Free Market Ventures Shield of Sound Investment
Projects

The proof is in our projects.

From the foundation to the top floor, we love making projects come to life. We take challenges and create opportunities. We obsess over every square foot. Our goal is flawless execution every time. And the results are building.

Jump To Project
Fund I
Shafer Court - Chicago IL Cannabis Cultivation Warehouses - IL 17 East Illinois - Chicago, IL The Green Door - Chicago, IL Receiver Liens (RE)meter
Fund II
Mortgage Lending 820 Davis – Evanston, IL Platform 4611 - Chicago, IL 23 S. Sangamon – Chicago, IL
Legacy
Virgin Hotel - Chicago IL 2 East Erie - Chicago, IL 111 South Wacker - Chicago, IL Student Housing
OFFICE

Shafer Court – Chicago IL

OPPORTUNITY

Conveniently positioned for growth.

RESULTS

Profitable opportunities often come from promising partnership. With Shafer Court, FMV paired with Second City Real Estate to secure a compelling and competitive asset: a 179,442 sf, 8-story high multi-tenant office building in the bustling O’Hare submarket. Surrounded by mixed-use and retail properties, Shafer Court is conveniently located near Chicago’s Blue Line, Metra rail, the interstate highway, and O’Hare Airport. With our recent renovations, the building offers Class A amenities, including a fitness center, tenant lounge, and outdoor courtyard, as well as a fully renovated lobby and common areas.

INDUSTRIAL

Cannabis Cultivation Warehouses – IL

OPPORTUNITY

Turn a profit where others fear to tread.

RESULTS

When we said unique, profitable ventures we meant it. FMV Partnered with Cresco Labs to develop three cultivation centers. The $27 million dollar warehouses were developed in the cities of Joliet, Lincoln and Kankakee, IL. Each facility features the latest best practices in integrated crop management, pest control, hydroponic, aeroponic, and state-of-the-art digital video surveillance systems. All three facilities were sold in 2019 for a hefty profit.

RESIDENTIAL

17 East Illinois – Chicago, IL

OPPORTUNITY

When opportunity knocks don’t leave it standing on the doorstep.

RESULTS

FMV acquired a property at 17 E. Illinois in the heart of River North in Chicago. A location that seemed ideal for developing a boutique residential tower. Ideal until another opportunity arose–one that would double the investment in no time and with no hassle. Sometimes the short, easy road is more profitable than the long one. Our clients rely on us to know the difference.

DISTRESSED DEBT

The Green Door – Chicago, IL

OPPORTUNITY

Put all the pieces together to create a River North development.

RESULTS

Purchasing discounted debt in one of the hottest sub markets in Chicago doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, we will be there to take advantage of the opportunity. Executing this strategy on The Green Door and Mr. Beef properties created an opportunity to get paid off at full value or potentially take over the properties and redevelop the site. The Fund did get paid off in full generating an IRR in excess of 20%.

FINANCE

Receiver Liens

OPPORTUNITY

When presented with the unusual, can we still come out ahead?

RESULTS

Our receiver lien program is designed to fund Receiver Certificates for the demolition, repair or enclosure of properties that municipal courts have ruled in violation of public safety codes. In lieu of payment, the municipal court grants interest bearing Receiver Certificates for all costs incurred. Certificates are recorded as liens, subordinate only to tax liens. We’ve invested in over 100 receiver liens with an average return in excess of 15%.

TECHNOLOGY

(RE)meter

OPPORTUNITY

A smarter tool means smarter, more profitable decisions.

RESULTS

The current CRE financial analysis process is time-consuming and expensive. The data used for analysis is incomplete, surveyed and inaccurate and no two-asset managers follow the same approach for vetting a tenant. This is no way to do business. That’s why FMV has a better way. Meet (RE)meter. It’s cutting edge technology that uses proprietary data to streamline and standardize the tenant vetting process to help CRE professionals make stronger, more profitable leasing and portfolio decisions. And when we make better decisions you make more profits. That’s what is commonly referred to as a win-win.

FINANCE

Mortgage Lending

OPPORTUNITY

Turning over a new leaf within the cannabis industry.

