Melissa

Melissa graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1995, I have spent the last 11 years in the related field of real estate development, specializing in affordable housing. At Yokota Starr Inc., an affordable housing development consulting firm, I was involved in a variety of rehabilitation and new construction developments and enjoyed working with a variety of clients from small grass roots organizations to well established developers. The position provided me with a wide range of experiences and a broad introduction to many types of housing, the various funding sources, and the nuts and bolts of development and construction.

As a Project Manager in the Housing Division of the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles I had the dual role of lender and developer on various projects. As lender I reviewed financing applications, completed due diligence and prepared loan documents for developments. As developer I oversaw the rehabilitation and construction of properties on county-owned land. I also acted as the development arm of a collaboration with the Department of Children and Family Services and service providers to provide transitional housing to homeless youth emancipated from the county’s foster care system.

For five years as Project Manager with Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM), a non-profit affordable housing developer, I have seen projects through from beginning to end, from purchasing property to completing the rehabilitation of new construction, and then handing off the completed project to the property management division. The rehabilitation of 5 projects focused on the replacement of major building systems with tenants in place. While joining LAND to pursue development and construction management, I am continuing to work with CCSM to complete construction of a new four-story 44-unit apartment building with two levels of underground parking and completing the financing and commence construction of a new three-story 36-unit apartment building with one level of subterranean parking.