facility space. We are currently exploring a partnership with a healthy and affordable café that provides workforce development opportunities to community members, and also storefront space for Project Eats to create an aquaponic farm.
The second phase of the project, which is currently in design, will include 285 affordable apartments across three buildings. Our team is exploring a partnership with the Brownsville Multi Service Family Health Center to create a federally qualified health center, where we would leverage low income housing tax credits to develop a new 50,000 SF community-focused health center.
Projects like these bring health and wellness directly to residents where they live, and have the potential to be so transformative in their communities. It is incredibly exciting to see these innovative ideas come to life.”
L+M recently formalized our company values, and we asked our staff to share some of their stories that they feel exemplify our company values. This submission came from Mitch Britton on our Security team, and we think it’s a stellar example of our key values: Integrity.
“When I was first hired in 2014 I was assigned to our Central Harlem portfolio. C+C Management was the new management company in town and the residents of the buildings had no faith that our mission was to provide the best possible experience for residents at our property. I knew I had to be part of a team that the residents got to know and see on a daily basis. I would make it my duty to get as much “face time” with the residents as possible. I would stand outside of the properties and speak with the residents as they came and went from the building until I knew their names and they knew me. It didn’t take long before they saw the commitment of our company and it gave them a sense that management is always around the property. I had an open door policy.
This gave the residents reassurance that C+C is a hands-on management company and it didn’t take long before the trust kicked in, since they saw the commitment and integrity everyday when I would interact with them. The residents would come up to me and ask questions about getting repairs in their apartment and would also give valuable information that helped me make the place they called home safe. When they would give me information that may have been detrimental to their safety and wellbeing at the building, it helped me make their lives better because of the trust and the integrity they saw in me to get the job done. Even though I spend my time on other sites now, to this day I still get calls from some residents in Central Harlem just to check in with me. And of course before I end the call I ask “Is there anything I can do for you, is everything ok?” and if there is something I can help them with, I will do everything in my power to make it happen. It all starts with INTEGRITY.”
L+M recently formalized our company values, and we asked our staff to share some of their stories that they feel exemplify our company values. This submission came from Fatima Amate-Perez on our Leasing and Marketing team, and we think it’s a stellar example of our key values: Relationships.
“We often request referrals from our connections in HPD/DHS for units specifically set aside to assist in sheltering those who may not have a home. DHS referred Mr. Jones [not his real name] to HPD, who in return referred Mr. Jones to me. Because I am very familiar with homeless applicants and know they often need assistance with obtaining documents as well as an extra encouraging push to help them to meet deadlines, I contacted Mr. Jones myself. Due to Covid and him being elderly and having very little computer knowledge, I spent a lot of time on the phone with him, teaching him how to use a scanner app and checking in with him on a daily basis to remind him we would make this work for him.
The process of getting someone out of a shelter and into a set aside unit can be very tedious and sometimes can last months before approval, making it easy for these applicants to lose hope. Mr. Jones told me many stories about how difficult shelter life was and how he was getting too old to continue mentally dealing with those hardships. Although I am only doing my job as a leasing coordinator, it makes me happy to see how someone can appreciate my work and the effect it has on their lives.
My relationship with HPD helped me create a relationship with Mr. Jones, and we all had one goal in common: getting someone who deserves it a place to call home.”
This lifetime achievement award recognizes a leader within New York’s real estate community whose body of work exemplifies the missions and values of ULI, and who has had a transformational impact on the region and the industry.