Urbane
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Urbane firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Urbane
- Legal name
- Urbane Development
- Website
- https://thisisurbane.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Urbane industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Development Real Estate Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Land Subdivision (2372), Residential Building Construction (2361)
- SIC
- Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Residential Affordable Housing Development & Construction (IMAFABAI), Sustainable Cities, Urban Development & Green Infrastructure (BPADALAL)
Keywords
Where Urbane is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Urbane business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Development Consulting and Advisory Fees: Fees earned from serving as development consultant and strategic advisor to public agencies, nonprofits, and private developers on community-anchored real estate projects, market studies, feasibility analyses, and program design.
- Real Estate Co-Development: Revenue generated as co-developer of mixed-use projects including affordable housing, community facilities, and commercial spaces. Urbane co-developed over $800M in mixed-use impact real estate, including Flatbush Central ($134M) and Arverne East.
- Grant Funding: Project-based grant funding from government agencies (e.g., $2.5M RACP grant, Gates Foundation funding for Small Business Worker project), foundations, and public-private partnerships to support research, program design, and community development initiatives.
- Capital Management Platform (Brick and Bond): Urbane's capital management platform marshals institutional and community capital to neighborhood assets, generating management fees and carried interest from community investment vehicles and neighborhood REITs.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Urbane product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Urbane is a community development firm that co-develops mixed-use real estate projects (affordable housing, community marketplaces, production kitchens, and commercial hubs) alongside public agencies, nonprofits, and private developers. It also delivers strategic advisory services covering site selection, community-anchored design, capital structuring, and governance models, and operates a community investment and capital management platform (Brick and Bond, Urbane CARE Fund) backed by a nonprofit programming arm (Mangrove Community Wealth) for business incubation.
Product overview
Urbane is a community development firm offering an integrated portfolio of real estate development, strategic advisory, and capital management services. The core offerings include Flatbush Central (a mixed-use community hub with retail, food hall, and production facilities), Mangrove Community Wealth (a nonprofit business incubation platform), Brick and Bond (capital management platform), and the Urbane CARE Fund (a community investment vehicle/Neighborhood REIT). Supporting programs include Bodega Bootcamps and Green Grocer Project for grocery retail development, alongside strategic advisory services for community-anchored development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mangrove Community Wealth: Non-profit partner organization focused on community wealth building through field building and prototyping best practices from across the globe, driving programming and business incubation in community spaces.
- Brick and Bond
- Urbane CARE Fund
Products and services
- Flatbush Central (Caribbean Marketplace) A 15,000 square-foot community hub in Brooklyn combining 32 retail market booths, a Caribbean-themed food hall with bars, a shared production kitchen, a test kitchen, creative studios, and cultural programming for Caribbean vendors, micro businesses, and entrepreneurs.
- Development Services
- Strategic Advisory Services Expert advisory services helping communities and mission-driven organizations navigate real estate projects, including site selection, community-anchored design, capital structuring, governance models, and public-private partnerships.
- Community Investment Services Investment services focused on building community anchors where local talent thrives and entrepreneurs grow wealth, creating shared ownership opportunities through community investment vehicles.
- Bodega Bootcamps A retailer training and technical assistance program providing customized support, market intelligence, financial analysis, and operational guidance to grocers and corner store operators in underserved communities.
- Green Grocer Project A $55M revolving loan fund and technical assistance program accelerating grocery development in Detroit, supporting existing grocers and attracting new supermarket operators (including Whole Foods and Meijer) with financial, operational, and technical assistance.
- Small Business Worker and Economic Mobility Project A Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded research initiative exploring how small businesses can create opportunities to improve economic mobility for low-wage workers, including a proprietary database tool and persona development across Houston, Chicago, Gary, Newark, and New Mexico.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $225M marshaled for small business and asset building; $800M+ co-developed in mixed-use real estate; 2,000+ affordable housing units; 1,500+ small businesses served
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Urbane
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Urbane technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Urbane partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- RiseBoro Community PartnershipcoreRiseBoro Community Partnership co-develops the Steps at Saratoga project (238-unit affordable housing) with Urbane in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. RiseBoro brings deep community development and social service expertise as a community anchor organization.
- IMPACCT BrooklyncoreIMPACCT Brooklyn (Pratt Area Community Council) is co-developer on the Steps at Saratoga project, bringing neighborhood-based housing advocacy and community planning expertise.
- Goffman Bougard, Inc.coreGoffman Bougard, Inc. is a partner with Urbane on the SW BIO CARE campus project in Southwest Philadelphia — a 4+ acre life sciences, biomanufacturing, and natural materials development anchored by LucasPye BIO and HelaPlex, combined with affordable housing and community activations.
- LucasPye BIOcoreLucasPye BIO serves as an anchor tenant for the SW BIO CARE campus in Southwest Philadelphia, providing world-class life sciences and biomanufacturing capabilities as part of the Black-centered economic mobility strategy.
