Acquisition and Development Team
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Interested in financing or partnering CommonBond developments? Please email info@commonbond.org.
To learn more about our development work, follow these links:
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Housing development and property management have been CommonBond’s primary business since 1971. The development staff is a core group of professionals who have worked collaboratively in the affordable housing industry for over ten years and who are seasoned professionals with many years of experience in all types of real estate development.
If you would like to partner with the CommonBond Acquisition and Development team for financing, please email info@commonbond.org or call (651) 310-9277.
Ellen Higgins, Vice President for Business Development
Ellen Higgins is the Vice President for Business Development, a position created in 2005 to maximize CommonBond’s access to affordable housing development opportunities and participate in new strategic initiatives. Prior to joining CommonBond’s management team, Ms. Higgins was president and principal owner of Heskin Group, Inc., a real estate development, investment and financial advisory firm with offices in New York, Denver and Minneapolis. She sold this company in 2005.
Ms. Higgins has twenty years’ experience in commercial real estate, more than ten years of Board leadership with CommonBond Communities and experience in affordable housing through her prior work as head of real estate development operations for the Wilder Foundation (1983-1986). In addition, she managed Heskin’s financial advisory projects for government entities, including most recently, HUD’s mark to market program for its Section 8 housing projects.
Ellen received her law degree from the University of Chicago and worked in private legal practice in real estate/foundation taxation until 1983. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, majoring in the Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs. Ellen has served on numerous nonprofit boards over the years, including the founding boards of the Family Housing Fund of Minnesota and the Women’s Economic Development Corporation (now WomenVenture).
Anne Peacock, Associate Vice President of Housing Development / Interim COO
Anne is a member within the Business Development team with a focus on the advancement of housing opportunities, relationships, and the development of key operational disciplines to successfully manage the growing portfolio. Anne served on the CommonBond Board of Directors for several years and is a long time advocate and tireless supporter of the mission and work of CommonBond. While on the Board of Directors she was a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Grand Gala event.
Anne brings over 25 years of financial services leadership experience to her role with specific capabilities in new business development, strategic planning and analysis, program and product development, communications, relationship management, and operations. Prior to joining CommonBond Anne held the position of SVP of Product Management and Business Strategy at GMAC ResCap where she was responsible for creating opportunities and driving profitability within the Capital Markets functions. She led multi-discipline programs to design and implement product and process offerings that resulted in revenue generation of over $125M or efficiency improvements of tenfold. She also held leadership positions at FBS Mortgage (now US Bank).
She is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato where she earned a degree in Business Administration – Finance with a minor concentration in Political Science. She is currently on the board of directors of VSA Arts of Minnesota.
Cynthia Lee, Associate Vice President of Housing Development
Cynthia Lee has 28 years experience working for the city of Minneapolis, Community Planning and Economic Development. As Manager of the Multifamily Housing Development Department from 2001 to 2007, she was responsible for the development and financing programs for multifamily rental and ownership housing project. Her department also administered the HOME, CDBG, ESG, NRP, EZ and tax increment funds; the multifamily housing revenue bond program; low income housing tax credits (as sub-allocator) and various other programs. In addition, her department was responsible for the administration of the Minneapolis Affordable Housing Policy and other ongoing policy initiatives. Cynthia’s extensive experience is valuable to CommonBond in her role as Associate Vice President of Housing Development.
Ms. Lee is a Carleton College graduate and has completed extensive coursework in real estate and economic development.
Amanda Cline Novak, Senior Housing Development Manager
Amanda Cline Novak’s responsibilities include the development and implementation of the comprehensive business development strategy that includes acquisitions of existing housing sites and development of new sites. Ms. Novak identifies new opportunities and responds to inquiries from communities requesting involvement in developing and/or acquiring housing sites. She represents CommonBond’s housing development division on boards, at meetings of housing associates and other public or non-profit bodies. Since joining CommonBond in 2005, Ms. Novak has been responsible for overseeing the financing and development of proposed and current housing projects. Much of her effort is concentrated on acquiring and redeveloping infill sites for affordable housing throughout the Upper Midwest. Before joining CommonBond, Mrs. Novak was a City Planner for the cities of Iowa City and West Branch, Iowa. She also worked with the Washington County, Minnesota HRA on the development of an affordable housing plan. Mrs. Novak holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Olaf College and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Iowa.
Rachel Robinson, Senior Housing Development Manager
Rachel Robinson has over five years experience in affordable housing development, asset management and construction management. Ms. Robinson has previously worked as a consultant for numerous Minnesota non-profits on family, senior, homeless and special needs housing in both rural and urban settings. For CommonBond, she provides project management and specializes in coordinating the start-up of supportive housing communities. Ms. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Macalester College in St Paul, MN and a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota. Her academic research work has included analysis of housing for persons with HIV/AIDS and using quantitative data to site affordable housing projects in major urban areas. Ms. Robinson joined CommonBond in 2008.
Jen Oscarson, Housing Development Manager
As the Developer Relations Manager and Senior Financial Analyst for nearly six years at a national syndicator of tax credits Ms. Oscarson has extensive knowledge in the development of affordable housing. Following developments from acquisition to completion, she have developed a comprehensive understanding of the importance of knowing the ins and outs of the market, the state QAP, trending analysis, identifying capital account issues (704b), rent structures, the limitations of market rate units, commercial space-infill housing, and qualified property management on the front end to the assurance of long-term feasibility of the development and the affordability of rents, along with increasing the desirability of debt and equity partners in today’s market. Ms. Oscarson also has extensive experience with political campaigns and advocacy work. Ms. Oscarson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in Political Science with a Minor in Speech Communications.
Jennifer Wille, Senior Administrative Assistant
