The Model Group
The Model Group is an employee-owned, Cincinnati-based integrated real estate developer, general contractor, advisor, and property manager executing complex urban mixed-use, historic-preservation, and affordable-housing revitalization projects across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, with a lifetime development portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Model Group does
The Model Group is an integrated real estate development, construction, advisory, and property management firm founded in 1978 and headquartered at 1826 Race Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, operating as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) under CEO Bobby Maly and founder Art Reckman. The company executes complex urban mixed-use, historic-preservation, neighborhood-revitalization, and affordable-housing projects across the Ohio-Indiana-Kentucky tri-state region, with a disclosed lifetime development portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion. Its service platform spans six lines: Development Services, Construction Services (delivered through the Model Construction DBA), Advisory Services, Property Management, Residential Leasing, and Commercial Leasing, all coordinated in-house to control project economics and community outcomes.
The firm's core technical capability is financial-structuring expertise: layering New Markets Tax Credits, Federal & State Historic Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, TIF, CDBG loans, and Opportunity Zone capital to make otherwise unviable urban projects pencil out. Construction is executed through an in-house general-contracting arm with dedicated Ohio and Kentucky offices, supported by a self-serve subcontractor plan-room portal. Property management and leasing are operationalized through a Securecafe-based residential portal and a LoopNet-listed commercial leasing channel. Underlying technology is standard operational SaaS (RentCafe, LoopNet, Google Analytics) rather than proprietary IP.
The business model generates revenue across five streams: developer fees on third-party and joint-venture projects, construction-services revenue (including third-party general contracting), property management fees on owned/managed residential and commercial assets, advisory fees for financing strategy and public-incentive structuring, and commercial leasing income. Customers include individual residents (market-rate and 50–80% AMI affordable), local entrepreneurs and small businesses, property owners seeking a construction partner, and development partners/nonprofits/government entities seeking advisory and co-development support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
The Model Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Model Group
- Legal name
- Model Group
- Website
- https://modelgroup.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Model Group is an employee-owned, Cincinnati-based integrated real estate developer, general contractor, advisor, and property manager executing complex urban mixed-use, historic-preservation, and affordable-housing revitalization projects across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, with a lifetime development portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Model Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
The Model Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Property Management: Property management fees from residential apartments and commercial spaces they own and manage across their developments
- Real Estate Development: Development fees from orchestrating complex mixed-use urban development projects, neighborhood revitalization initiatives, and historic preservation projects
- Construction Services: Third-party general contracting and construction management services for property owners on complex construction projects including new construction, historic preservation, and nonprofit services
- Advisory Services: Real estate development advisory services providing perspective, guidance, and financing strategy support to partners, with core capability in securing public incentives and mixed capital stack integration
- Commercial Leasing: Revenue from leasing commercial spaces to local entrepreneurs and businesses in their revitalized neighborhoods
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Model Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Model Group is an integrated real estate company that develops, builds, and manages mixed-use urban properties, neighborhood revitalization projects, historic preservation developments, and affordable housing. Its core service lines are Development Services, Construction Services, Advisory Services, Property Management, Residential Leasing, and Commercial Leasing, with a focus on layering complex public and private financing structures.
Product overview
The Model Group is an integrated real estate development, construction, and property management company operating as a unified platform with multiple service lines. The core offering consists of Development Services, Construction Services, Advisory Services, Property Management, Residential Leasing, and Commercial Leasing—all working together to positively transform communities. The company has developed over $1.5 billion in real estate through projects including The Landing Exchange (Fort Wayne, IN), Walnut Hills Revitalization, Over The Rhine Revitalization, The Mercantile, Pendleton Revitalization/Broadway Square, The Dayton Arcade, and CityLink Center Expansion. These projects span neighborhood revitalization, historic preservation, new construction, affordable housing, and supportive housing categories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Development Services
- Construction Services Third-party construction services including general contracting, preconstruction, estimating, logistics, and construction management for property owners with complex urban projects, historic preservation, and sustainable construction.
- Advisory Services Real estate development advisory services providing perspective and guidance on project planning, financing strategies, and execution. Core capability includes securing public incentives and integrating them into mixed capital stacks for partners, nonprofits, and government entities.
- Property Management Property management services for residential and commercial properties, ensuring residents and tenants are supported and communities thrive across the firm's owned and managed portfolio.
- Residential Leasing Residential apartment leasing services across multiple urban neighborhoods including Findlay Parkside, Market Square, Broadway Square, Paramount Square, Willkommen, The Landing, The Mercantile, and Paramount Launch properties, with units ranging from market-rate to affordable housing for households at 50-80% AMI.
- Commercial Leasing Commercial space leasing services offering prime spaces in revitalized historic districts including The Landing (Fort Wayne), The Mercantile (downtown Cincinnati), Walnut Hills, and Findlay Market District, with hands-on tenant support services for business setup.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1.5 billion in real estate developed
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Model Group
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Model Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
The Model Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation (WHRF)coreStrategic partnership for comprehensive Walnut Hills neighborhood revitalization, including Paramount Square development with 51 apartments and 56,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. WHRF is a key local partner in the $105.3 million multi-phase revitalization effort.
- City of CincinnaticoreGovernment partner providing support for Walnut Hills revitalization including City HOME Funds and regulatory approvals for the $105.3 million multi-phase neighborhood transformation project.
- The PortmajorStrategic partner in Cincinnati development projects providing financing and development support for neighborhood revitalization initiatives.
