The next phase of multifamily development won't be defined by a single trend—it will be shaped by how owners and developers respond to a convergence of pressures that are already reshaping the market. Slowing deliveries in some metros, tighter capital, shifting renter preferences, and a renewed focus on operational efficiency are all colliding at once. That complexity is exactly why GlobeSt.com's Multifamily Owners Summit, taking place June 1–2, 2026 at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, is zeroing in on what comes next.
This year's gathering is designed as an intensive forum for high-level decision-makers—owners, developers, and investors—to exchange intelligence, form partnerships, and pressure-test strategies in real time. And nowhere is that mission more visible than in the panel session "Blueprints for Growth: The Future of Multifamily Development," which brings together a cross-section of industry leaders actively navigating today's development landscape.
The session features Eric Garrett, Founder and CEO of The Garrett Companies; Alan McMahon, VP and Director of Development at The Beach Company; Micah Conn, Senior Vice President at AvalonBay Communities; Rob Paulsen, Director at JPI; and Jennifer Litwak, President and CEO of PEP Housing. Together, they will examine how development strategies are evolving amid a market that looks materially different than it did even 18 months ago.
The backdrop for this discussion is a development cycle that has lost its uniformity. After a historic wave of deliveries in 2023 and 2024, new starts have slowed considerably as financing costs remain elevated and underwriting has grown more conservative. That pullback is already beginning to reshape supply pipelines, with some markets facing the prospect of undersupply later this decade even as others continue to absorb recent deliveries. Developers are being forced to think more surgically about where and how they build.
At the same time, capital stacks are becoming more complex. Traditional debt sources remain cautious, equity is more selective, and deals often require creative structuring to pencil. This has pushed developers to revisit everything from project scale to phasing strategies, while also exploring partnerships and alternative financing mechanisms. These dynamics are expected to be central to the panel's discussion, particularly as participants weigh how to position projects for both near-term feasibility and long-term resilience.
Design and construction trends are also undergoing a reset. Adaptive reuse is gaining traction as developers seek to mitigate costs and shorten timelines, while sustainable building practices are increasingly tied not only to environmental goals but also to investor expectations and operating performance. Meanwhile, technology is no longer a differentiator but a baseline requirement, influencing everything from leasing to property management and energy efficiency.
Operational considerations are playing a larger role in development decisions as well. With rent growth normalizing and expense pressures persisting, the ability to design properties that can be run efficiently is becoming a key underwriting component. That shift is prompting closer alignment between development teams and operations teams earlier in the process—another theme likely to surface during the conversation.
The Multifamily Owners Summit is structured to tackle these interconnected challenges head-on. Across two days, attendees will engage in candid discussions, gain insight into evolving market conditions, and connect with peers facing similar strategic questions. The goal is not just to analyze where the market is today, but to help participants leave with a clearer sense of how to act on what they're seeing.
For those navigating today's multifamily environment, the value of that kind of perspective is hard to overstate, offering a window into how some of the industry's most active players are recalibrating their approach—and what that might signal for the broader market.
Registration is now open for the June 1–2 event in Tampa, where the industry's most pressing questions—and emerging answers—will take center stage.
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