- HelaPlexcoreHelaPlex is an anchor tenant at the SW BIO CARE campus, contributing bioprocessing and natural materials lifecycle management expertise to the Southwest Philadelphia life sciences ecosystem.
- Empowered CDCsupportingEmpowered CDC is a community partner in Southwest Philadelphia contributing local knowledge and community connections to the SW BIO CARE project.
- LDCENY (Local Development Corporation of East New York)supportingPart of the Reid Park Rock PACT Partners consortium, LDCENY brings community development expertise to the Brooklyn public housing rehabilitation initiative.
- PA Senator WilliamssupportingPA Senator Williams supported the RACP grant application for the SW BIO CARE project in Southwest Philadelphia.
- Councilmember Jamie GauthiersupportingCouncilmember Jamie Gauthier of Philadelphia supported the RACP grant application and provided guidance on the SW BIO CARE project in Southwest Philadelphia.
- West Philadelphia Corridor CollaborativesupportingWest Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative is a community partner in the SW BIO CARE project, contributing local stakeholder engagement in Southwest Philadelphia.
- ACANAsupportingACANA is a community partner in Southwest Philadelphia supporting the SW BIO CARE project development.
- FairsteadcoreFairstead joined Urbane and BRP Companies as a PACT partner for the Reid Apartments and Park Rock Consolidated project ($360M in comprehensive repairs across 1,700 apartments in 88 buildings).
- Mangrove Community WealthcoreUrbane and Mangrove Community Wealth work together bound by the belief that communities can shape and benefit from neighborhood growth. Mangrove was launched by Urbane in 2022 as a dedicated nonprofit organization to drive programming and business incubation at Flatbush Central and other community spaces. In September 2023, Mangrove received its federal tax exemption. James Johnson-Piett serves as board chairman of Mangrove Community Wealth, Inc.
- NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority)coreNYCHA selected Urbane, Fairstead, and BRP Companies as PACT partners for the Reid & Park Rock Consolidated Apartments — a $360M public-private investment across 15 developments, 1,700 apartments, and 88 buildings. NYCHA remains perpetual landowner and Section 8 administrator.
- Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration CorporationcoreBSRC partnered with Urbane and the Pratt Center to conduct a feasibility study for a Central Brooklyn Food Hub, and partnered on the NYCHA to Tech Pipeline pilot in Bed-Stuy. BSRC is one of the oldest community development corporations in the country.
- Pratt Center for Community DevelopmentsupportingPartnered with Urbane and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation on the Central Brooklyn Food Hub feasibility study, contributing planning and community development expertise.
- NYC Economic Development Corporation and PAUsupportingSelected by NYCEDC and lead contractor Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) to lead community engagement for the Sunnyside Yard Master Plan — an 18-month initiative covering 180 acres in Western Queens.
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)coreMDPH engaged Urbane (2016-2018) to reduce chronic illness in four Massachusetts communities (Franklin County, Hampshire County, Springfield, and Fall River) through a food retail economic development lens. Urbane conducted retailer needs assessments, provided technical assistance, and made programmatic recommendations.
- BRP CompaniescoreBRP Companies and Urbane were selected by NYCEDC as an all-Black development team to purchase, redevelop, and manage Flatbush Central. BRP serves as the primary real estate development partner while Urbane focuses on marketplace reimagining, community engagement, and business incubation. This partnership has continued across multiple projects including the NYCHA PACT initiative.
- NYC Economic Development CorporationcoreNYCEDC selected the BRP-Urbane team to purchase, redevelop, and manage Flatbush Central. NYCEDC has also engaged Urbane for Sunnyside Yard master planning community engagement. Represents Urbane's primary government client relationship in New York City.
- Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC)coreDEGC engaged Urbane to design and implement the Green Grocer Project (2009-2019) — a $55M revolving loan fund and comprehensive technical assistance program that supported grocery development in Detroit and attracted Whole Foods and Meijer to the city.
- Yale School of ManagementsupportingPartnered with the Yale School of Management to track and codify the Flatbush Central project journey through the construction phase. Provides academic rigor and documentation to the project's community wealth-building model.
- Studio 397 ArchitectssupportingBlack-woman led architecture firm contracted by Urbane to design the Flatbush Central market interior and vendor booths to reflect the market's Caribbean heritage.
- Vitus GroupsupportingVitus Group served as joint venture partner with Baker Capital on Allen Young Apartments, providing balance sheet backing and operational guidance for the affordable housing preservation transaction.
- All Our KinsupportingAll Our Kin, an accelerator of early childcare providers, will anchor the 3rd floor of 2929 Third Avenue in the South Bronx, offering direct coaching, cohort-based training, access to capital, and policy advocacy.
- BOCNET (Business Outreach Center)supportingBOCNET, a NYC-based CDFI, anchors the 4th floor of 2929 Third Avenue with office and workshop space, providing capital access and technical assistance to Bronx-based small businesses.
