Desert Viking

What Desert Viking does

Desert Viking Development is a privately held Phoenix, Arizona real estate development firm founded in 1997 by Niels Kreipke. The company operates three integrated service lines — residential, commercial, and hospitality development — with a defined specialization in historic property restoration, adaptive reuse, and ground-up construction of contextually appropriate infill projects. Across its 28-year history it has acquired or rehabilitated more than 20 National Register Historic properties and built a concentrated portfolio of landmark buildings in Historic Downtown Chandler and the Roosevelt Row Historic District in Phoenix.

The firm's underlying capability is hands-on construction and design-build management led by Kreipke, supported by a lean 1–10 person core team that places on-site personnel for property management and community/tenant relations. Notable delivered assets include a 112-key Holiday Inn Express & Suites (Chandler), a 79-unit townhome community (San Marcos Commons), a 14-lot semi-custom contemporary subdivision (Tivoli at Spectrum, via a JV with Venture REI), an 18,000 SF commercial redevelopment (The Crown on 7th), and the mixed-use Blocks of Roosevelt Row. Its project selection criteria emphasize individuality of purpose, historic preservation, environmental sensitivity, and long-term neighborhood integration rather than formulaic development.

Commercially, Desert Viking generates revenue through project-specific development (one-time sales of built or restored residential and commercial assets) and through ongoing commercial leasing and property management (transactional/recurring rental income from its owned portfolio). Go-to-market is direct and relationship-based via the company website, direct leasing contact, and earned media coverage, with a curated mix of local restaurant, retail, and professional-services tenants occupying its historic spaces. The firm has earned Arizona Heritage Preservation, Governor's Heritage Preservation, and City of Chandler Architectural Excellence awards, reinforcing its positioning as a heritage-driven boutique developer in the Phoenix metro market.

Name

Desert Viking

Legal name

Desert Viking

Website

https://desert-viking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Desert Viking Development is a Phoenix, Arizona-based privately held real estate firm founded in 1997 that specializes in historic property restoration, adaptive reuse, and ground-up residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across the Phoenix metro, serving local restaurants, retailers, residential buyers, and hospitality operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

NAICS

Land Subdivision (23721), Residential Building Construction (23611)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reclamation (Cleanup for Reuse, Risk-Based Closure) (EUAIALAI)

Keywords

• Historic property restoration
• Adaptive reuse development
• Commercial real estate development
• Residential property development
• Hospitality property development

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Development: Ground-up construction and new development of residential, commercial, and hospitality properties for sale or long-term investment.
2. Commercial Property Leasing: Long-term leasing of commercial retail, restaurant, and office spaces to tenants in properties owned by Desert Viking.
3. Residential Property Sales: Sale of residential properties including historic restorations and new single-family homes in the Gilbert and Phoenix areas.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Desert Viking Development is a Phoenix-based real estate development firm that acquires, develops, and manages residential, commercial, and hospitality properties with a specialty in historic building restoration and adaptive reuse. The firm manages ground-up construction, mixed-use developments, and long-term leasing of its portfolio, and has rehabilitated over 20 National Register Historic properties across the Phoenix metro area.

