About us

Focus exists at the intersection of development + construction. The places and spaces the company brings to life mirror the collaboration between its vertically integrated, multi-disciplinary teams driven to manifest success.

Our History

Since it was founded in 1993 by CEO, Tim Anderson, Focus has consistently delivered high-quality, beautiful buildings that blend seamlessly into the context of the existing architecture.

Focus has an extensive portfolio of completed work in communities such as: Chicago, Evanston, Forest Park, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Oak Park, Wheaton and Winnetka. With its multi-disciplinary team of professionals, the company has earned an exceptional reputation for credibility and competency. The recent record-setting sales of Kelmscott Park in Lake Forest, Illinois for $484,000 per unit, and Circa 922 in Chicago’s West Loop for $500,000 per unit, are testaments to Focus’ ongoing success.

Focus Development – offering real estate management, development and construction services, residential and commercial building and general contracting services. For more information please contact us.

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Leadership Team

See Development Team
See Construction Team

Clients

  • AEW

  • Associate Bank

  • Castlelake L.P.

  • Centennial Real Estate

  • CIBC

  • Citizens Bank

  • City of Evanston

  • Greystar

  • Guggenheim Investments

  • Keystone Ventures, LLC

  • Klutznick Enterprises

  • Lennar Multifamily Communities

  • Lou Malnati's Corporation

  • Marquette

  • Shapack Partners

  • Soul City Church

  • Speedwagon Properties

  • The Hunt Group

  • The Taxman Corporation

  • USAA Real Estate

  • Village of Oak Park

  • Walton Street Capital

The team at Focus did an excellent job with the renovations at Evanston Place on a very tight timeline. Their approach to the job ensured that the building was available before the fall lease-up began and enabled ownership to activate the new units in time for the beginning of the 2018-2019 semester.

Ralph Loielo, AIMCO

You learn a lot about an organization when you partner with them on multiple projects in a relative short span of time. We have worked with the Focus team on several high-profile apartment developments in the last five years. In all instances Focus’s performance has been excellent. From meeting timely schedules to providing a top-quality end product all while coming in on-budget. Focus delivered time and again. The accounting, reporting and project oversight is always professional as is the communication with their clients.

Construction projects can certainly test the limits of collaboration and coordination between parties and Focus delivers here as well. Any difficulties that are encountered they are quick to find solutions and quickly resolve any issues. We have enjoyed our working relationship with Focus and look forward to more opportunities to work together with them.

Andrew Aaronson, Vice President of Atlantic Residential

We had the pleasure of working with Focus on the sale of Courthouse Apartments in Wheaton. Goals and expectations were laid out at the beginning of the relationship and throughout the sale process their team was easy to work with thanks to their clear communication. The quality of the project and the value of the property made for a strong position and our team ultimately sold Courthouse Apartments for a record setting price for the county.

Marty O'Connell, Senior Managing Director of JLL

Focus was our joint venture partner on Courthouse Square Apartments in Wheaton, IL. This project was our first with Focus, who served as both general contractor and developer. Like most developments, this project produced some unexpected challenges during construction that were met head on from Focus’s experienced team. With each challenge, the Focus team provided well thought out solutions and recommendations for the venture to consider. Communication was refreshingly transparent throughout all stages of the development and lease-up. The end result was a very happy client from a project that was delivered on time, on budget (including some project upgrades) and exceeded proforma expectations. We look forward to many more succesSFul projects with Focus.

David Straka, Senior Asset Manager at Principal

The Carlyle Group has partnered with Focus on four multifamily development projects in the Chicago market over the last seven years. While each deal presented its own set of complexities and challenges, Focus delivered on time and on budget in every case. Led by Tim Anderson, the Focus team is a pleasure to work with day in and day out. Carlyle looks forward to our next investment opportunity with this top tier developer and contractor!

Brian Nelson, Vice President of the Carlyle Group

Focus came to the Village Board promising an upscale residential development with resort style amenities. With the delivery of the Atworth at Mellody Farm, it is obvious they have not disappointed.

The Atworth” boasts units with upgraded kitchens and first rate amenities including a pool, bocce ball courts and outdoor grills.

With a proven record of accomplishment, having succesSFully completed the mixed-use building in the Vernon Hills Town Center in 2010, Focus is once again delivered a development the entire community can be proud of.

Roger Byrne, Mayor of the Village of Vernon Hills

Wintrust has partnered with Focus on several ventures including most recently, the Residences at Kelmscott Park which set a record at the time of its sale in 2020. With every deal it is clear that Focus brings a high level of competence, experience and creative thinking to the table. Team members communicate clearly, drive solutions and work to build value throughout the life of the project.

Edward Whemer, Founder and CEO

Community Impact

At the heart of what we do, is a guiding principle to enhance communities. We strive to create places and spaces that will positively shape the experience of those who live and work in our buildings. But this concept extends beyond real estate, to how we enhance the community within our company, within our industry and within the cities in which we work. We live this out in the following ways:

  • Diversity and Inclusion

    In 2020, CEO Tim Anderson invited a group of employees to act as the company’s stewards for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. Also known as the JEDI Committee, this group is responsible for developing, implementing, and adjusting our continuously evolving plan to support a more equitable future within our organization and the industry at large. This committee’s input resulted in the following actions:


    Continuing Actions

    • Annually report and measure the Focus staff’s diversity against industry and local benchmarks as we strive to create a company that reflects the diversity of our local community.
    • Annual employee training for implicit bias and microaggressions/subtle acts of exclusion
    • Added “Awareness and Acceptance” to the company’s Values. This new value statement communicates Focus’ commitment to a culture of inclusion where everyone has an opportunity to contribute and be heard.
    • Enhanced Focus’s process of reviewing and adjusting compensation and promotion decisions to ensure no individuals are left behind their peers as a result of bias or discrimination.
    • Increased involvement and support of organizations working in the construction and real estate industry.

    Partners

    • Revolution Workshop

      Mission: To build skills, hope and resilience in Chicago’s underserved communities through construction job training and job creation.

    • Chicago Scholars

      Mission: To select, train and mentor academically ambitious students from under-resourced communities to complete college and become the next generation of leaders who will transform their neighborhoods and our city.

    • Project REAP

      Mission: To advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry.

Careers

We are always on the lookout for talented, hard-working, dedicated individuals to join our teams. Please direct any inquiries related to career opportunities at Focus to employment@workwithfocus.com

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