Ones To Watch: Innovators In Commercial Real Estate: David Umansky, Civic Builders

Innovation Highlight:
For nearly 25 years, Civic Builders has continually evolved to solve the barriers that prevent great public charter schools from accessing affordable facilities. We began as a real estate developer, then expanded into lending when we saw early-stage schools struggling to access capital. Today, we bring development, financing and strategic advisory together to create tailored pathways to permanent facilities. I’m proud that this approach has allowed us to partner with more than 100 schools nationwide.

Industry Outlook:
Some of the biggest opportunities in commercial real estate come from rethinking how underutilized properties can serve communities in new ways. For public charter schools, that means seeing possibility in spaces others may overlook and pairing creative real estate solutions with flexible financing. I’m excited by approaches that bring developers, lenders, educators and community partners together earlier, allowing us to unlock more properties and capital for uses that create lasting educational and community impact.