Senthil Sankaran
Managing Principal, Amazon Housing Equity Fund
As Managing Principal of the Amazon Housing Equity Fund, Senthil is responsible for the oversight, deployment and management of Amazon's commitment of over $3.6 billion in below-market capital, in the form of loans and grants, to preserve and create over 35,000 affordable homes in Amazon's 'hometown' communities: The Puget Sound region of Washington State, the Arlington, VA/Greater Washington region, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Prior to Amazon, Senthil has served in a variety of real estate development leadership roles in both the private and public sectors. As SVP, Real Estate Development & Capital Programs at the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), Senthil led DCHA's strategic portfolio repositioning and rehabilitation efforts. He also served as Senior Director of Development focused on the Union Market neighborhood in Washington, DC for EDENS – a firm specializing in the acquisition, entitlement and development of mixed-use, urban infill, real estate projects. Prior to EDENS, Senthil served as Director of Real Estate Development for the Government of the District of Columbia in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning & Economic Development (DMPED) where he managed a multi-billion dollar portfolio of large-scale, mixed use, public-private real estate development projects on behalf of the District — most of which required the structuring and deployment of layered public financing tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF), proceeds of securitized revenue bonds, capital budget funding and real property tax abatements. Senthil began his real estate career as a financial advisory consultant with Jones Lang LaSalle's Public Institutions practice in Washington, DC.
Senthil received an MBA as a John F. Connelly Foundation Scholar of Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business and holds a BA in Government/International Relations from Georgetown University as well. Senthil is a long-term Washingtonian who lives in Bloomingdale with his wife and two young daughters.
Speaking at
Tue May 13
2:30 PM — 3:30 PM (GMT-07:00) Mountain Time
Navigating the Landscape of Attainable and Affordable Housing Development
Category
Housing/Residential
In today's challenging real estate market, developers are confronted with rising costs across various aspects of project development, from land acquisition to materials and labor. This panel discussion will delve into strategies employed by developers to navigate these hurdles and deliver profitable multifamily projects, particularly focusing on attainable and affordable housing initiatives. Key topics include adapting to market dynamics (as prices escalate, market-rate developers are embracing affordable housing models, but may face challenges competing with seasoned affordable housing developers); cost-effective design and amenities (successful developers are employing proven design elements and amenities while minimizing unnecessary expenses to ensure profitability); suburban expansion (developers are exploring opportunities on the outskirts and suburbs, branded as attainable housing, to cater to residents priced out of urban cores); strategic site selection (site selection and execution methods play crucial roles in ensuring the feasibility and profitability of projects); and the role of consultants (land development consultants contribute by offering value engineering solutions).