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| Profile | |
| By Joanna Miller | |
| Monday, 30 July 2007 | |
 Developer Edward R. James Homes picks its sites carefully and creates projects to fit them specifically. The Chicago-area company now offers its development services to third-party clients, as well. Building to the land is one of the company’s mantras – one that manifests itself in many ways. Edward R. James takes time to understand the site and market, and what product would complement both. “It takes shape in the architecture and landscape, respecting the existing topography and natural features to the greatest extent possible,” Warren James explains. “We develop sites that enhance and transform otherwise less-aesthetically pleasing sites.” Primarily active in the Chicago area, the firm has also developed properties in Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida and Minnesota. The firm’s development expertise encompasses a broad range of property types, including mixed-use developments; single-family and multifamily communities; mid- and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives; marina, resort and golf course developments; and independent living, retail and office development. James says the company’s commitment to individual projects and its customers has helped it survive into its third generation of family ownership and leadership. “We draw upon the same core values established by my grandfather, when he founded the first of the James’ companies: integrity, honesty and providing value to our customers and the communities in which we build.” New Developments Edward R. James Homes is presently working on several communities, including Uptown in Park Ridge, Ill., a mixed-use retail and residential project, and Waterbury Place in Buffalo Grove, Ill., a multi-family development. Recently completed work includes Southgate on The Glen, a 299-unit luxury home project on the premier residential property within The Glen. James also completed Fox Meadow in Northfield, Ill., an empty nester community. Also in its portfolio is Heatherfield, the 301-unit mixed-use development in Glenview. Beyond Production James says Edward R. James Homes occupies “the niche between production and custom builders.” As a “process-driven organization,” he notes, the company embraces, understands and improves on best practices. When the company set out to establish this niche several years ago, it realized it needed a high degree of customization to differentiate it from competitors. “We developed a highly integrated proprietary enterprise management system,” James says. “It allows us to manage all the aspects of our business, from front-end sales, selections coordination, construction management, purchasing and accounting functions.” This has allowed the company to achieve effective communication among the various disciplines within the organization, he notes. New Services With the communication and expertise it can deploy its own developments, Edward R. James Homes has begun to offer its services to other companies as a development consultant. “We have an operation in Minneapolis where we are working on a number of high-rise condominium developments, serving the developer client,” James says. “We provide selections coordination and project management services and interface with sales and marketing on the front-end and the general contractor on the back end. Because of our developer’s perspective, we are able to effectively administer the detail intensive selections, options and upgrades programs for the developer client who may not be as well versed in this arena.” Coordinators meet with buyers and select options that have already been priced and formatted in the company’s system, thus passing on savings and mass customization abilities to its clients. The company provided development consulting services on the 27-story Grant Park and the 39-story Carlisle condominium towers, both in Minneapolis, and both developed by Apex Asset Management Corp. and Opus Northwest. Option sales exceeded 10 percent of base revenue while achieving impressive profit margins, James says. Other development consulting projects include the Ivy Tower in Phoenix and 730 Lofts condominium projects in Minneapolis. In the Chicago area, the company is providing sales and marketing, selected coordination and interior build-out services for Opus North’s Burr Ridge Village Center and Port Clinton Place in Vernon Hills, Ill., Other projects include Eastwood Place in Evanston, Ill., and The John Buck Co.’s Clearwater development in Oakbrook, Ill. “Because of our expertise, time in the industry, trade relationships and the integrity with which we conduct our operation, we attract other third-party clients that would otherwise have to start from scratch,” James says. “We’re doing high-detail work that can be very difficult to manage for the non-integrated developer.” Industry Recognition Edward R. James Homes has received numerous awards for its projects. These honors have included: • Grant Park high rise, Minneapolis – 2002 Best Overall Twin Cities Real Estate Development from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal • Fox Meadow community, Northfield – Bronze Key Awards for Best Overall Community (suburban) and Outstanding Design in Land Planning (mixed-use development); Gold Key Awards for Architectural Design Multifamily (2,101-pus square feet) and Landscape Architecture (mixed-use development); and Silver Key Award for Outstanding Design (multifamily units attached for sale or rent, 2,201 square feet) • Heatherfield community, Glenview – Gold Key Awards for Best Overall Community (suburban), Landscape (mixed-use development), Outstanding Design (single-family, 2,751 to 3,000 square feet), Outstanding Design (single-family, 2,501 to 2,800 square feet); Silver Key Award for Outstanding Design (multifamily, 2,201-plus square feet); and the Green Growth Award from Partners for Environmental Transportation Recognition of Environmentally Sensitive Development • Southgate on the Glen community, Glenview – Silver Key Award for Best Overall Community (suburban); and Best Interior Architecture from the Lake • South Commons, Deerfield, Ill. – Gold Key Awards for Architectural Design (multifamily, 1,801 to 2,100 square feet, condominium model), Landscape (multifamily), and Interior Merchandising (multifamily); and Silver Key Awards for Architectural Design (multifamily, 1,801 to 2,100 square feet, Carlyle model), and Housing Design (multifamily, 1,801 to 2,100 square feet) • Developer of the Year, 1998, from the Pioneer Press The company says its commitment to excellence has earned it a reputation for successful, award-winning projects. |
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