Element Properties

What Element Properties does

Element Properties is a privately held, Boulder, Colorado-based full-service real estate development and investment company founded in 2011 by Scott Holton and Chris Jacobs. The firm targets urban-infill multifamily rental housing, for-sale condos and townhomes, affordable and supportive housing, office, and mixed-use opportunities in established, high-barrier-to-entry Colorado markets — principally Boulder and Longmont. Since its creation, Element has sponsored the investment, development, and management of over $600 million in Colorado real estate assets on behalf of institutional and private investors, executing a full-spectrum capability stack spanning financial feasibility analysis, property entitlement, acquisition and asset repositioning, real estate investment management, development project management, and real estate asset management.

Element's operating model is a project-by-project sponsorship platform. The firm typically controls or co-controls assets through joint ventures (notably S'PARK with Kinship Capital and The John Buck Company) and partnerships with affordable-housing operators such as The Michaels Organization and Boulder Housing Partners. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) development and asset management fees on projects under sponsorship, (2) carried interest / promoted equity from completed or stabilized assets, and (3) transactional returns from acquisition/rehab repositioning and ultimate sale (e.g., the $27.66M sale of 2121 Canyon and 2000 Walnut to Clarion Partners; 17*Walnut's record-setting $600,000 per-unit disposition). The capital stack is structurally complex and characteristic of mixed-income real estate: low-income housing tax credits (state and federal 4%) sourced through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), tax-exempt private activity bonds (e.g., Google's $41.7M for The Nest Communities), municipal gap financing from the City of Boulder and Boulder County, JV equity from institutional and private investors, and senior construction debt (e.g., the $29.4M Wintrust facility arranged by JLL for S'PARK Railyards).

The customer base spans three distinct cohorts: institutional and private LPs supplying JV equity; commercial tenants leasing office, creative, and life-sciences space (Twitter, Splunk, Amazon); and affordable-housing residents served through LIHTC-allocated properties (240 units at The Nest Communities, 40 units at Bluebird, 55 units at Zinnia, 45 units at SPARKwest, 38 units at Ciclo, 30 units at Grace Commons Annex, plus senior and student housing programs). The team is intentionally lean — fewer than 10 employees, anchored by the two co-founders, a Principal (Catherine Bean, former HUD), a Controller (Christy Valentine), and a Development Manager (Alex Rugoff) — and is supplemented by long-standing relationships with municipal authorities, nonprofit service providers (Boulder Shelter for the Homeless), and trade bodies (Boulder Chamber, Urban Land Institute). Element's brand was reinforced externally when Bluebird won Housing Colorado's 2024 Eagle Award.

Name

Element Properties

Legal name

Element Properties

Website

https://elementproperties.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Element Properties is a Boulder, Colorado-based, privately held full-service real estate development and investment firm sponsoring multifamily, affordable housing, mixed-use, and office projects on behalf of institutional and private investors in Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

NAICS

Residential Building Construction (2361), Residential Building Construction (23611), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Logistics Real Estate Asset Management (BPAJAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Real Estate Asset Management (BPAJAMAA), Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL), Spec Home / Production Homebuilding (Tract & Volume Builders) (IMAFABAD)

Keywords

• Real estate development
• Affordable housing
• Mixed-use development
• Urban infill development
• Real estate investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Development Sponsorship: Element sponsors investment, development and management of real estate assets on behalf of institutional and private investors, generating development fees, carried interest, and asset management revenue
2. Real Estate Investment Returns: Returns generated through property development, repositioning, and eventual sale or ongoing management of multifamily, office, and mixed-use properties

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Element Properties is a full-service real estate development and investment company based in Boulder, Colorado. It sponsors the investment, development, and management of urban-infill multifamily rental, for-sale condos and townhomes, affordable housing, office, and mixed-use real estate projects on behalf of institutional and private investors. The company handles all phases of development from financial feasibility analysis and property entitlement to acquisition, repositioning, and ongoing asset management.

