Geared for Growth: Conifer Realty Provides Affordable Housing with a Residents-First Approach
Conifer Realty LLC owns over 15,000 apartment homes throughout the country and takes a residents-first approach to their communities, looking to provide homes, not just houses. Chief Administrative Officer, Barb Ross and Senior Vice President of Development Operations, Lisa Kaseman were featured on “Geared for Growth” on Wednesday, December 6th, 2023 to talk more about the business and it’s growth as part of Greater Rochester Chamber’s ongoing partnership with 13WHAM. Ross and Kaseman shared more information about the organization’s role in the community, their focus as an organization, and what exciting projects they have on the horizon as they continue to grow.
Conifer Realty has been headquartered in Rochester for almost 50 years, but their properties reach much further, with locations across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Of their 15,000 apartment homes, about 3,000 of them are in the Greater Rochester region. Within the City of Rochester, some Conifer properties you might recognize include 200 East Avenue, Erie Harbor, and Park Square near the Strong National Museum of Play. Kasman shared that they partner with local municipalities when developing properties, including local government right here in Rochester, to understand the needs of that specific area and what the residents are going through so they can provide the best affordable housing possible.
The Conifer team takes a “residents first” approach to affordable housing. “We really believe that everyone deserves a place to call home,” Ross shared, “We strive to provide that for thousands of people every day in this really different rental environment.” Going beyond just providing a safe space for individuals and families, they shared that they are very thoughtful about amenities and other features in their communities even though it is affordable housing. “The quality of the projects is top notch,” Kaseman noted, “You’re very likely to pass by one of our properties in town and not recognize it as affordable housing.”
Conifer Realty was ranked as the number three fastest growing, privately owned company in our region on the 2023 Greater Rochester Chamber Top 100 list, so they have experienced a lot of growth in recent years, and even more is on the horizon. “The need for affordable housing continues, and it’s really a national crisis,” Ross noted. They shared that they are looking to expand their operations to additional areas throughout the northeast and the mid-Atlantic, as well as add additional properties in the southeast United States. They also teased exciting news coming to the Greater Rochester region shortly.
For those who are looking to learn more about Conifer and their properties, you can visit https://coniferllc.com/. To hear another exciting growth story from a Greater Rochester Chamber member, tune in to FOX Rochester again next Wednesday at 8:45 AM for another segment of Geared for Growth!