Urbane

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

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

• Community development consulting
• Affordable housing development
• Real estate advisory services
• Community wealth building
• Place-based development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• RiseBoro Community PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023RiseBoro 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 BrooklyncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023IMPACCT 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.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Goffman 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 BIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022LucasPye 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.
• HelaPlexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022HelaPlex 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 CDCsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Empowered 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Part of the Reid Park Rock PACT Partners consortium, LDCENY brings community development expertise to the Brooklyn public housing rehabilitation initiative.
• PA Senator WilliamssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022PA Senator Williams supported the RACP grant application for the SW BIO CARE project in Southwest Philadelphia.
• Councilmember Jamie GauthiersupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Councilmember Jamie Gauthier of Philadelphia supported the RACP grant application and provided guidance on the SW BIO CARE project in Southwest Philadelphia.
• West Philadelphia Corridor CollaborativesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022West Philadelphia Corridor Collaborative is a community partner in the SW BIO CARE project, contributing local stakeholder engagement in Southwest Philadelphia.
• ACANAsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022ACANA is a community partner in Southwest Philadelphia supporting the SW BIO CARE project development.
• FairsteadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2022Fairstead 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 WealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Urbane 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022NYCHA 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 CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019BSRC 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 DevelopmentsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnered 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 PAUsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Selected 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016MDPH 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 CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015BRP 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 CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015NYCEDC 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009DEGC 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 ManagementsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered 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 ArchitectssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack-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 GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerVitus 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 KinsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll 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)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBOCNET, 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 CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerBFFC, 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 EquitiessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive 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 CitizenshipsupportingOthersJames Johnson-Piett serves as board director of the National Conference on Citizenship, based in Washington, DC.
• Marvel ArchitecturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarvel 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.
• GrowNYCsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/urbanedevgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thisisurbane
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbanedevelopment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Urbane