Product overview

Desert Viking is a leading real estate development firm based in Arizona offering a portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality development services. The company specializes in historic property restoration, adaptive reuse projects, and ground-up construction developments. Their core offerings include Residential Development (single/multi-family residences from historic restorations to new builds), Commercial Development (mixed-use projects, adaptive reuse, and historic preservation), and Hospitality Development (hotel projects). The company also provides property leasing and management services. Key projects include Tivoli at Spectrum (14-lot contemporary subdivision in Gilbert), The Blocks of Roosevelt Row (21,909 SF mixed-use development in Phoenix), The Crown on 7th (18,000 SF commercial redevelopment), Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chandler (112-key hotel), and multiple National Register historic restorations including the Gold Spot Marketing Center, Monroe Building, Suhwaro Hotel, and Bank of Chandler.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Development Development of single-family and multi-family residences ranging from historic restorations to contemporary new-builds, reflecting the communities in which they stand.
• Commercial Development Revitalization of time-honored neighborhood structures through adaptive reuse and mixed-use projects, focusing on historic preservation and landmark restoration.
• Hospitality Development Hotel and hospitality property development that upholds brand standards and integrates properties into native landscapes for guest experiences.
• Property Leasing and Management Commercial and residential leasing services including day-to-day property management, tenant development, and community relations for managed properties.
• Tivoli at Spectrum Gilbert's first true contemporary subdivision featuring 14 semi-custom home lots within the Spectrum at Val Vista master planned community, with a 3,800 square foot community center and park.
• The Blocks of Roosevelt Row Mixed-use development on the last two contiguous blocks of the original 1888 Churchill Addition, featuring converted historic bungalows and a new three-story building for restaurants, bars, and retail spaces.
• The Crown on 7th Redevelopment of a 1960s retail center into 18,000 SF commercial property anchored by OKRA Cookhouse & Cocktails and Phoenix Ale Brewery Central Kitchen with a unique garden-style courtyard.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Chandler 112-key, 4-story, 62,000 SF hotel project part of a 45-acre mixed-use development at Arizona Avenue and Pecos in Chandler, Arizona.
• Gold Spot Marketing Center Restoration of a 1925 neighborhood shopping center (originally one of the first to serve a residential area) featuring Spanish Colonial and Mission Revival architecture, currently housing Pita Jungle, Lola Coffee Bar, and other tenants.
• Bank of Chandler (Valley National Bank Building) Historic building (circa 1912, rebuilt 1954) now housing San Tan Brewery, Arizona's largest individually-owned brewery, featuring 5,100 SF of restaurant/brewery space.
• Monroe Building Oldest commercial structure in Chandler (built 1912), listed in National Register of Historic Places. Converted former movie theater into award-winning outdoor garden patio with restaurant space and restored offices.
• Sprouse-Reitz Building Historic building (1924) in Chandler's Commercial Historic District, now housing La Bocca Urban Pizzeria and Modern Margarita.
• Meat Locker Building One of only two buildings constructed in Chandler during World War II, now serving as office space for Quadmark after extensive rehabilitation including steel support frame and new roof.
• Suhwaro Hotel Historic Missions Revival hotel (1916) listed in National Register of Historic Places, now featuring restaurant, retail and office spaces including Eastwind Chandler and Commit Agency.
• The Womack Classic cocktail bar (2,170 SF) paying homage to the former Phoenix nightlife destination Chez Nous, located at 7th Street and Bethany Home Road.
• Lamar Residence Historic four-plex (circa 1925) converted into two market-rate townhomes, individually listed on City of Phoenix Historic Register.
• Lynwood Residence Beautifully restored 1920 duplex converted into a five bedroom, four and a half bath private residence in Phoenix's Roosevelt Row Historic District.
• Sun Dee Residence Historic home (circa 1938) relocated from original location as part of Portland on the Park project, converted into a 4,100 SF single family custom home listed on City of Phoenix Historic Register.
• The Villas at San Marcos One of the first residential communities in downtown Chandler featuring multistoried townhomes (1,343-2,037 sq. ft.) with modern amenities complementing over 152,000 square feet of commercial space.
• San Marcos Commons Urban infill 79-unit townhome development in downtown Chandler, designed as a multi-phased mixed-use community.

Named customers28 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

One partnership is on record.

• Venture REIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning Arizona-based development firm Desert Viking teamed up with Venture REI to introduce Tivoli at Spectrum, a one-of-a-kind Gilbert community featuring luxury modern home designs with family-friendly appeal. This partnership represents joint development of a 14-lot semi-custom home subdivision within the Spectrum at Val Vista master planned community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Lendlease: Global real estate developer with significant U.S. mixed-use and urban regeneration projects. Comparable on the urban-infill, large-format development side of the business.
• The Related Companies: Large, diversified real estate developer with a mixed-use and affordable-housing platform. Overlaps with Desert Viking on mixed-use urban-infill development philosophy.
• Opus Development Group: National commercial real estate developer with a meaningful Phoenix/Southwest presence. Comparable on ground-up and mixed-use execution, though at materially larger scale.
• W. P. Carey: Diversified net-lease REIT with industrial, office, and retail exposure. Provides a reference point for institutional capital structures and capitalized value of stabilized commercial real estate portfolios.

Regional players

• Alliance Residential Company: Phoenix-headquartered multifamily developer with a deep Arizona pipeline. Comparable on multi-family infill product like Desert Viking's San Marcos Commons townhome development.
• Mark-Taylor Residential: Long-standing Phoenix-area residential developer and operator. Comparable on the residential side of Desert Viking's portfolio, though focused on luxury for-rent/communities rather than historic restoration.

Direct peers

• LGE Design Build: Phoenix-based design-build construction and development firm. Operates in the same local market with mixed-use and ground-up commercial work comparable to Desert Viking's project types.
• Vintage Partners: Scottsdale/Phoenix-area real estate investment and development firm with comparable infill and adaptive-reuse activity. Operates in the same sub-market and target asset classes.
• Vestar: Phoenix-based commercial real estate developer specializing in retail and mixed-use centers. Overlaps with Desert Viking on commercial leasing and large-scale development in the Phoenix metro.
• RED Development: Phoenix-based mixed-use real estate developer known for walkable, mixed-use projects in the Southwest. Closely comparable to Desert Viking in scale, geography, and mixed-use urban-infill focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/desertvikingdevelopment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desert-viking-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Desert Viking