High above Hennepin Avenue, harnessed construction workers in yellow vests scrambled as a towering United Properties crane hoisted giant ceiling partitions up 17 floors, swung them overhead and inched them into place atop the growing RBC Gateway tower.

The hustle atop the burgeoning tower — one that will be home to a Four Seasons Hotel and permanently alter downtown Minneapolis’ skyline — comes as workers try to reach to the goal of building 22 stories before the end of the year.

The construction site at Hennepin and Washington avenues should reach its full 37 stories by February 2022, said Rick McKelvey, senior vice president of United Properties, the company developing the $433 million project.
After many hurdles and years of delays, the project that broke ground in June 2019 is slated to become Minneapolis’s ninth tallest building.

“We’re excited to be doing this. It’s great to be part of a landmark project,” said McKelvey.

Glass windows are already installed on the first seven floors on the east side, he said, and skyway additions are going up by Nicollet Mall and 3rd Street.

The tower will house the new headquarters of RBC Wealth Management and a 222-room Four Seasons Hotel.

More than 30 full-service condos — called the Four Seasons Private Residences — are planned for the top six floors, with commanding views of the city and the Mississippi River.

About 85% of the high-rise’s office space is already leased.

In addition to RBC, six of the Pohlad Companies — including its United Properties real estate arm, Carousel Motor Group, Pohlad Family Foundation and Pohlad Investment Group — also will move in. United Properties is in discussions to lease the remaining 80,000 square feet of office space to two prospective tenants, McKelvey said.

“Interest in this transformative project continues to be strong from prospective tenants and residents, and our community. And we anticipate continued positive forward momentum,” McKelvey said.

The historic project suffered few delays from the coronavirus pandemic, although the construction site did revamp safety protocols to protect workers, McKelvey said.

The building also has safety features worked into it. Once completed, the building will feature virus-killing air handling systems known as needlepoint bipolar ionization. The tower also will have touchless bathrooms and “Destination Dispatch” elevators that should help prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.

RBC Gateway is the largest single-building project undertaken by United Properties, which also recently developed the Nordic office building in the city’s North Loop and is codeveloping the Dayton’s Project office building in the former department store home.

United Properties owns about a 5% stake in the Dayton’s Project. In contrast, it is full-in on the RBC Gateway.

As construction progress mounts, city officials are increasingly upbeat, even as real estate development experts ponder how long the pandemic will last and keep office workers at home.

Even with concerns over coronavirus, “the RBC Gateway project is an exciting development in downtown Minneapolis,” said Hilary Dvorak, principal city planner at Minneapolis Community Planning and Economic Development. “The city is excited to see another development project being constructed on a former surface parking lot downtown.”

The project — being built by McGough Construction and designed by architects at Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates — joins a flurry of smaller construction projects popping up around Minneapolis, including the new eight-story Thrivent headquarters on Portland Avenue, the six story Sora apartments next door and the new Public Services Building at 504 S. 4th Ave.

Freshly sprouted offices and apartment buildings also dot Portland Avenue, Hennepin Avenue, the Mill City District and Washington Avenue.

RBC should reach its critical 22nd floor by December. It’s a key mechanical and “transition” floor because it will hold separate heating, cooling and water systems for the hotel and condos and “step back” from the thicker footprint of the lower floors.

The slimmer profile of the hotel and condo floors allows guests and condo owners to have more window lit spaces, McKelvey said.

Right now, a sales office for the Four Seasons condos is being readied near 7th Street and Nicollet Mall. Once that opens next year, condo prices will be published, officials said.

The Four Seasons hotel will take up the 23rd through 30th floors and is expected to have the city’s first five-star rating. Condos will be on the 31st through 36th floors, with the top floor reserved for mechanical systems.

The RBC Gateway project is expected to have plenty of amenities, including underground parking, street-level restaurants, a public plaza, an indoor and an outdoor pool.

Downtown boosters are delighted by the high-end development.

“It’s one of my ‘go-to’ talking points about the future of downtown being bright, despite the negative impacts we are seeing this year,” said Minneapolis Downtown Council head Steve Cramer. “Walking around the site is a day brightener to see the construction activity and workers, and the tower rising.”

Cramer called the entire project “pivotal for downtown,” because it landed the Four Seasons, helped retain a major employer in RBC, and added a “graceful linkage” to the central business district from just north of Nicollet.

