Multifamily real estate investment platform PENLER has badded John Ladson – a 20-year veteran of multifamily development – as a partner to oversee its new developments. 

John Ladson, who spent almost 20 years with national firm Gables Residential, joins PENLER as its newest partner and Managing Director. Ladson now sources new development opportunities, manages PENLER’s development pipeline, and leads the design, entitlement, and construction efforts for each of the firm’s new developments. His experience includes multifamily product types ranging from townhomes to high-rise towers, over 2,600 units of green-built apartment homes, and highly successful student-oriented communities.

While at Gables, Ladson played a critical role in the sourcing, conception, financing, design, construction and lease-up of its Class A apartment communities. His development sponsorship portfolio includes award-winning projects in Atlanta, Florida and the Mid-Atlantic, with a combined stabilized value of more than $1.8 billion. The Urban Land Institute, National Association of Homebuilders, EarthCraft, the Atlanta Business Chronicle and others have recognized his team’s projects for excellence. Ladson serves on the Boards of Directors of the Georgia Apartment Association and the Atlanta Apartment Association. He is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC.) He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College.

“We are thrilled to add John to the team,” said Managing Partner Graham Carpenter. “While PENLER is still a young company, we are continuing to grow even in the current environment. We are now well-positioned with an exceptionally talented management team in place to continue adding new projects to our portfolio.” 

Launched in early 2019, PENLER is a full-service multifamily real estate operating platform focused on major metropolitan areas across the Sun Belt. Led by seasoned professionals with deep knowledge of markets and conditions, as well as an expansive vision for seizing new opportunities, PENLER uses best-in-class investment, development and asset management processes. For more information, visit www.PENLER.com.

Atlanta - PENLER, an Atlanta-based multifamily real estate investment platform, is announcing its first development – The Parker in Dawsonville, Georgia. 

“Our strategy is to enter suburban markets with little new supply, great demographics, good schools, proximity to retail and employment centers and deliver first class multifamily rental communities,” said Managing Partner Brian Metzler. “We will build cost-effectively and deliver a luxury product with high-end unit finishes and impressive amenity packages at rents attainable to a large portion of households in the area.” 

The development will utilize only a portion of the site, a flat meadow sitting alongside Thompson Creek and a heavily forested hillside, leaving over half of the large 40-acre site undisturbed. The two-story gated community will have 240 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Amenities will feature a centrally located 1.25-acre great lawn and resident gathering area as well as a large resort-style pool with sundeck and grilling areas, a dog park and walking trails. The clubhouse will feature a 24-hour fitness center, cyber café and activity areas. The apartments are direct entry, which means residents will walk directly into their apartments without stairwells or corridors, creating a townhome feel and blending in with the high-end residential housing nearby.

Located just south of the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, Dawsonville and the site sit directly on the prestigious Ga. 400 corridor. The site is adjacent to one million square feet of retail space, including the North Georgia Premium Outlets, Publix-anchored Dawson Crossroads and Kroger-anchored Dawson Marketplace. The community is just a mile from a public park and boat launch on Lake Lanier. 

“PENLER is less than a year old, so it’s especially significant that our first development comes on the heels of our first acquisition earlier this fall,” said Managing Partner Graham Carpenter, who leads PENLER’s acquisition division. The Atlanta-based firm acquired Presley Uptown, a 230-unit luxury property in Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 30. In October, the firm announced the addition of two new partners: Chief Financial Officer Mark Hinshaw and Director of Asset Management Alex Geeslin. 

The Parker is expected to break ground this month with completion in the spring of 2021. “Two more development projects are in the pipeline and slated to break ground in the first half of 2020,” Metzler adds. Penler’s joint venture partner is NXT Capital while Synovus Bank provided the construction loan. 

Launched in early 2019, PENLER is a full-service multifamily real estate operating platform focused on major metropolitan areas across the Sun Belt. Led by seasoned professionals with deep knowledge of markets and conditions, as well as an expansive vision for seizing new opportunities, PENLER uses best-in-class investment, development and asset management processes. For more information, visit www.PENLER.com.

Atlanta/Charlotte, N.C. – PENLER, a new multifamily real estate investment platform, just acquired its first asset in downtown Charlotte for approximately $55 million. PENLER also recently added two new partners to fill the key roles of Chief Financial Officer and Director of Asset Management. Plus, the firm expects to start its first development project next month. 

The Atlanta-based firm acquired Presley Uptown, a 230-unit luxury property in Charlotte, N.C. on Monday, Sept. 30. JLL Income Property Trust was PENLER’s institutional investment partner in the transaction. Uptown is one of Charlotte’s most popular and fastest-growing neighborhoods. Located just off I-277, the pet-friendly community is near several shopping, dining and entertainment options as well as greenspace and major sports arenas. A Lynx Blue Line rail station and a new Whole Foods are within walking distance of the property.

Presley Uptown is National Green Building Standard Green Certified and features Class A unit finishes and amenities including a saltwater pool with aqua bar, a sky lounge rooftop deck, a large fitness center and more. PENLER plans to refresh some of the common areas of the property in the coming year. Future updates include the addition of smart-home technology throughout the community. 

“This investment is a prime example of our strategy to acquire well located, in-fill projects in high-growth Southeastern markets at an attractive cost basis,” said Managing Partner Graham Carpenter, who leads PENLER’s acquisition division. “The company is less than a year old, and we are hitting our production targets and adding key management team members, as planned.”

New Partners 

PENLER also added two partners with key roles in their Atlanta office. 

• Mark Hinshaw is the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for the financial management of the company and its partnerships. Mark oversees financial reporting, tax, risk management, HR, IT and other initiatives. He is also instrumental in the company’s debt and equity capital efforts. Mark started his career in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He then focused on commercial real estate while working with Catellus Development Corporation, Rockwood Capital, and Jamestown. Mark received his Bachelors and Masters of Science in Accountancy from Wake Forest University. 
• Alex Geeslin is the firm’s Director of Asset Management. In her role, she is responsible for the asset management platform where she focuses on maximizing asset performance, oversees property management operations, manages equity and debt relationships and leads transaction execution. Alex brings with her over a dozen years of experience in the multifamily sector and was most recently responsible for the operation of a $500 million portfolio of multifamily assets across the Southeast for a regional owner and operator. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia.

New Developments 

Managing Partner Brian Metzler adds that the firm expects to start construction on its first multifamily development in Metro Atlanta in November with two additional development projects slated to break ground in the first half of 2020. 

About PENLER

Launched in early 2019, PENLER is a full-service multifamily real estate operating platform focused on major metropolitan areas across the Sun Belt. Led by seasoned professionals with deep knowledge of markets and conditions, as well as an expansive vision for seizing new opportunities, PENLER uses best-in-class investment, development and asset management processes. For more information, visit www.PENLER.com.