Early each year, Affordable Housing Finance Magazine takes stock of the entire affordable housing industry and releases its findings with relation to the strength of the field, areas of growth and more. As part of this, one list they compile each Spring is the Top 50 Developers in the United States for 2024.
“This recognition reflects the passion, persistence, and purpose that our team brings to the work we do every day,” said President/CFO Aaron Henry. ”Whether we’re developing, designing, building, managing, or even supporting from behind the scenes, this is an honor that belongs to every person at Vecino.”
The criteria for making the top 50 is primarily the number of affordable homes that a U.S. development company starts and completes within the given year.
For Vecino in 2024, those numbers are 442 and 382, respectively. Within the 442 units that were started, there are two communities in Missouri (The Mabion and Bodhi in Kansas City, Sankofa in Springfield), one community in Georgia (Solace Grove in Decatur), one in New York (Freedom Springs Albany) and one in a brand-new state for our team: Tennessee (Espero Chattanooga).
The 382 units that count as openings were among the developments Birdsong in Phoenix, AZ, Asteri Ithaca in Ithaca, NY, Gillespie Gardens in Cordele, GA, Asteri Cedar City, UT and Alumnus Gardens in St Louis, MO.
One big reason behind this success is, according to Vecino Group Chairman Rick Manzardo, a team that stays focused on the mission.
“It’s an honor to make the list. We just try to keep the positive awareness of affordable and permanent housing moving forward by delivering for the need,” said Manzardo. “It’s about the communities we serve, and the partnerships—in some cases decades-long, now—that we make along the way. Vecino really wants to provide a beautiful, affordable home to those who need it, with a little extra something that helps them and their neighbors. That’s the greater good.”