A plan to redevelop 48 acres along the north Minneapolis riverfront has picked up momentum after it secured $12.5 million from the state to build its centerpiece concert venue.

The transformation of the Upper Harbor Terminal, a decaying and largely unoccupied industrial zone along the Mississippi River, was billed as the top capital priority for the city before the coronavirus pandemic brought major projects to a halt. A community advisory group stopped meeting temporarily and planning and construction milestones were delayed. Now the project has restarted after the Legislature, in a fifth special session, passed a $1.9 billion infrastructure bill that included $12.5 million for the Upper Harbor Terminal. The advisory group has met with increasing frequency in recent weeks, and the city released a draft of a project plan set to go before the City Council in February. “With the information on the bonding bill, that’s going to be able to help give some clarification on the designs of the music venue,” said Council Member Phillipe Cunningham, who represents the area. “But overall, the process is on track.”

“I just know that what we’re going to end up getting is going to be something amazing, that’s really going to be such a cultural icon here in north Minneapolis,” he added.

The $12.5 million from the state was less than the $20 million the city had lobbied for at the beginning of the session. Still, project leaders believe it is enough to help build a concert venue that can hold 7,000 to 10,000 people with a section that can stay open year-round. “I think it’s symbolic to show that this is a statewide significant investment,” said Erik Hansen, the city’s director of economic policy. “It is putting the North Side on the map of importance.”

First Avenue Productions, which is facing an uncertain future posed by the coronavirus pandemic, would own the venue and be responsible for matching the state grant, Hansen said. In response to an interview request, First Avenue CEO Dayna Frank provided a statement that said the match would be “a mix of capital campaign, tax credits and private contribution.” This is the second infusion of bonding money for the project, which received $15 million for basic infrastructure in 2018. The design process for the venue would begin next year, Frank said.

Meanwhile, more details about the Upper Harbor project were included in the coordinated plan draft released this month.

In addition to development partners First Avenue Productions and United Properties, the city is now consulting with Building Blocks, a local nonprofit developer founded by former NBA player Devean George.

The estimated cost for the redevelopment has risen from $200 million to more than $300 million. This includes the concert venue, housing, urban agriculture, manufacturing and nearly 20 acres of park space.

“That back-of-the-envelope estimate is getting more refined,” Hansen said.

Ownership of the several parcels in the Upper Harbor Terminal, as well as assurances that the project would benefit the North Side, were major concerns of an appointed committee that has discussed the plan this year, Hansen said. Members of the committee contacted by the Star Tribune did not return requests for comment.

According to the coordinated plan, the city would own the land and lease it to developers to build housing and other commercial structures. The property where the concert venue would go would be sold to First Avenue and a community entity, who would then lease it back to the city, Hansen said.

Money from the ground leases and a $3 ticket fee at the venue would be used to subsidize commercial spaces, fund arts programming and support “anti-displacement efforts” in the North Side.

A large park that extends across the riverfront would be accessible from Dowling Avenue and owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

The community advisory committee will review the coordinated plan Wednesday. The city will solicit feedback on the plan starting in December, according to a recently released timeline. It is expected to go before the City Council on Feb. 26. Still, questions about the project persist on the North Side, said Colleen O’Connor Toberman, the river corridor director for Friends of the Mississippi River. People had raised concerns about noise from the venue and traffic to the site, she said, both of which were expected to be addressed in an environmental review that would be released after the council votes on the coordinated plan.

“It’s disturbing that the environmental review will be done after they vote on the plan,” O’Connor Toberman said.

Friends of the Mississippi River is funding a new campaign to raise awareness of the project and push for a different redevelopment.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (October 20, 2020) – As RBC Gateway takes shape and rises above the historic corner of Washington and Hennepin Avenues in downtown Minneapolis, the iconic building — the first such high-rise project in downtown Minneapolis in more than two decades — is making good on its promise to revitalize the landmark location.

When completed in 2022, the 37-story tower will be home to RBC Wealth Management’s U.S. headquarters; Minneapolis’ first five-star hotel, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Minneapolis; as well as a public plaza and street-level dining.

According to Rick McKelvey, senior vice president, United Properties, construction is on schedule, despite the challenges of the global pandemic. He noted that contractors are placing concrete on the 17th floor, and the building is expected to rise an additional five levels by year-end. Contractors also are installing exterior windows on the lower levels of the building, providing a glimpse of what the tower will look like once completed. Skyways connecting RBC Gateway at both Third Street and Nicollet Mall have been installed and will be completed next spring. Landscaping on the public plaza will begin spring 2021.

