J.J. Smith

CA Student Living, the student housing investment and development arm of CA Ventures, is opening six student housing communities this fall valued in excess of $550 million.

CA Student Living President JJ Smith talks about trends in the student housing industry, but also weighs in on how the sector might evolve.

Why Crain’s Chicago Business selected JJ Smith as 2018’s 40 under 40

CA Student Living, the student housing investment and development division of CA Ventures, has launched construction on HERE at State College, a 510,112-square-foot residential and retail complex in State College, Pa.

The 12-story development is located at 131 Hiester St., one block from the Pennsylvania State University campus. Developed in a partnership with Friedman Real Estate Group and Penn State Hillel, the project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2020, with… Show more

CA Student Living, the student housing investment and development division of CA Ventures, has launched construction on HERE at State College, a 510,112-square-foot residential and retail complex in State College, Pa.

The 12-story development is located at 131 Hiester St., one block from the Pennsylvania State University campus. Developed in a partnership with Friedman Real Estate Group and Penn State Hillel, the project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2020, with pre-leasing to begin next fall.

The property will have 227 apartment units with a total of 734 beds, located on floors three through 12, as well as 30,000 square feet of retail on the lower two levels. The retail space will surround a new public courtyard. Show less

The real estate investment holding company’s new entity, CA Industrial, will focus on speculative development and acquisition opportunities across the country, with an initial focus on the Central U.S.

CA Ventures is making a huge commitment to the industrial sector. The real estate investment holding company just launched a new division, CA Industrial, which will focus on speculative development and acquisition opportunities across the country. With an initial investment budget of $500… Show more

The real estate investment holding company’s new entity, CA Industrial, will focus on speculative development and acquisition opportunities across the country, with an initial focus on the Central U.S.

CA Ventures is making a huge commitment to the industrial sector. The real estate investment holding company just launched a new division, CA Industrial, which will focus on speculative development and acquisition opportunities across the country. With an initial investment budget of $500 million, the new division will target logistics and distribution property types over the next five years.

Sean Spellman, chief development officer of CA Ventures, will helm CA Industrial along with industry veteran Jim McGill, who came aboard in the role of executive vice president of CA Industrial. “We employ one of the most talented development teams in the industry, and with the right platform leaders in Sean Spellman and Jim McGill, who combined have constructed over 30 million square feet of industrial, the time is right to broaden our repertoire,” JJ Smith, principal of CA Ventures, told Commercial Property Executive. Show less

Chicago-based CA Ventures today announced plans to invest $500 million over the next five years in the European housing market, specifically across the purpose-built student housing and multifamily apartment sectors.

“As a pioneer of pedestrian-oriented, infill high-rise housing proximate to growing university populations, CA has delivered nearly 20,000 purpose-built student housing beds to date,” said JJ Smith, president of CA Student Living. “We have a strong track record of bringing a… Show more

Chicago-based CA Ventures today announced plans to invest $500 million over the next five years in the European housing market, specifically across the purpose-built student housing and multifamily apartment sectors.

“As a pioneer of pedestrian-oriented, infill high-rise housing proximate to growing university populations, CA has delivered nearly 20,000 purpose-built student housing beds to date,” said JJ Smith, president of CA Student Living. “We have a strong track record of bringing a market-specific curation of building design, unit mix and amenity offerings to underserved university populations in the U.S. and internationally.”

“Across the geographically diverse markets in which we do business, student preferences are actually quite similar despite cultural nuances,” continued Smith. “Today’s students seek modern designs and conveniences such as fully furnished suites, private bedrooms and bathrooms, ample closet storage and a robust combination of well-appointed common spaces for social and academic pursuits. On-site management ties it all together with hands-on programming and a keen eye for safety protocols.”

“Broadly across Europe, less than a third of all students currently live in purpose-built student housing, so we see tremendous runway,” said Smith. “We have spent a significant amount of time researching specific markets, identifying landowners and pinpointing co-development partners looking to parlay their local expertise to a platform that de-risks their position and provides capital alongside design, development, construction management, leasing and operations expertise in the student accommodations sector. Already we have enjoyed great success and this is just the beginning. Our access to capital and ability to handle all aspects of development will allow us to move quickly to secure the best opportunities.” Show less

INFLUX OF STUDENTS
“Roosevelt Row is a fast-growing community with a vibrant arts scene, and demand for workforce housing in this area will only continue to grow with all that the city of Phoenix is doing to promote conscious planning around sustainable, walkable, and transit-oriented infill development,” said JJ Smith, CA Ventures principal. “The LINK PHX will address the demand for rental residences that has been fueled by the influx of students to downtown Phoenix as public and private… Show more

INFLUX OF STUDENTS
“Roosevelt Row is a fast-growing community with a vibrant arts scene, and demand for workforce housing in this area will only continue to grow with all that the city of Phoenix is doing to promote conscious planning around sustainable, walkable, and transit-oriented infill development,” said JJ Smith, CA Ventures principal. “The LINK PHX will address the demand for rental residences that has been fueled by the influx of students to downtown Phoenix as public and private investment and infrastructure projects like the Valley Metro light rail system continue to bring a new generation of young professionals to the area.” Show less

CA Student Living, the student housing investment and development division of Chicago-based CA Ventures, and Regency Consolidated Residential today announced the start of construction on Evolve Bloomington, a mixed-use residential and retail complex at 1425 Dunn St. in Bloomington, Ind. Located across the street from Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium, the 751-bed community will include 8,200 square feet of retail and is scheduled to deliver in summer 2018. Pre-leasing is slated to begin in… Show more

CA Student Living, the student housing investment and development division of Chicago-based CA Ventures, and Regency Consolidated Residential today announced the start of construction on Evolve Bloomington, a mixed-use residential and retail complex at 1425 Dunn St. in Bloomington, Ind. Located across the street from Indiana University’s Memorial Stadium, the 751-bed community will include 8,200 square feet of retail and is scheduled to deliver in summer 2018. Pre-leasing is slated to begin in fall 2017.

