Partnerships are the secret sauce of innovation. Consider Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger (Berkshire Hathaway), Bill Gates and Paul Allen (Microsoft), Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield (Ben & Jerry’s). Same in real estate. Partnerships give you exponential growth and adaptability. That’s why we started MPV.
Marc and I didn’t know each other before we became business partners, but it’s funny how things work out. I’ve been in multifamily development for over 12 years, working for a major national developer. It gave me a strong foundation in the industry, and I started doing joint ventures as a way to expedite deal flow.
Around that time, I met this guy, John (not his real name), during a family vacation. We hit it off, and he asked me a lot of questions about real estate. By the end of the trip, he said, “If you ever need money for one of your projects, give me a call.” I didn’t think much of it at the time, but fast forward a few years, I found myself needing capital for a project. So, I called John, and he was true to his word—he said he’d invest, but on one condition: I had to bring his friend, Marc Weil, into the deal.
I didn’t know Marc at the time, but John told me he thought the two of us would make great partners. Marc had the Southeast Real estate expertise, and I knew how to do the development side. It turned out to be a perfect match. We’ve been working together ever since, and that’s how Manor Park Ventures got its start—through a chance encounter and a good recommendation. It just goes to show you never know who you’re going to meet and how it might change everything.
First project: Central Avenue Lofts
Our first major project as Manor Park Ventures was the Central Avenue Lofts in Newark, but it didn’t start that way. Initially, this project was something I undertook independently. The property came with several challenges—from environmental cleanup that included removing underground storage tanks and hydraulic lifts, to dealing with City approvals and a general contractor who walked off the job right after we secured financing.
As the project started facing delays and mounting issues, I realized I needed more support. This is when I reached out to John and Marc to see if they wanted to invest in the project. Their involvement was a turning point. Their financial backing and insight helped save the project, especially when we encountered liens from unpaid subcontractors. Together, we resolved the legal mess and pushed the development along.
Central Avenue Lofts was a critical project that demonstrated the strength of our partnership and set a solid foundation for Manor Park Ventures moving forward.
Vision for Manor Park Ventures
The vision for Manor Park Ventures is to build meaningful, sustainable developments that contribute to the community. Our goal is to focus primarily on multifamily housing projects where we see the greatest opportunity for financial growth and impact.
Multifamily developments help address the growing demand for housing in both suburban and urban areas. It’s our mission to develop financially sound, sustainable projects that include modern amenities and technology wherever possible.
Making an impact beyond real estate
Beyond our work in real estate, Mark and I are also committed to giving back. One example of this is our sponsorship of events at the Para Sports Center in Israel, which supports the rehabilitation of wounded veterans and individuals with disabilities from all walks of life.
This type of involvement is important to us as it aligns with our mission to make a positive difference both through our projects and within communities globally.
