developments are infill, meaning they take place in existing communities on previously unused or underutilized land. According to Geoff, “that comes with its own host of challenges and excitements,” but Progressive Real Estate Group is experienced at navigating those challenges and delivering some “really nice apartment buildings.” Again, Geoff credits the consistent quality of those buildings to the company’s vertical integration: “For the most part, we buy, we build, we own, and we manage all ourselves,” he says. “That means that from the outset, we make design decisions with the future in mind. We don’t just go with the basic options to save some money. We invest in high quality designs and high quality finishes. We spend a lot of time on the layouts to make sure they are super functional. We put a lot of effort into designing common spaces that will add to the tenant experience.” Because they intend to own and manage their buildings for a long time – and because they know the tenants are going to be their long-term clients – Geoff believes that Progressive Real Estate Group invests more in the tenant experience than a lot of other developers. “We actually give up some of the best-use real estate in our buildings for common spaces,” he says. “The top-corner unit that could get us the best rent, we’re not afraid to give that up for common space so it can be enjoyed by everyone in the building.” Kate Kennedy is the company’s director of operations, as well as their longest-tenured THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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