UrbanCore, LLC.

UrbanCore, LLC

Real Estate Development

UrbanCore, LLC, formerly Em Johnson Interest, has been a leading San Francisco Bay Area real estate development company for more than 16 years. Founded as a minority business enterprise by Michael E. Johnson, the company began in Atlanta, Georgia in 1979. This year, Mr. Johnson, together with Muhammad A. Nadhiri, created UrbanCore, LLC with a goal of re-branding the urban infill development that Em Johnson Interest has become know for.

From its headquarters in San Francisco, California, UrbanCore focuses on the development of mixed-income, mixed-use, and affordable housing projects working in urban communities. With Michael Johnson, President, and Em Johnson Interest as the Managing Member of the Company, and Muhammad Nadhiri as the Chief Operating Officer, the firm is the driving force in the completion of its projects - from the initial conceptual planning through the design and construction phases. UrbanCore also prepares the financial structure of each deal and identifies and packages the equity, construction financing, and long-term debt. Additionally, the Company manages the marketing phase through sell-out and lease-up.

UrbanCore has successfully completed, or has in progress, a total of 32 projects, including approximately 3,000 housing units and over 100,000 square feet at a cost of over $850 million throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, Oregon, as well as several projects in the Southeast U.S. The Company has also worked within numerous joint venture teams or on a project management basis, and, in many cases, with organizations that serve as the long-term owner of the completed property. More recently, UrbanCore has completed several development projects as the lead developer and managing partner, and also has several projects underway in this capacity.

Over the past several years, UrbanCore has worked successfully in joint ventures with strategic development partners such as: BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the John Stewart Company McCormack Baron Salazar, along with most recently - TMG Partners and Nehemiah Corporation. These partnerships have allowed the Company to expand our initiatives in the Bay Area and elsewhere in the Country. The focus of UrbanCore includes urban redevelopment, new construction, and rehabilitation of mixed-income and affordable rental apartments, as well as in-fill for sale single-family and condominium developments.

UrbanCorehas formed strategic partnerships with the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF now NREA), Nor-Cal Financial, Silicon Valley Bank, Mission National Bank, Telesis Corporation, and Mugar Enterprises, each of which has assisted the Company in accessing investment and working capital, as well as project equity to expand the Company’s initiatives.

With a concentration on urban development projects, UrbanCore regularly interfaces with various community groups and local government officials. The Company emphasizes partnerships between the public, private, and community sectors, and is known to successfully bring these groups together to implement projects. The result of these public-private relationships is that UrbanCore is able to enhance the feasibility of the private investment in its transactions by leveraging the public investment contributions in each project.

UrbanCore has recently received awards from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the SF Business Times, and Multi-Family Housing Finance Magazine for its Fillmore Heritage Center and North Beach Place development projects in San Francisco.

UrbanCore is a company with significant growth potential, which is currently reflected in an extensive pipeline of urban mixed-use projects throughout the Bay Area and other parts of the country. The Company will continue to work with public agencies, community groups, and financial institutions to create vibrant urban residential, mixed-use, and community development projects that contribute to the quality of life for a diverse population.