“As RBC Gateway claims its space in the downtown skyline, we are optimistic about the future of the project and how it will shape Minneapolis for many generations to come,” said McKelvey. “Interest in this transformative project continues to be strong from prospective tenants and residents, and our community, and we anticipate continued positive forward momentum.”

The office portion of RBC Gateway is already 85% preleased, with tenants including RBC Wealth Management, for which the tower is named, and the Pohlad Companies — including United Properties, Carousel Motor Group, Pohlad Family Foundation and Pohlad Investment Group. Approximately 80,000 sq. ft. of office space is still available for leasing. Details are available at www.RBCGatewayMpls.com.

In addition to the Twin Cities’ first five-star hotel, 33 Four Seasons Private Residences will occupy the top six floors of the tower. “We look forward to building a community of residences that will have their own exclusive bird’s-eye view above the beautiful downtown Minneapolis skyline, as well as access to all of the amenities that only Four Seasons can offer,” McKelvey said.

Key benefits to the city of Minneapolis from the project include a new public plaza for all to enjoy, proceeds of $10.4 million from the sale of the land to support affordable housing programs, and significant annual revenue to the city once the project is complete.

“Together with our owners, the Pohlad family, United Properties remains committed to the health and well-being of downtown Minneapolis,” McKelvey said. “We believe strongly that RBC Gateway will enhance downtown as a vibrant place to live, work and play.”

In an effort to foster greater diversity and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry, NAIOP Colorado partnered with Denver Public Schools CareerConnect for a summer internship program. This new program was designed to provide enrichment opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds and introduce them to a possible future career path.

When COVID-19 hit and the program was in jeopardy, NAIOP Colorado President Tim Schlichting was determined not to abandon the kids enrolled in the program and began making plans to conduct the internships remotely.

At United Properties – Denver, Kevin Kelley, a former NAIOP Colorado president, was onboard and agreed that United Properties would participate as one of three CRE companies. United Properties mentored two interns out of the 10-15 high school students who participated.

“Students sat in on meetings, met with African American CRE leaders, and had the opportunity to learn more about what goes into urban planning,” Kelley commented.

The students were busy throughout the six-week program, which had two stages. First, the students developed and presented a career or business plan. In the second stage, they developed and presented a site proposal for a half-acre lot that is currently under development. Students learned about zoning and developed site use and marketing plans.

“The students were totally engaged and really enjoyed the experience,” said Kelley. “This gave them a greater sense of what CRE can do to transform a community.”

Kelley was proud that United Properties participated in the inaugural program and applauded NAIOP Colorado for making it happen despite the pandemic. “It’s our responsibility to the next generation to share our expertise so they’re aware of these career opportunities. We can overcome whatever challenges are thrown our way in order to keep moving forward.”

He added that the program was successful and is likely to continue, possibly at the college level through the University of Colorado or University of Denver, in addition to the high school program.

MINNEAPOLIS (Aug. 27, 2020) — United Properties announced today that it has broken ground on ThePOINTE Bloomington, a 55-plus independent living rental community, located at 5601 American Blvd. W. ThePOINTE Bloomington will have five stories and 133 units; it will be available for occupancy in spring 2022.

“Our second ThePOINTE development is in a great location to meet the needs of active seniors in Bloomington,” said Mark Nelson, executive vice president, residential development, United Properties. “As we see demand for senior living continue to grow, we’re confident ThePOINTE’s many amenities will draw strong interest.” United Properties’ first ThePOINTE location recently opened in Roseville.

The new senior community will offer maintenance-free living for people 55-plus, with a variety of apartment sizes and floor plans. Units include one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom plus den, and three-bedroom floor plans. The rental fee structure is all-inclusive (with the exception of electricity), making it ideal for seniors looking to budget their monthly costs.

ThePOINTE Bloomington will feature stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, underground heated parking and many lifestyle amenities, including a clubhouse, outdoor pool, art studio, fitness studio, workshop and outdoor kitchen. It is positioned between Normandale Lake and Hyland Lake Park Reserve, and the location is close to State Highway 100 and Interstate 494 for easy access to amenities such as the airport, medical facilities and shopping.

ThePOINTE Bloomington will also feature an enclosed connection to the nearby Cherrywood Pointe, a United Properties-owned senior apartment community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and enhanced care. This connection will offer ThePOINTE residents access to additional amenities such as Cherrywood Pointe’s pub and dining room.

