ABOUT US
The team of SOJO Urban Development consists of Michael Melson, Steve Yndo, and Frank Pakuszewski. With over 70 years of combined real estate experience, the team compliments each other with respect to all phases of development including finance, design, sales and construction.
TEAM BIOS
Michael B. Melson – Development & Finance
Mike Melson most recently served as the Managing Director – Latin America for Kimco Realty Corporation, with responsibility for all aspects of a $1.5B retail portfolio comprised of over 70 shopping centers in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. Prior to joining Kimco, Mike was the Principal of Latin America Real Estate Advisors, a boutique advisory firm based in New York City, which raised capital from global institutional investors for acquisition and development projects across the region. Mike was a Director of Real Estate Investment with GE Capital Real Estate for 8 years based in Mexico City, São Paulo, and Stamford, CT originating over $500M of debt and equity transactions across property types. He began his career with LaSalle Partners (now Jones Lang LaSalle) as a Project Manager in Mexico City, and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Stephen W. Yndo – Development & Sales
Steve Yndo has almost 30 years experience in the local real estate industry with the past 15 spent concentrating on urban adaptive re-use and infill development. His most notable projects have been in the King William/Souththown area and include the King William Lofts adaptive re-use condominium project, the 1114 S. St. Mary’s live/work conversion, the conversion of the former St. Benedict’s Hospital into a 67 unit mixed-use development, and the Madison Street Garden Homes, which recently achieved LEED Silver certification. He has served as both developer and general contractor on many of these projects. Recently, Steve and Frank in 2013 commenced with the first urban fee-simple townhome project in San Antonio, the East Quincy Townhomes, located along the San Antonio River across from the Pearl Brewery complex. Steve has also served on numerous boards over the years including as President of both the King William Neighborhood Association and the Southtown Urban Main Street program, the COSA Downtown Advisory Board, CCIM & Commercial Division of the San Antonio Board of Realtors, and, currently, the Local District Council Chair for Urban Land Institute – San Antonio.
Frank Pakuszewski – Development & Construction
With nearly 20 years of development and project management experience in South and Central Texas, Frank brings to the team a dynamic level of skills specializing in infill redevelopment, entitlement strategies and construction management. Frank served as a development and project manager on three of San Antonio’s pioneering projects: the Andalusia Condominiums, Quarry Village and the East Quincy Townhomes. Frank also spent the first part of this decade consulting on multiple town-planning efforts for the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio River Authority, the City of South Padre Island and the City of Schertz. He has also overseen the construction finish out of the CIA’s restaurant at Pearl – NAO, and redevelopment of the Blue Star Arts Complex. In addition to his recent experience in San Antonio, Frank also served as a residential market analyst in Austin as well as serving as a development associate on the commercial and multi-family components of Second Street in Austin’s CBD. Frank worked for the Lifshutz Companies, KB Home and Embrey Partners before starting his own firm, 1836 Asset Development in 2009. Frank for the last eight years has served on the Management Committee for the local chapter of the Urban Land Institute, where he currently serves as Chair for the annual golf tournament. Frank also serves as Chair of FPC Charities. Also, in 2012 he was named to the San Antonio Business Journal’s list of winners for 2012’s “40 Under 40.” www.1836ad.com