UrbanCore Development has been a leading real estate development company in the Bay Area for the last seven years. Founded as a minority business enterprise in 2012 by Michael E. Johnson with two other initial partners, UrbanCore has focused on creating, enhancing, and improving communities through several selected projects that address the core values of aesthetic appeal, environmental and financial stewardship, and social responsibility. With Michael E. Johnson, President & CEO, and a team of experienced project and construction managers, the firm has been the driving force behind the development of mixed income, mixed-use, and affordable housing projects – from the initial conceptual planning through the design and construction phases. UrbanCore also prepares the financial structure of each deal and identifies and packages the equity, construction financing, and long-term debt. Additionally, the Company manages the marketing phase through sell-out and lease-up on each project.
With a concentration on urban-infill, public-private development projects, UrbanCore regularly interfaces with various community groups and local government officials. UrbanCore emphasizes partnerships between the public, private, and community sectors, and is known for successfully bring these groups together to complete projects. The result of these public-private relationships is that UrbanCore is able to enhance the feasibility of the private investment in its transactions by leveraging the public investment contributions in each project. Mr. Johnson total resume includes his founding of Em Johnson Interest, Inc. which operated during the period from 1998 to 2010. Over the past 25 years Mr. Johnson’s total success is defined by the completion, or current progress, of a total of 32 projects, including approximately 3,000 housing units and over 100,000 square feet at a cost of over $800 million, primarily throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, but also Atlanta and Oregon, as well as several projects in the Southeast United States.
UrbanCore has also worked as a member of numerous joint venture teams or on a project management basis; in many cases, with organizations that serve as the long-term owner of the completed properties. More recently, UrbanCore has completed several development projects as the lead developer and managing partner, and also has several projects currently underway in this capacity. UrbanCore and Em Johnson Interest have received awards from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the San Francisco and Sacramento Business Times, and the Multi-Family Housing Finance Magazine for the Fillmore Heritage Center, North Beach Place, and Cannery Place development projects.