Pre-leasing has already begun. The leasing office is located at 8331 Norman Center Drive in Bloomington and can be reached at (952) 835-2000. Visit www.yourpointe.com for more information.

The project was designed by Kaas Wilson Architects, with interior design by Banko Design. The community will be constructed by Weis Builders and managed by Great Lakes Management.

Enjoy Business as Unusual Part I here.

Unprecedented times call for unprecedented kindness.

A lot has changed in a short time, and we are all trying to grasp the catastrophic impact coronavirus has wreaked around the world. What keeps us going is a reframing: This is an opportunity to demonstrate again that United Properties is resilient, and our relationships with our communities, our owner and one another are supportive and strong. We can adapt to this new normal.

Now is the time we most need kindness, yet we must be apart to curb the spread of the virus. For us, individually and as an organization, the important question is how can we be there without physically being there?

Here are just a few creative ways the employees and partners of United Properties unite in the wake of the pandemic to care for each other, our families and friends, as well as the communities where we live and do business.

1.   Love notes to our seniors

When our senior living communities began restricting family visits, Laura Peterson (associate asset manager, senior living) and her daughters channeled their creative energy into 10 handmade cards for resident members at one of our Cherrywood Pointe communities. Their thoughtful project brought many smiles!

5.   March food drive

We’d like to give a shout-out to Pequita Jordan (executive administrator) for her community giving leadership of United Properties’ March food drive. She and Lynn Camp (AVP & director of business development) refused to let the initiative slip, pursuing it through the closures. Read more about the response in Part I.

“It weighed heavily on my mind when we got sent home,” Pequita shared. “I did not want the food drive to sit, but I also did not want to overwhelm staff as folks are dealing with their own new reality.”

The Sheridan Story’s executive director recently called Pequita to express thanks for the donation and food collection. He reported that Sheridan has been providing 100,000 meals a week — five times the usual.

7.   New tricks & tools

We don’t know about you, but since the closures, our inboxes have been inundated. Early adopters within the office say that using a channel- or thread-based communication tool outside of Outlook has both relieved their inboxes and improved project efficiency. For example, Microsoft Teams allows users to organize conversations into threads by team or project. Team members then share files, thought processes and inspiration within that central hub, which allows for focused collaboration and simplified workflows.

Screen-shares, video conferences and electronic signatures have also become more intrinsic than ever before. Throughout the past five weeks, everyone has learned new tricks to maximize efficiency and maintain connection to teammates through this period of remote work.

8. The gift of “face-to-face”

Heartfelt thanks to the caregiver at our Cherrywood Pointe community who set up FaceTime for a resident after her memory care unit was placed under lockdown. The resident often does not remember her daughter, but when her daughter’s face appeared on the screen, the resident’s face lit up and she called out her daughter’s name. Truly priceless.

9.   Coping with loss

One of our own at United Properties lost her grandpa during the shelter-in-place. Grandma was beside herself, so our employee fixed up her old iPhone for Grandma. Despite anxieties over the senior living lockdown and figuring out her first cellphone, Grandma looks forward to Facetiming her three grand-girls throughout the week, talking about her day and remembering her sassy-sweet soulmate. Rest peacefully, Grandpa Richard!  1932­–2020

Trying times bring out the worst and the best — they bring out individuals’ and companies’ true colors. We must look out for one another and strive for the best. For us, this is what it means to create deep roots in the communities where we live and do business.

In solidarity,

The people of United Properties

The COVID-19 crisis has been a test of adaptability for companies and individuals worldwide. During United Properties’ test work-from-home day mid-March, our IT team worked diligently to touch base with each employee to ensure we were ready. Our offices closed the next day in-line with schools, and the shelter-in-place order took effect the following week.

Couriering, printing, mail forwarding, copying, signing, video conferencing and all challenging business continuation efforts aside, our March food drive – benefitting The Sheridan Story in Minneapolis and Bienvenidos Food Bank in Denver – was among the first things to rethink. As the pandemic’s impact became clearer, it occurred to us that the need we were working to fulfill wouldn’t go away just because we’re out-of-office. In fact, the need all around the world would only grow.

We thought about the earth-shaking impact for so many and all the vulnerable people to protect in our own lives and communities. What about the kids no longer receiving their free or reduced lunch at school? What about people out of work, maybe navigating the unemployment system for the first time? And one that’s especially close to our heart: What about the seniors we serve? How will they feel the impact of coronavirus?