- Bronx Fresh Food CompanysupportingBFFC, a Black-owned micro food hub and ghost kitchen concept, anchors the 5th floor of 2929 Third Avenue, combining local food aggregation, food service preparation, and distribution infrastructure. Partnerships with Corbin Hill Food Project and Black Farmer Fund link BFFC to regional Black-owned farms.
- Five Points Holdings and Borough EquitiessupportingFive Points Holdings and Borough Equities formed a joint venture with Urbane to acquire 2929 Third Avenue — a five-story former Modell's Sporting Goods building in the South Bronx — for redevelopment as a community wealth-creating hub.
- National Conference on CitizenshipsupportingJames Johnson-Piett serves as board director of the National Conference on Citizenship, based in Washington, DC.
- Marvel ArchitecturesupportingMarvel Architecture serves as design partner on the Steps at Saratoga project (238-unit affordable housing in Bed-Stuy), bringing design expertise for wellness-focused community development.
- GrowNYCsupportingMichael Hurwitz previously served as Director of GrowNYC's Food Access and Agriculture Programs, overseeing operations of nearly 80 retail sites and Greenmarket's food access initiative. GrowNYC's Wholesale distribution arm and the NYS Regional Food Hub (65,000 sq ft in Hunts Point) were developed under his leadership.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Urbane competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fairstead: National affordable housing preservation and development firm that joined Urbane and BRP on the $360M NYCHA PACT partnership. Operates the same development-plus-community-services model across NYCHA, public housing authorities, and LIHTC-financed deals.
- BRP Companies: Mission-driven New York affordable housing and mixed-use developer that has been Urbane's primary co-development partner on Flatbush Central, Caton Flats, and the NYCHA PACT Reid/Park Rock initiative. Directly comparable in product category, target customer base (NYC public agencies), and co-development model.
- RiseBoro Community Partnership: Brooklyn-based nonprofit affordable housing developer and social services provider co-developing Steps at Saratoga (238 units) with Urbane. Compares directly on community-anchored development in NYC and integration of housing with social programming.
- L+M Development Partners: Large NYC-based affordable and mixed-income housing developer with deep HPD/NYCHA relationships. Comparable in target market (NYC public agencies), affordable housing product category, and ability to co-develop large mixed-use projects with mission-aligned partners.
- Phipps Houses: New York nonprofit affordable and supportive housing developer with a 100+ year history of HPD-financed development. Closely comparable in geographic focus (NYC), affordable housing product category, and integration of on-site social services.
Broad incumbents
- Enterprise Community Partners: National CDFI and affordable housing nonprofit with investment, development, and policy capabilities. Comparable mission and developer+LIHTC syndicator model, though at substantially larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Urbane.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution funding affordable housing and economic development across urban markets. Comparable in channeling capital into disinvested neighborhoods and partnering with local developers, but at far greater scale than Urbane.
- Habitat for Humanity New York City: NYC affiliate of the global affordable housing nonprofit, combining homeownership development with community engagement and small business/resident support programs. Comparable in mission, integration of housing with community wealth-building, and use of community engagement methodologies.
Emerging players
- The Resurrection Project: Chicago-based community development organization combining real estate development, policy advocacy, and community wealth building in Latino and immigrant neighborhoods. Comparable in community-anchored development model, cultural preservation focus, and mixed-use/community facility projects.
- Magnusson Architecture and Planning: NYC architecture and planning firm with affordable housing and community development practice. Comparable in providing urban planning services (Sunnyside Yard-type engagements) and working with HPD/NYCHA, but more focused on planning/design than development execution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Urbane social profiles
Digital presenceUrbane financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Urbane leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Urbane subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Urbane funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Urbane 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 Urbane
What does Urbane do?
Urbane is a community development firm that co-develops mixed-use real estate projects (affordable housing, community marketplaces, production kitchens, and commercial hubs) alongside public agencies, nonprofits, and private developers. It also delivers strategic advisory services covering site selection, community-anchored design, capital structuring, and governance models, and operates a community investment and capital management platform (Brick and Bond, Urbane CARE Fund) backed by a nonprofit programming arm (Mangrove Community Wealth) for business incubation.
Is Urbane a public or private company?
Urbane is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Urbane founded?
Urbane was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Urbane based?
Urbane is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Urbane make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Development Consulting and Advisory Fees are the primary driver. The others are real Estate Co-Development, grant Funding and capital Management Platform (Brick and Bond).
Who are Urbane's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fairstead, BRP Companies, RiseBoro Community Partnership, L+M Development Partners and Phipps Houses. Broad incumbents are Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Habitat for Humanity New York City. Emerging players are The Resurrection Project and Magnusson Architecture and Planning.
Does Urbane have an API?
No public API is recorded for Urbane.
What industry is Urbane in?
Urbane's product category is Community Development Real Estate Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIABAM, State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development, with a secondary code of BPAIANAD, Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning). Its NAICS code is 925 and its SIC code is 6552.