Navigating Salt Lake's Evolving Multifamily Market Dynamics

Analyzing Development Cycles, Shifting Zoning Regulations and Affordable Housing Initiatives

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  Eli Mills

  Eli Mills has been a part of the Utah commercial real estate landscape for over 30 years. He has completed more than 400 transactions valued at over $4.5 billion. Eli has represented and advised many of the largest real estate investors in the United States introducing many institutional and private investors to the Utah marketplace. He was a founding member of NAI Utah Commercial Real Estate Inc. (now Newmark Grubb Acres) and was on the leadership board of NAI’s Global Investment Council. Subsequently, he spent thirteen years at CBRE spearheading the number one multifamily and office investment sales teams in Utah. Eli has raised capital and sold many of the largest commercial projects in Utah. He was on the national CBRE institutional office and multifamily teams and is a popular speaker and respectable thought leader on capital markets and the Utah real estate market. He has established a reputation as a data driven and detail oriented professional with great integrity. In 2022 he joined Gardner and leads the company’s relationships with the investment community and oversees the investment process and evaluation of all projects. He is married and has 8 children and one grandchild.

  Gardner Group

  CIO

  Eli Mills

  CIO

  Gardner Group

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  Stephen Alfandre

  Stephen is a Founding Principal of Urban Alfandre and brings over 16 years of real estate acquisition, development, finance, and operational experience to the company. Recently he led the acquisition and development efforts for the Toll Brothers City Living office in Washington DC where he sourced all types of urban residential deals in multiple submarkets. Prior to Toll Brothers, Stephen worked with the Bozzuto Group where he managed multiple infill residential developments. He also spent time working in various real estate consulting and development roles in Salt Lake City prior to moving back east. Stephen received an MBA in real estate and entrepreneurship from Georgetown University and a bachelors degree in Urban Planning from Brigham Young University. He has served as a panelist on multiple DC-area real estate expert panels - including three times with Bisnow - and has also been featured in real estate articles in the Washington Post, Washington Business Journal, and Wall Street Journal. Stephen grew up in the Washington DC area and now lives in the greater Salt Lake City area with his wife and five children.

  Urban Alfandre

  Founding Principal

  Pacific Yard & West Village- Granary District

  Stephen Alfandre

  Founding Principal

  Urban Alfandre

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  Eva Lopez Chavez

  Eva Lopez Chavez is the eldest daughter in a working-class Mexican immigrant family. She was raised to respect her elders, always lend a helping hand, and above all else, la familia es siempre primero: Family is always first. Elected to serve in 2024, Eva is the first Mexican-American elected to the Salt Lake City Council. Born in Salt Lake City and raised in Southern Idaho, she is a proud daughter of the Rocky Mountain West, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and serves as a local consultant to businesses and organizations. Eva attended the University of Utah and studied political science from 2015-2018. Throughout her career, Eva has been actively involved in grassroots organizing and community engagement efforts, with a focus on social justice for marginalized communities. Eva has witnessed firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities in the City, such as civil enforcement, community engagement, public process and more. In her former role, she worked as a Mayor’s Office Liaison and outreach specialist helping connect communities to the intersections where policy is created. As Council Member, her decisions revolve around these three core principles: inclusivity, sustainability, and community. She firmly believes that Salt Lake City thrives when every voice is heard, and every resident feels valued. Eva aims to ensure that diverse perspectives are represented in decision-making processes and that all community members have equal access to resources and opportunities. Eva is committed to building partnerships and fostering transparent and accountable governance, fighting for policies that prioritize the well-being of District 4, ensuring residents are heard and protecting their interests. Together, with the support of the community, Eva aims to connect communities and include every Salt Laker in the public process.

  District 4

  Salt Lake City Council Member

  Eva Lopez Chavez

  Salt Lake City Council Member

  District 4

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  David McCleve

  David McCleve serves as a Managing Director for Bridge Multifamily Fund Manager. He is responsible for originating and overseeing multifamily acquisitions and asset management in the Western U.S.  David began his career at Bridge in 2010, gaining experience across multiple asset classes, including multifamily and commercial office. In 2016, he was promoted to Director in Bridge Office, where he ran the western region. His responsibilities included originating and structuring transactions, leasing, and overseeing the execution of the asset-level business plans. In 2021, David transitioned to Director of the western multifamily region. In this role he was responsible for originating new transactions, overseeing the acquisition process, and asset management. David received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University.

  Bridge Investment Group

  Managing Director

  David McCleve

  Managing Director

  Bridge Investment Group

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  Claudia O'Grady

  VP, Multifamily Finance & Dev.

