Batson-Cook Launches Development Services Division

ATLANTA—Batson-Cook Development is bringing on new talent to head a new division with plenty of potential. David Edwards has come on board as director of Development Services in a move to grow fee-based business services.

In his new role, Edwards will provide third party owner-representation services for development management, project delivery and construction management for residential and commercial development. As Edwards sees it, while the development services division is new for the company, the function of project delivery isn’t. Indeed, Batson-Cook has performed these services on several of its own developments as well as for joint venture deals.

“Because of the recent run of real estate foreclosures, Batson-Cook Realty has developed a book of business working with lenders and investors on distressed debt deals,” Edwards tells GlobeSt.com. “A good portion of this work is with residential subdivisions.”

Edwards started working in conjunction with Batson-Cook on a sub-consulting basis in 2009 to provide site assessments and existing condition reports for development services projects. He sees a natural transition as projects move off of bank balance sheets and back into the private sector.

Edwards is now charged with competing in a tight project management space in which architects, engineers, and general contractors play. But Edwards is betting Batson-Cook’s role from start to finish will set the firm apart.

“We are engaged very early in the process and ask these other disciplines to compete for the work,” Edwards says. “This has worked out well for the client.”

Edwards points to a project Batson-Cook is currently working on in Roswell for the Atlanta Academy. The private school is exploring building a performing arts center at its current facility as well as some classroom expansion. Several architects are presenting next week. One will be engaged and when the time comes Edwards says Batson-Cook will put out competitive RFP’s for general contractor services.

“The Development Services division will manage and advise through project completion,” Edwards says. “This is the second project for this group. In 2010 we completed a facility improvement as well. Our niche is small to mid sized projects where clients need their dollars to go a little further.”

Edwards joins Batson-Cook Development after spending six years as president of Odyssey Development, a real estate project management firm. Prior to founding Odyssey, Edwards was vice president of development for Sivica Communities, a regional land development firm. He says Batson-Cook offers a much larger platform from which to pursue opportunity in a rising market.

“Odyssey was founded near the height of the real estate cycle in 2006 when everyone and their brother was getting into the game,” Edwards says. “Many of our clients back then had other jobs to manage. We now have a more stable client base, which includes Sharp Residential, Southeast Capital Companies, Mirabeland Investments and other strong players. For these companies and some of the equity groups that are buying distressed deals, they want to keep overhead lean, therefore outsourcing project delivery makes sense.”