Crescent Communities Names Benjamin Collins President of Multifamily Real Estate Platform
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Crescent Communities announced May 18 the promotion of Benjamin Collins to President of Multifamily, placing him at the helm of the company's NOVEL-branded residential platform as the firm navigates a period of leadership transition and continued portfolio expansion.
Collins succeeds Jay Curran in the multifamily president role. Curran was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crescent Communities last month, moving from day-to-day oversight of the multifamily business into enterprise-wide leadership.
A 17-Year Track Record in Multifamily Real Estate Development
Collins has been with Crescent Communities for 17 years, during which he has overseen the delivery of 23,000 multifamily units and nearly 375,000 square feet of retail, representing a cumulative value of $6 billion, according to the company. He began his tenure focused on strengthening the firm's presence across the Carolinas before expanding Crescent's footprint into Washington, D.C., and Tennessee, earning a promotion to Managing Director.
He was subsequently named Executive Managing Director, a role in which he led the expansion of the multifamily platform into the Western United States. Most recently, Collins assumed oversight of Crescent Communities' entire multifamily pipeline portfolio under Curran's leadership before being elevated to his current position.
"Ben has been instrumental in shaping our multifamily business and driving its continued success," said Curran. "He brings leadership, creativity, market insight and a commitment to excellence that will ensure we continue to deliver differentiated, best-in-class communities."
Collins acknowledged the transition in a statement: "I'm honored to step into this role and continue building on the strong foundation Jay helped establish. Crescent Communities has a unique approach to placemaking: one that prioritizes people, community and long-term value. I'm excited to work alongside our talented team to further elevate our multifamily platform and continue delivering exceptional communities."
Multifamily Portfolio Scale and Active Pipeline
In his new role, Collins will lead the strategic direction, growth, and performance of Crescent Communities' multifamily platform, overseeing development, investment, and operations across the company's national footprint. The firm's current multifamily portfolio stands at $5.3 billion in investments across 23,574 units, according to the announcement.
Crescent Communities develops multifamily communities under three residential brands: NOVEL, targeting urban locations; RENDER, focused on suburban formats; and HARMON, a build-to-rent product. The broader platform also includes commercial real estate development under the AXIAL industrial, THE YIELD life science, and BOWER office brands.
Recent multifamily activity cited by the company includes the leasing of NOVEL 14th Street in Washington, D.C.; the groundbreaking at NOVEL Lulah Hills in Decatur, Ga.; and the leasing of NOVEL Davidson in Davidson, N.C.
Leadership Transition and Company Background
The promotion completes a succession that Crescent Communities began when it elevated Curran to the top executive role. For more than a decade, Curran and Collins partnered to drive the growth and evolution of the multifamily platform, according to the company.
Crescent Communities, founded in 1963 and headquartered in Charlotte, maintains offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Denver, and Phoenix. Its historical development portfolio includes more than 95 multifamily communities, 26 million square feet of commercial space, and more than 60 master-planned communities.
Crescent Communities did not disclose financial targets or specific development starts associated with Collins' appointment.