Product overview

Element Properties is a Boulder, Colorado-based real estate development and investment company founded in 2011. The company operates as a single, unified real estate development platform offering a diverse portfolio of property types including mixed-use developments (S'PARK), for-sale condos and townhomes (Pearl21, 18Pearl, Dwell 22, 601 Canyon), multifamily acquisition/rehab projects (2121 Canyon, 2000 Walnut, 2037 Walnut), affordable housing (The Nest Communities with 240 units, Bluebird with 40 supportive units, Grace Commons Annex, Zinnia, Presbyterian Manor, Trinity Commons, SPARKwest, Ciclo), office/life sciences buildings (2865-2885 Wilderness, View 57, Market at S'PARK, Railyards at S'PARK), and student housing (2333 Arapahoe for Naropa University). The company specializes in urban-infill development in Boulder and surrounding Colorado markets, utilizing tax credit financing, public-private partnerships, and institutional investment management. Since its creation in 2011, Element has sponsored the investment, development and management of over $600 million in Colorado real estate assets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• S'PARK A 286-unit residential, 100,000 sf office, and 40,000 sf retail mixed-use development in Boulder Junction, developed in partnership with Kinship Capital and The John Buck Company. This $250 million project represents Element's flagship transit-oriented, sustainable urban village.
• Pearl21 A 17-unit first-floor residential for-sale project on Boulder's Pearl Street, representing a nearly $20 million investment featuring upscale amenities such as rooftop decks. 91 percent of Phase 1 homes were pre-sold prior to construction.
• The Nest Communities A $64 million redevelopment delivering nearly 240 permanently affordable units (30-60% AMI) across multiple Boulder properties, utilizing low income housing tax credits from CHFA.
• Bluebird Permanent Supportive Housing A 40-unit permanent supportive housing development for individuals exiting homelessness, winner of Housing Colorado's 2024 Eagle Award. Features trauma-informed design with 8 studios and 32 one-bedroom units at 30% AMI.
• Grace Commons Annex A mixed-use property in Downtown Boulder with ground floor cafe and bakery, 30 units of affordable housing, and a premier event space on the 4th floor. Construction started January 2025, expected completion Q3 2026.
• Zinnia Permanent Supportive Housing A 55-unit, 39,500 sf four-story permanent supportive housing building in Longmont for residents experiencing homelessness. Features trauma-informed design with on-site case management by All Roads.
• Presbyterian Manor An 11-story, 78-unit senior apartment building renovation converting to an affordable tax credit property, preserving a historic 1963 Hobart Wagner-designed building in downtown Boulder.
• Timber at S'PARK A 150-residence apartment building featuring studio through three-bedroom units plus townhomes with front porches, designed by Worksbureau with lush courtyards and mountain views.
• Market at S'PARK A flagship 60,000 sf office and retail building and regional headquarters for Splunk, featuring innovative wood and standing seam metal architecture by Worksbureau.
• Railyards at S'PARK Nearly 70,000 sf office and retail space designed by SopherSparn Architects featuring East Coast factory-style windows, outdoor balconies, and nine artist murals. Twitter signed a 65,000 sf lease for this building.
• Platform at S'PARK An 86-residence apartment building with studio through three-bedroom units and ground-level retail, designed by KTGY.
• View 57 A 30,000 sf creative office building in Flatiron Park, repositioned from light industrial lab building. Includes 20,000 sf for Amazon and was sold in 2019 for $9.95 million.
• 17*Walnut A luxury apartment case study in urban infill development featuring iconic design and energy efficiency. Sold for $600,000 per unit, setting a Colorado record.
• 2333 Arapahoe An 18-unit, 28-bed dormitory for Naropa University featuring energy-efficient design, high-end finishes, and extensive indoor/outdoor amenities on a former Dairy Queen site.
• SPARKwest 45 permanently affordable homes at 50% and 60% AMI in Boulder Junction, the first completion within the greater S'PARK development.
• Ciclo 38 permanently affordable units in a three-story mixed-use building in Boulder Junction with a 50 kW rooftop solar array exceeding City energy code requirements.
• Trinity Commons 16 permanently affordable one-bedroom senior residences in downtown Boulder through a public-private partnership, featuring a 64-car public garage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $600 million in Colorado real estate assets sponsored since 2011
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Boulder CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2020Funding partner for affordable housing developments including Bluebird Permanent Supportive Housing
• The John Buck CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJV partner with Element Properties and Kinship Capital on the $250 million S'PARK mixed-use development project in Boulder, covering 286 residential units, 100,000 sf office and 40,000 sf retail
• Kinship CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJV partner with Element Properties and The John Buck Company on the S'PARK mixed-use development project
• The Michaels OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Element on The Nest Communities $64 million redevelopment resulting in nearly 240 permanently affordable units
• Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded low income housing tax credits (LIHTC) for affordable housing projects including Bluebird and Zinnia Permanent Supportive Housing; provided private activity bonds
• Boulder Shelter for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead service provider for Bluebird Permanent Supportive Housing providing wraparound services for residents; also provides services at Zinnia and other supportive housing developments
• Boulder Housing PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on affordable housing projects including Bluebird and The Nest Communities; provides project-based vouchers for rental subsidy
• City of BouldercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvested $3 million in Bluebird site acquisition; allocated $8.25 million for affordable housing preservation; key partner on S'PARK and other projects
• Colorado Division of HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommitted project-based vouchers for Bluebird Permanent Supportive Housing development
• Longmont Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Zinnia Permanent Supportive Housing project in Longmont; property manager for Zinnia
• Allison ManagementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Element Properties on Naropa University dormitory project at 2333 Arapahoe
• Central Area General Improvement District (CAGID)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church for Trinity Commons affordable housing project