How can we be there without being there? We could not go on business-as-usual.

Lynn Camp, AVP & director of business development, shared her heartfelt thoughts on the state of the state in a message to a small group of coworkers:

“I have been struggling with how I can be helpful in a time of need for so many when it is recommended that I stay away from others as much as possible,” she shared, along with an MPR article mentioning The Sheridan Story and some ideas for community support. “I am wondering what you think about communicating some of these ideas [out to employees], as I know we have a lot of people with big hearts who may be feeling something similar.”

Lynn’s sense that many were feeling moved to do more was correct, and the following week, the UP Leadership team issued an internal communication to share how the company would respond to the office closures. In lieu of a month-long food drive, United Properties would provide financial support to both food shelves to help fight hunger during this critical time in the communities where we do business.

Beyond financial support, now is the time to get creative in the ways we support and connect. We don’t have to socially distance just because we must physically distance. We plan to innovate and come out stronger. Stay tuned for Business as Unusual Part II: COVID, Connection & Creativity. Until then, let’s quarantine, unite & conquer.

In solidarity,
The People of United Properties

THE SHERIDAN STORY

The Sheridan Story works to fight hunger in our community by filling the gaps to food access that Minnesotan children face during weekends, summers and extended breaks. Albeit unexpected, this is clearly one of those extended breaks.

On behalf of 20+ organizations partnering to fight hunger, The Sheridan Story issued an email communication late last month with a clear message: For those struggling with food scarcity, you are not alone, and we are here for you.

“We have food available, and more is on the way. We are united and working round the clock to serve our community. We are coordinating our efforts with one another and with Governor Walz’s office. Minnesota’s greatest asset is our ability to work together to solve our community’s problems. We will get through this pandemic together. We are here for you. We are #MNStrong.”

BIENVENIDOS FOOD BANK

Bienvenidos is an essential source of fresh, healthy food for those in need across the Denver metro. The community-based nonprofit has provided emergency food assistance for more than 40 years. Each year, approximately 300,000 meals relieve 10,000 people suffering from hunger.

The mission is simple: Do all things possible to ensure no one in the community goes hungry. Bienvenidos plans to continue doing all things possible to fulfill the mission while protecting volunteers and friends of Bienvenidos from the threat of COVID-19 by serving meals outdoors.

We find ourselves in an unprecedented situation, one that requires all of us to work together to limit the impact of COVID-19 in our community.

At United Properties, we are committed to doing all we can to protect the health of our employees and our community, and to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while continuing to be an industry leader in commercial real estate.

Our team

In both Minneapolis and Denver, our team is working remotely. Both offices remain closed, and our team will continue to work from home in accordance with local shelter-in-place orders.

Our buildings

At buildings owned by United Properties, we’ve stepped up our cleaning protocols, including more frequent cleaning of public areas and high-touch surfaces. Our senior living communities have adopted even more stringent policies to protect those at higher risk of complications from this disease.

Our tenants

We also understand this is a time of uncertainty for many businesses that lease space in our buildings. We are listening to our tenants’ concerns and gaining an understanding of the impacts on individual businesses.

Our job sites

In Minnesota and Colorado, our construction sites continue to operate under the “critical sector” and “critical business” exemptions enumerated in Minnesota Emergency Executive Order 20-20 and Colorado Amended Public Health Order 20-24. We are working closely with our construction partners to ensure a safe and healthy workplace, while continuing to build the infrastructure that will support our community in the years ahead.

Monitoring the situation

Because this is a rapidly evolving situation, we are working closely with our property managers, employees and partners to ensure we are doing all we can. Together, we will continue to evaluate our response and update our protocols as needed based on guidance from the CDC and local health authorities, and on the needs of the community.

Questions

If you have any questions, you can reach out to your United Properties contact or call our general number at 952-835-5300.

We are excited to introduce a new blog series called “United in Real Life” – an inclusion initiative that celebrates the people of United Properties, their varied experiences and how they individually create deep roots in their communities.

For our inaugural story, we spotlight Trudi Whitson, sales manager at Applewood Pointe and co-founder of a unique ministry in South Minneapolis that exists to welcome and connect with our refugee neighbors. Trudi is deeply interested in the art of hospitality as the whole experience of welcoming and entertaining guests, visitors or strangers. It is a passion that has followed her throughout her life and career.