  Utah Housing Corporation

• Moderator

  Tom Harper

  Director, Commercial & Government Relations

  Cottonwood Title

Elevating the Rental Experience

Positioning Your Property for Success in a Resident Market Through Tenant-Centric Approaches

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  Jake Jarman

  Jake is President at Redstone Residential, Inc., particularly overseeing his team in creating a successful lease-up each year. While at Redstone Jake has led the takeover and property management of a $200mm fund acquiring assets all over the country. He's a well-known customer service and sales guru - he has directly overseen the lease up of Redstone’s entire portfolio. Jake's energy and enthusiasm have propelled Redstone into new states and created strong alliances with vendors, residents, and universities alike. Prior to Redstone, he was CEO at Rustica Hardware, taking it from a start-up to the multi-million dollar business it is today. Jake graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Exercise Science.

  Redstone Residential

  President

  Jake Jarman

  President

  Redstone Residential

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  Ben Krasnow

  Ben Krasnow is the managing director for the southwest region of the Crescent Communities multifamily business. Most recently, Ben served as the vice president of Multifamily Development for McWhinney, a Denver-based Real Estate Development company. In this role, he managed the development of over 2,000 apartment homes in the Denver-area, as well as Austin, Portland, and Omaha. With 15 years of progressively complex experience in the multifamily real estate industry including the Bozzuto Group in Washington DC, Krasnow brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role at Crescent. Krasnow holds a master’s degree in real estate development from the University of Maryland.

  Crescent Communities

  Managing Director

  NOVEL Daybreak

  Ben Krasnow

  Managing Director

  Crescent Communities

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  Adam Berger

  Adam Berger is a seasoned real estate professional with over two decades of experience, specializing in multifamily property management for the past nineteen years. Before joining Avenue5, he served as Vice President of Property Management at Mill Creek Residential Trust, overseeing operations for 6,023 units across multiple markets, and successfully directing projects with a total sales volume of nearly $1.75B. Adam's leadership is marked by a strategic focus on exceeding financial goals, fostering team synergy, and upholding high moral standards. With a track record of driving rent growth, achieving awards such as the 2018 AAMD Regional Manager of the Year, and holding certifications including Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM), Adam Berger is a recognized authority in property management, bringing extensive skills and leadership acumen to the industry.

  Avenue5 Residential

  SVP

  Adam Berger

  SVP

  Avenue5 Residential

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  Belle Kurudzija

  Belle has been with the company since 2006, beginning her career with high-end residential projects. When the recession hit in 2008, she adeptly shifted her focus to commercial projects as the residential market slowed. Since then, she has skillfully balanced both commercial and residential projects, showcasing her versatility and resilience. Last year, Belle was promoted to Head of the Commercial Department, where she now leads a talented team of junior and senior designers. In this role, she mentors her team, sharing her extensive knowledge and guiding their professional development. Belle's projects have received national recognition and numerous awards over the years. Her eclectic style, coupled with thorough research, ensures that her designs stand out. She creates spaces that are both contemporary and timeless, making her a standout in the industry.

  Open Range, FKA Lisman Studio

  Head of Commercial Design

  The Charles

  Belle Kurudzija

  Head of Commercial Design

  Open Range, FKA Lisman Studio

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  Mike Watson

  Mike has been in business and real estate since 1994. He has owned and operated development, property management, construction, capital and real estate brokerage companies for many years. He specializes in property location, entitlement, development and sales. Mike graduated from BYU and resides in Utah County with his wife Aubrey and their children. He loves the outdoors, fishing and community service.

  Summa Terra Ventures

  CEO

  Moderator

  Mike Watson

  CEO

  Summa Terra Ventures

Opening Remarks

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  Steve Adams

  Licensed CPA with 35 years in Public Accounting, Strategic Planning and Advisory Services. Former Owner and Founding Partner of a Top 20 CPA Firm in Utah. Current Areas of Focus: Consulting, Planning and Advisory in areas of Real Estate Cost Segregation Services, State and Local Tax (SALT) Valuation Analysis, R&D Credits, 179D EPAct, and CPA Advisory Services. Experienced as a CPA working with businesses in all areas of the construction, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, fabrication, outside-sales, distribution, medical, dental, legal, professional services, franchising, development, real estate, natural resources, multi-level marketing, trucking, transportation and software industries.

  Engineered Tax Services

  Client Development Director

  Steve Adams

  Client Development Director

  Engineered Tax Services