- Cincinnati Union BethelmajorNonprofit partner in Walnut Hills projects contributing to community services and supportive housing components of the revitalization.
- Preservation of Affordable HousingmajorNational nonprofit partner providing expertise and support for affordable housing preservation and development within Model Group revitalization projects.
- Fort Wayne Downtown Development TrustcoreLocal development authority spearheading The Landing Exchange $68 million revitalization with Model Group. Partnership aims to restore seven historic buildings and add new construction in Fort Wayne's most historically significant blighted neighborhood.
- City of Fort WaynemajorMunicipal partner supporting The Landing Exchange development with Mayor Tom Henry publicly endorsing Model Group's work and adaptive reuse approach.
- 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation)coreLeading Cincinnati development organization collaborating with Model Group on Over-The-Rhine $114 million revitalization spanning 52 buildings and 299 apartments.
- GBBN ArchitectsmajorArchitecture firm providing design services for Over-The-Rhine revitalization, specializing in historic preservation integration with modern development standards.
- OTR Community HousingmajorCommunity housing organization partner in Over-The-Rhine $114 million redevelopment supporting affordable housing components.
- Cross Street PartnerscoreDevelopment, construction, financial advisory and property management company co-developing Dayton Arcade $93.4 million project with Model Group and McCormack Baron Salazar.
- McCormack Baron SalazarcoreNational urban real estate development firm specializing in affordable housing, partnering on Dayton Arcade $93.4 million mixed-use redevelopment.
- The Entrepreneurs CentermajorDayton-based entrepreneurship support organization partnering with University of Dayton on Arcade Innovation Hub anchor tenant for Dayton Arcade project.
- University of DaytonmajorHigher education partner in Dayton Arcade Innovation Hub, bringing faculty, staff, students, and entrepreneurial support services to the historic redevelopment.
- Pendleton Community CouncilmajorLocal community organization providing neighborhood input and support for Pendleton revitalization transformation.
- Corporation for Findlay MarketmajorNonprofit organization managing Findlay Market, collaborating on Over-The-Rhine neighborhood revitalization with Model Group.
- CityLinkcoreNonprofit partner for $5 million CityLink Center Expansion providing workforce and family support services. Model Group led construction expansion adding training capacity for 300 additional individuals annually.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Model Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation): Cincinnati-based nonprofit real estate developer focused on downtown and Over-The-Rhine revitalization. Co-develops with Model Group on the $114M OTR project; nearly identical urban revitalization, historic preservation, and mixed-income housing mandate in overlapping Cincinnati submarkets.
- The Community Builders: National nonprofit developer of affordable, mixed-income, and mixed-use housing in urban neighborhoods. Direct mission alignment with Model Group on affordable housing, community engagement, and historic preservation-driven urban revitalization.
- BRP Companies: Multifamily and mixed-use real estate developer with comparable affordable, mixed-income, and market-rate housing focus. Operates in Midwest and East Coast markets with an integrated development, construction management, and property management platform.
- Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): National nonprofit developer and manager of affordable and mixed-income rental housing. Active partner in Model Group's Walnut Hills and broader revitalization projects; directly comparable in mission, resident services model, and preservation/development focus.
- Cross Street Partners: Real estate development, construction, financial advisory, and property management firm co-developing the Dayton Arcade with Model Group. Highly comparable in scale, integrated service model, and focus on historic adaptive reuse urban projects.
- Pennrose: National real estate development and management company specializing in mixed-income, mixed-use, and affordable housing. Comparable in LIHTC-driven development pipeline, urban/suburban revitalization, and integration of property management with development.
- McCormack Baron Salazar: National urban real estate development firm specializing in affordable housing and mixed-use revitalization. Direct co-development partner with Model Group on the $93.4M Dayton Arcade project; operates a similar vertically integrated development, construction, and property management model in mid-sized American cities.
- The NRP Group: Cleveland-based vertically integrated developer, general contractor, and property manager of multifamily affordable and market-rate housing. Closely comparable in operating model, geographic Midwest focus, and integration of development, construction, and management.
Broad incumbents
- L+M Development Partners: Larger New York-headquartered affordable and mixed-income housing developer with similar mixed-use, historic preservation, and community revitalization mandate. Operates at greater scale and broader geography than Model Group but with overlapping business model and product mix.
Regional players
- The Port (Cincinnati): Cincinnati Port Authority providing real estate financing and development support. Strategic partner in Walnut Hills and other Model Group projects; comparable in local urban revitalization mission but serves primarily as a public financing/development vehicle rather than a private developer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Model Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Model Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Model Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Model Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The Model Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Model Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Model Group
What does The Model Group do?
The Model Group is an integrated real estate company that develops, builds, and manages mixed-use urban properties, neighborhood revitalization projects, historic preservation developments, and affordable housing. Its core service lines are Development Services, Construction Services, Advisory Services, Property Management, Residential Leasing, and Commercial Leasing, with a focus on layering complex public and private financing structures.
Is The Model Group a public or private company?
The Model Group is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was The Model Group founded?
The Model Group was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Model Group based?
The Model Group is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Model Group make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Property Management is the primary driver. The others are real Estate Development, construction Services, advisory Services and commercial Leasing.
Who are The Model Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation), The Community Builders, BRP Companies, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), Cross Street Partners, Pennrose, McCormack Baron Salazar and The NRP Group. L+M Development Partners is listed as a broad incumbent. The Port (Cincinnati) is listed as a regional player.
Does The Model Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Model Group.