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pedersen Development Partners: Denver-based real estate development firm focused on mixed-use, multifamily, and transit-oriented projects across Colorado. Comparable to Element in regional focus, mixed-use product, and institutional partnership model.
• The John Buck Company: Chicago-based mixed-use and multifamily developer and JV partner with Element on the S'PARK project. Highly comparable in mixed-use product type and institutional capital sponsorship model; functions as both peer and co-investor.
• Brinshore Development: Nationally-focused affordable and supportive housing developer with significant Colorado presence. Comparable to Element in LIHTC-financed affordable housing, supportive housing for vulnerable populations, and reliance on public-sector partnerships.
• Zocalo Community Development: Denver-based real estate developer specializing in sustainable, community-oriented and affordable/mixed-income housing across Colorado. Comparable to Element in mission alignment, Colorado focus, and integration of market-rate and affordable product types.
• Lokal Homes: Boulder-based urban-infill homebuilder focused on for-sale townhomes and single-family homes in supply-constrained Boulder County submarkets. Closely comparable to Element in geographic focus, project scale (sub-$50M), and product type (for-sale residential infill).
• Wondery Development Partners: Boulder-Front Range mixed-use and multifamily developer with a similar scale and urban-infill focus. Comparable to Element in geographic concentration, project size, and mixed-use/mixed-income product mix.

Broad incumbents

• Crescent Communities: National mixed-use and multifamily developer with a multi-state portfolio including Mountain West exposure. Comparable in mixed-use/mixed-income product type but with materially broader scale and geographic diversification.
• Wood Partners: Large national multifamily developer with active Colorado operations, particularly in Denver/Boulder. Comparable in multifamily product focus but operates at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth than Element.
• Trammell Crow Company: Large national commercial real estate developer (a subsidiary of CBRE Group) with multifamily, office, and mixed-use capabilities. Comparable in product diversification but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geography than Element.

Regional players

• McWhinney: Northern Colorado-based master-planned community and mixed-use developer. Comparable in Colorado focus and mixed-use/mixed-income product, though centered in Loveland/Windsor rather than Boulder/Longmont.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Element Properties