“Evolve Bloomington will completely transform this near-campus stadium neighborhood by replacing outdated low-rise apartments with a contemporary mixed-use community,” said JJ Smith, president of CA Student Living. “The development’s mix of modern apartments, on-site retail and abundant amenities, including a full-sized indoor basketball court, will establish Evolve Bloomington as an upscale neighborhood-within-a-neighborhood, within walking distance of the IU campus and popular attractions nearby.” Show less

How CA Ventures Went From Strictly Student Housing To A $7B Global Multi-Sector Firm.

An in depth look at the growing industry of student housing with JJ Smith

Luxury rental buildings have become some of the hottest properties in the nation’s urban cores, but many of the millennials that could make up a good portion of the renters may feel priced out of this housing. Some operators have gotten creative, and decided to encourage young renters to share apartments by signing leases for individual bedrooms, rather than for whole units, and continue the co-living arrangements they probably had during college.

“We believe that they have already… Show more

Luxury rental buildings have become some of the hottest properties in the nation’s urban cores, but many of the millennials that could make up a good portion of the renters may feel priced out of this housing. Some operators have gotten creative, and decided to encourage young renters to share apartments by signing leases for individual bedrooms, rather than for whole units, and continue the co-living arrangements they probably had during college.

“We believe that they have already accepted that model as students, and this has helped us stabilize properties faster,” JJ Smith, chief operating officer at CA Ventures, tells GlobeSt.com. “While co-living is a newer strategy for market-rate communities, it’s a model we’ve been using for more than a decade in our off-campus student housing developments.” Show less

Chicago—CA Ventures, a Chicago-based real estate investment holding company, recently announced the promotions of three senior executives. JJ Smith has been appointed president of CA Student Living, the firm’s student housing investment and development division. Ben Burke has been named president of CA Senior Living, the company’s senior housing entity, while Matt Booma has been promoted executive vice president of the same division.

Chicago-based CA Ventures has promoted JJ Smith to president of CA Student Living, the firm’s student housing investment and development division.

Smith has been with CA Ventures since 2007. During his nearly 10 years with the company, he has overseen more than 40 ground-up developments valued at over $2.5 billion across multiple divisions.

“Ever since my first encounter with JJ, I knew his can-do attitude combined with his real estate expertise would be instrumental in fueling… Show more

Chicago-based CA Ventures has promoted JJ Smith to president of CA Student Living, the firm’s student housing investment and development division.

Smith has been with CA Ventures since 2007. During his nearly 10 years with the company, he has overseen more than 40 ground-up developments valued at over $2.5 billion across multiple divisions.

“Ever since my first encounter with JJ, I knew his can-do attitude combined with his real estate expertise would be instrumental in fueling our expansion,” says Tom Scott, CEO of CA Ventures. “His passion and creative approach to each deal are an inspiration to his team members and everyone at this company, which wouldn’t be the same without his leadership skills.” Show less

Construction started this week on Rise at Prospect Park, a 530,000-square-foot, mixed-use development. It will have 336 apartments in a 13-story tower atop a Fresh Thyme grocery store in the Prospect Park neighborhood. The grocery will be the first in the neighborhood.

J.J. Smith, chief operating officer of CA Ventures said the target market for the project is students, University of Minnesota employees, young professionals and empty nesters. The apartment tower will have a variety of… Show more

Construction started this week on Rise at Prospect Park, a 530,000-square-foot, mixed-use development. It will have 336 apartments in a 13-story tower atop a Fresh Thyme grocery store in the Prospect Park neighborhood. The grocery will be the first in the neighborhood.

J.J. Smith, chief operating officer of CA Ventures said the target market for the project is students, University of Minnesota employees, young professionals and empty nesters. The apartment tower will have a variety of unit sizes and an amenity package that spans a full range of business, social and fitness interests.

“This community is so much more than just a place to live,” Smith said. “It represents a lifestyle that marries high-end residential living with outstanding on-site and neighborhood amenities, a unique combination for this fast-evolving enclave of Minneapolis.” Show less

CA Student Living, the student housing division of Chicago-based CA Ventures, has completed eight luxury student housing communities comprising nearly 4,000 beds.

With nine new projects opening this fall, CA Living’s chief operating officer, JJ Smith, has has hands full and his eyes on a lot of moving parts.

SHB recently spoke with JJ Smith, chief operating officer of Chicago-based CA Student Living. The company, a subsidiary of CA Ventures, has nine student projects it is readying for fall 2015 opening, and more under development for 2016 and 2017. The company made news earlier this year when it acquired six entitled-for-development sites from… Show more

With nine new projects opening this fall, CA Living’s chief operating officer, JJ Smith, has has hands full and his eyes on a lot of moving parts.

SHB recently spoke with JJ Smith, chief operating officer of Chicago-based CA Student Living. The company, a subsidiary of CA Ventures, has nine student projects it is readying for fall 2015 opening, and more under development for 2016 and 2017. The company made news earlier this year when it acquired six entitled-for-development sites from Campus Crest Communities. CA Student Living is already under development with a number of those sites. As one of the top developers right now in the sector, we wanted to find out how CA is managing its many development projects. Show less

J. J. Smith and CA Ventures are bringing core-infill, off-campus housing into the 21st century through well-appointed new builds and renovation projects in urban centers