What Lion Development Group does

Lion Development Group is a vertically integrated real estate development and construction management firm headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa. Founded in 2015 and led by owner Brandon Pratt (22 years of real estate experience) and partner Scott Wilson (former CEO of Solera National Bank, previously led GreenState Credit Union's commercial lending arm), the firm develops, builds, and manages its own properties across commercial, residential, mixed-use, senior living, and entertainment categories. Its portfolio spans over 150 developed acres and $100M+ in commercial real estate assets, including apartment communities (Penn Street Place, Lions Gate Apartments, Center Place Lofts), senior living (North Bend Villas), mixed-use districts (Urban Central District), commercial retail centers (Marion Strip Mall, Solomon's Landing), and restaurant builds for national tenants including Pizza Ranch, Starbucks, and Jersey Mike's.

The company's core services are organized around four offerings: commercial development, residential development, construction management, and property management. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring monthly rental income (e.g., Center Place Lofts units at $1,025/month), recurring commercial lease revenue, one-time development/construction project fees, and ongoing managed services for properties it owns. The go-to-market is relationship-driven and hybrid, combining direct leasing to individual renters and commercial tenants with enterprise field sales targeting national retail brands, government entities (City of North Liberty), and co-development partners (PMG, Sterling Equities, Eden Residential). Customer segments span residential buyers/renters (including 55+ active adults), commercial tenants (SMBs through national enterprises), and investor/development partners.

Geographic operations are concentrated in the Midwest (Iowa and Illinois) with a flagship expansion into Miami, Florida via the 480-unit Palm Tree Residences luxury condominium tower scheduled to open in 2030. The firm uses AppFolio for residential tenant self-service and relies on traditional construction workflows rather than proprietary technology platforms. Leadership has received regional recognition including the 2025 Corridor Business Journal Entrepreneur of the Year and 2026 Best of the Corridor award. The company remains privately held with no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Lion Development Group

Legal name

Lion Development Group

Website

https://liondevelopmentgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vertically integrated Midwest real estate developer and construction management firm that designs, builds, and manages its own commercial, residential, mixed-use, and senior living properties, serving national retail tenants, residential renters, and development co-investors across Iowa, Illinois, and Miami.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Build-to-Rent (BTR) Community Management (BPAJAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Off-Campus Purpose-Built Student Housing (PBSA) Management (BPAJAJAB), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Commercial real estate development
• Residential construction management
• Property management services
• Mixed-use development
• Senior living communities

Headquarters

HQ city

North Liberty

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Property Development and Construction: Revenue generated from developing and constructing commercial, industrial, and residential properties. The company designs, develops, and builds properties from the ground up, managing budgets, schedules, and quality through hands-on construction management.
2. Property Management: Full-service property management for both residential and commercial spaces they develop. Provides ongoing management fees through responsive maintenance, proactive upkeep, and operational oversight.
3. Residential Rental Income: Monthly rental income from residential apartment communities including Penn Street Place Apartments. Units offered at $1,025/month with short-term and long-term lease options.
4. Commercial Leasing: Leasing commercial retail and office space to tenants including national brands. Premium commercial space leasing with flexible layouts and high-visibility locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lion Development Group is a vertically integrated real estate development and construction management firm that develops, builds, owns, and manages commercial, residential, industrial, and mixed-use properties throughout the Midwest, with a focus on the Iowa market. The company delivers turnkey developments—from land acquisition and design through construction, leasing, and ongoing property management—and operates a dedicated portfolio of apartment rentals and senior living (55+) communities.

Product overview

Lion Development Group is a vertically integrated Real Estate Development and Construction Management firm offering commercial development, residential development, construction management, and property management services. Their portfolio spans the Midwest, including apartment communities (Penn Street Place, Lions Gate Apartments, Center Place Lofts), senior living (North Bend Villas 55+ community), mixed-use districts (Urban Central District), commercial retail centers (Marion Strip Mall, Altoona Strip Center), restaurant projects (multiple Pizza Ranch locations), entertainment venues (The Palestra sports complex, Family Entertainment Center), and national tenant builds (Starbucks, Jersey Mike's). They develop, build, and manage properties from ground-up through ongoing operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Real Estate Development Development, construction, and leasing of commercial office, retail, and industrial properties in the Iowa/Midwest market for business tenants and investors.
• Apartment Rentals (Residential) New-construction, professionally managed apartment rentals offered to individual consumers and families seeking modern multifamily housing in Iowa.
• 55+ Senior Living Communities Purpose-built 55+ senior living apartment communities designed for older adults seeking accessible, low-maintenance, community-oriented housing in the Midwest.
• Construction Management Services End-to-end construction management services covering design coordination, build execution, and project oversight for commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects.
• Property Management Services Long-term property management services including leasing, tenant relations, maintenance, and operations for the firm's owned and managed residential, senior living, and commercial portfolio.
• Mixed-Use Development Development of mixed-use projects that combine commercial, retail, and residential components into single integrated communities for tenants, residents, and investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 acres developed and $100+ million in commercial real estate assets over 10-year partnership
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• PMGflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026PMG (Property Markets Group) is a development partner with Lion Development Group on Palm Tree Residences Miami, a 480-unit luxury condominium tower in downtown Miami's Park West neighborhood. The 37-storey development scheduled to open in 2030 represents a significant flagship project for both firms.
• Sterling EquitiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Sterling Equities is a development partner with Lion Development Group on Palm Tree Residences Miami luxury condominium project. The partnership brings together multiple real estate development firms for this major 480-unit, 37-storey luxury residential project.
• Eden ResidentialflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Eden Residential is a development partner with Lion Development Group on Palm Tree Residences Miami. The project features a first-of-its-kind integration of experiential entertainment with residential living.
• Gravy Train (Pizza Ranch)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGravy Train owns and operates Pizza Ranch locations developed and built in partnership with Lion Development Group. The 'Buffet. Play. Repeat.' family dining concept has been successfully deployed across multiple Iowa and Illinois locations including Quincy, Galesburg, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Marion.
• Devils Glen HoldingsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevils Glen Holdings purchased a 37-acre agricultural parcel in 2017 and developed The Groves on Devils Glen - a mix of 80 multi-family units, single-family homes, and senior housing in Bettendorf, Iowa.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LionDevelopmentGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lion-development-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Lion Development Group