BBRM Norfolk Partners, LLC, a Black-owned partnership conglomerate, will have equity ownership in the commercial spaces and will be a part of the development entity on multiple residential developments.

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Evanston (December 15, 2022) – In a collaborative effort, Brinshore Development, LLC (Brinshore), Banc of America Community Development Company, LLC (BACDC), Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) and the City of Norfolk have committed to promoting equity and inclusion for minority-owned entities as key stakeholders of the St. Paul’s Transformation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was recently executed between Brinshore, BACDC, and BBRM Norfolk Partners, LLC (BBRM), a minority business enterprise (MBE). Through the MOU, both Brinshore and BBRM will have equity ownership in the commercial spaces, while Brinshore, BBRM, and BACDC will jointly serve as co-developers on the remaining phases of the mixed-income residential spaces within the multi-phased master development.

“Opportunities are at the heart of everything we do in the City of Norfolk, and we are proud to partner with BBRM on transforming Tidewater Gardens into a community where residents can live, work and play," said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander.

“Brinshore’s intention is to create viable pathways for generational wealth for minority-owned businesses”, said Richard Sciortino, Principal and Co-founder of Brinshore Development. “By selecting BBRM, we obtain a true champion of the City of Norfolk that provides extensive knowledge and capacity to enhance the development process. We are thrilled to have them join the team.”

“BBRM and its local member companies could not be prouder and more excited to be on the Brinshore Development team said Partners John F. Biagas, Managing Member of BBRM and CEO of Bay Electric Co., Inc., and Lafayette Tatem President, CEO Baron Communications. “This partnership will help transform the landscape of this section of Norfolk not only for the residents but also will allow BBRM to mentor and include other small minority-owned businesses in the construction portions of the development and educate diverse owners in various development opportunities. The Brinshore team led by Mr. Sciortino and Mr. John Majors along with many other team members went above and beyond to include BBRM at every step. Brinshore did not just “talk the talk” they led by example which is very refreshing.”    

 The project, which was awarded a $30M Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant in 2019 from The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), has several minority-owned and woman-owned businesses participating in various areas of the redevelopment.

• Moody Nolan, the nation’s largest Black-owned architectural firm and the 2021 recipient of the Architecture Firm Award from AIA is designing Blocks 17 and 18, scheduled to break ground in 2023.  
•  The Livas Group, a Norfolk-based, second generation Black-owned architectural firm, is providing architectural design services as well as construction administration on multiple phases of the development.
• Work Program Architects, a trusted advisor to the City and local woman-owned architectural firm is assisting with multiple phases of the project.
• The Miles Agency, a local Black-owned Public Relations firm, serves as the project’s economic inclusion consultant and has hosted vendor fairs for the redevelopment to recruit minority-owned businesses in March 2021 and August 2022.

The project is currently under construction and scheduled for completion by 2025.

About BBRM, Norfolk Partners, LLC.

BBRM Norfolk Partners, LLC is a strategic partnership of highly qualified and extensively experienced minority contracting companies headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. BBRM Norfolk Partners, LLC specializes in general and electrical contracting, networking, and fire alarm and security installations with experience in residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, and green building projects.

About Banc of America Community Development Company, LLC

Banc of America Community Development Company, LLC (BACDC) is a for-profit, wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America, dedicated to the urban revitalization of cities throughout our nation, and is focused on the creation and preservation of affordable housing. BACDC is a leader in public/private partnerships specializing in master development of mixed-use communities and neighborhood reinvestment through the development of sustainable multifamily and senior housing.

About Brinshore Development, LLC

Brinshore Development, LLC., is an experienced real estate development firm with twenty-eight years of expertise based in Evanston, Illinois. As an industry leader, Brinshore excels at creating diverse teams to transform the most complex development challenges into well-designed and vibrant communities. Brinshore’s current portfolio includes 10,000affordable rental housing units valued at more than $1.5 billion in fifteen states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.brinshore.com.