Capital Square, a leading sponsor of tax-advantaged real estate investments, has launched a new opportunity zone platform that specializes in the sponsorship of project-specific qualified opportunity zone funds.
Opportunity zone funds are designed for investors seeking a reduction or permanent elimination of taxes on capital gains from an investment in a qualified opportunity zone. Conceived as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to stimulate long-term private investments in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide, opportunity zone fund investments seek to foster economic growth in distressed areas by providing tax benefits to incentivize private investments in designated opportunity zones.
“As a leading sponsor of Delaware statutory trusts and a national commercial property manager with more than $1.3 billion in transaction volume, Capital Square’s expansion into tax-advantaged opportunity zone funds is a natural progression,” said Louis Rogers, founder and chief executive officer. “As one of the most active buyers of multifamily properties in the mid-Atlantic, it is logical for Capital Square to develop communities in the region as well. The substantial tax benefits for investing and developing in opportunity zones is the icing on the cake.”
Capital Square will initially focus on project-specific funds throughout the mid-Atlantic region and Washington, D.C. The company has hired Adam Stifel and Jake Baum to head the opportunity zone developments.
Stifel will lead Capital Square’s development team as executive vice president. Prior to joining the firm, he founded May Riegler Companies, previously CAS Riegler Companies, and Hook Properties, both full-service real estate development and asset management companies. Since 2009, Stifel has sponsored more than $500 million in multifamily development and retail and commercial office acquisitions. He brings experience in developing class A and B, market-rate apartments and condominium projects as well as the creation and syndication of low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and historic tax credits (HTC).
Baum will serve as development manager at Capital Square, responsible for leading all aspects of the development process from acquisition through stabilization. Prior to joining Capital Square, he served as development manager at Hook Properties, where he developed multifamily projects in the mid-Atlantic. Baum also worked with Stifel at CAS Riegler Companies and ComfortSystems USA in construction management, where he completed a range of projects from infill multifamily and mixed-use to institutional laboratory and classroom buildings.