*        *        *

The little blue house across from Stewart Park in the Phillips neighborhood – named Salem House – not only hosts a little piece of African culture here in Minneapolis: It serves as a place where peace and friendship thrive across cultures. It’s only happenstance that the word salem can be translated in many ways (shalom in Hebrew, salaam in Arabic) to mean peace.

For Trudi Whitson, co-founder of Salem Arts Exchange (SAE), the name Salem was only fitting. Established in 2013 and housed in Salem House, non-profit SAE exists to be a joyful, creative gathering place for refugee women where friendships are formed and beautiful handicrafts are produced.

At its core, this program of Arrive Ministries is a collaboration of people who wish to wrap their arms around our refugee neighbors. The free program takes place twice weekly and is organized around a 14-session curriculum where participants learn skills like sewing while practicing their English. At the end of each lesson, the women gather for tea and storytelling. Sometimes they pray together in trying times – Christians alongside Muslims.

THE SPARK & THE FLAME

The spark for SAE came from three Bible study friends (Trudi, Anna and Kris) eager to break out of their suburban bubble. In 2010, Kris brought up an inspiring ministry just outside of Chicago called RE:NEW that was teaching a group of Somali women how to sew. The group fell in love with the idea, but it wasn’t time.

A few years later, an invitation came to the group through Kris’s membership at a multi-ethnic church in St. Paul called New City of Nations. The church members wanted to establish a similar arts program in the Phillips neighborhood, a cultural hub south of downtown Minneapolis often regarded as the most diverse part of the metro.

“We had already birthed this idea, and it seemed to be the time,” Trudi recalled. “We got a few grants and bought a bunch of sewing machines. New City of Nations had a diverse membership with many women new to America who wanted to get involved. So we gathered and just started sewing.”

Since 2013, SAE has been using and improving upon the curriculum. The program inspired another sewing ministry in Wilmar, which birthed another in St. Cloud. These programs are sprouting up across the country as a means to meaningfully engage with refugee populations, yet the general format remains largely consistent: sewing, tea and stories.

FROM STRANGERS & STORIES TO SISTERS IN COMMUNITY

Some of Trudi’s favorite moments have taken place during the storytelling sessions, which she understands to be part of how African women create community. The tradition has offered her varied stories and has transformed her perspectives on what it means to be a refugee.

“You see these women, they don’t speak the language, and right now their job is likely menial work,” Trudi said. “But in their home countries they were teachers, businesswomen and human rights activists – I even met an actress. Many of them escaped torture and imprisonment in Africa. These are powerhouse women who make it here.”

And they love it here. Trudi shared that these women are so thankful just to be here, safe with their families, and that their children can go to school. She gets to hear the often-untold stories, which grant her the deeper understanding that the “single story” told in the popular media does not.

That’s exactly why safe spaces for cross-cultural conversations can be so powerful. They create the conditions for stories to be shared naturally and for trusting friendships to grow – for people to be seen for who they really are. What’s more, people who are often silent get to tell their own stories.

“We have a basket with prompts on paper for the whole group to think about,” Trudi shared. “Last week we talked about what the word ‘transition’ means. A lot of them are still working on their English, so it can be challenging but still so meaningful. I may be teaching the curriculum, but we have a lot to learn from each other.”

For Trudi, her non-profit isn’t as much about the sewing; she’s always loved creating. But before SAE, she’d never done so in a group context. The social component was missing – the brushing arms with other women, exchanging stories and becoming family in the process.

“Sometimes when they get to do their sharing, they say things like ‘You are my family’ or ‘You are my sisters.’ Those are the moments that encourage me and still take me by surprise.”

United Properties is expanding our social media presence to include Instagram — a growing platform with more than 1 billion monthly active users engaging in a highly visual, app-based format. The @updeeproots page seeks to connect with the communities we serve in a meaningful way through imagery that inspires.

With project partners, tenants, brokers, the local community, consumer audiences and other stakeholders in mind, the account will feature updates on our projects, people and events, as well as highlights from our 103-year history. Imagery will encompass renderings, project interior, exterior and drone shots, event photography, historical photos and more.

We’d like to extend a big “thank you!” to those of you who have already joined us on our journey in pictures. If you like what you see, please follow @updeeproots and “regram” via Instagram Stories to help contribute to a successful launch! We are excited to bring you along as we create deep digital roots in 2020.