CHETNUT HILL, MA—Chestnut Hill Realty, one of New England’s leading vertically-integrated residential real estate companies that specializes in multifamily housing and owns over 5,000 units, is celebrating 50 years in business this year.
During the last five decades, the company has gone through several real estate cycles. What has made CHR thrive through all these cycles? What can we learn from the company’s management style and insights?
Boston Real Estate Times sat down for a video interview with CHR Founder and CEO Edward Zuker to review the last 50 years and look forward to the next 50 years. To view the full interview, please click here, or on the image below.
CHR is known for its 24-hour maintenance guarantee and cutting-edge Internet marketing platforms.
Since founding the company in 1969, Mr. Zuker has expanded CHR’s market share from its base of operations in Brookline, MA, to Metropolitan Boston and its surrounding suburbs and Rhode Island. The company’s holdings now include a portfolio valued in excess of $1 billion, comprising more than 4,500 residential units and over 160,000 square feet of commercial property.
Mr. Zuker has overseen the conversion and sale of more than 2,000 condominium units, and the acquisition, renovation, repositioning and operation of 6,000 rental apartment units. Mr. Zuker has real estate in his DNA. Collectively, five generations of the Zuker family have been active in the industry. His mission for Chestnut Hill Realty, “Managing People’s Homes with Pride,” is at the core of the company’s business philosophy.
A dedicated advocate and influential leader in the real estate industry, Mr. Zuker served as President of the Rental Housing Association (RHA), Vice President and Clerk of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board (GBREB), and President of the Brookline Property Owner’s Association. His accolades include the coveted RHA Industry Excellence Award.
Philanthropy and giving back to the community are very important to Mr. Zuker. Over the years, CHR as a company, and Mr. Zuker as an individual, have provided support to numerous charitable organizations through donations and the provision of in-kind services. His achievements include the Distinguished Achievement Award by B’nai B’rith International and the Mollie L. Moon Volunteer Service Award for his contributions as Chairman of the Building Committee for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
Mr. Zuker currently chairs the Real Estate Council of B’nai B’rith Housing New England. He received the 2010 Urban Land Institute’s Jack Kemp Workforce Housing Models of Excellence Award for his contributions to the B’nai B’rith 33 Comm condominium development. He also co-chaired the Building Committee for Temple Beth Avodah in Newton, and spearheaded the creation of the West Roxbury Community Center. More recently, Mr. Zuker donated a Cardiac MRI unit to Children’s Hospital and provided funding for the design, construction and maintenance of the rooftop garden for the Neonatal Department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
A native of Brookline, MA, Mr. Zuker studied finance and architecture, and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Miami.