RESULTS

We have teamed up with Chicago Atlantic to provide credit facility to leading national cannabis producers, which are collateralized by a first priority mortgage on all real estate and a first priority security interest on all other substantial assets.

OFFICE

820 Davis – Evanston, IL

OPPORTUNITY

Building a bottom line near the purple line.

RESULTS

Office space is big business and Evanston is a leading office market, both in Chicago and nationwide. To get in on the action, FMV partnered with Blue Vista Capital Management to acquire 820 Davis Street, an 83,000 sq ft, 5-story building in downtown Evanston located next to the Davis Street CTA, Metra commuter rail station, and a 1,583-space parking garage.  The initial phase of updates comprised of staining the exterior brick, installation of a building height mural, renovations to the lobby, elevators, and bathrooms, and creation of a spec suite on the second floor.  More recently a bike room, bike shower room, and conference room have been installed.

MIXED USE

Platform 4611 – Chicago, IL

OPPORTUNITY

On the rise in Uptown.

RESULTS

We’re giving the neighborhood with a glittering past a shining future. FMV has teamed up with The John Buck Company at the crossroads of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Located at 4611 N. Broadway, the 9-story multi-family development will include 200 residential units and 9,000 square feet of retail space. This historic neighborhood has been the focus of significant public and private investment, including the $203 million Wilson Station for the Chicago Transit Authority. In addition to providing close proximity commuter access for residents of 4611, the renovated station will include the Chicago Market, a co-op grocery and community space.

RESIDENTIAL

23 S. Sangamon – Chicago, IL

OPPORTUNITY

In the West Loop, we’re seeing green.

RESULTS

How do you make a splash in one of Chicago’s hottest markets? FMV partnered with Fern Hill Development to develop a 19-story, 80 unit luxury condo building in the West Loop. Designed by Chicago-based GREC Architects, The Sangamon tower will feature multiple setbacks providing outdoor spaces of at least 12’ x 12’. The tower is constructed of high-quality masonry with large format windows for a modern take on the traditional West Loop loft conversions. The building will rise above Mary Bartelme Park which serves as the neighborhood’s signature community gathering space. It won’t just be the place to go, it’ll be a place to know.

OFFICE AND RETAIL

1114 and 1155 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL

OPPORTUNITY

Jumping in and solving problems.

RESULTS

FMV has been retained by an institutional owner of two adaptive reuse West Loop buildings to serve as an integrated provider of property, asset, and construction management services. 1155 W Fulton Market, a 102,000 SF office and retail building, is the new Chicago home of Kimberly-Clark. 1114 W Fulton Market is a 30,000 SF office and retail building. FMV acts as an experienced advisor and “hands on” service provider. This includes working in tandem with ownership on execution of short and long term strategic objectives.
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Virgin Hotel – Chicago IL
HOSPITALITY

Virgin Hotel – Chicago IL

Our team thrives off the desire to create new business, including carving out unexpected project channels. One such opportunity arose when Jack Buck met the CEO of Virgin Hotels. The relationship turned into a joint venture and development agreement which converted a historic landmark building into the first Virgin Hotel in the world.
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2 East Erie – Chicago, IL
MIXED USE

2 East Erie – Chicago, IL

The opportunity at 2 East Erie was to transform an apartment building into condos, a task requiring careful preparation and unwavering project management. The conversion took heavy renovations and negotiations. Experience and foresight into the housing market allowed the team to quickly execute their plan resulting in selling out six months ahead of the real estate market slowdown
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111 South Wacker – Chicago, IL
OFFICE

111 South Wacker – Chicago, IL

Creative problem solving was necessary in developing 111 S. Wacker, a major addition to the Chicago skyline. The team had to manage a range of details from the building’s entitlements, design, construction, financing, leasing and property management. Strategic planning coupled with an experienced team allowed the project to flourish.
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Student Housing
RESIDENTIAL

Student Housing

Student housing doesn’t have to be drab, dull or undesirable. The well-designed, great-looking facilities, in Tucson, Chicago, and Wilmington, NC, range from beautiful, traditional homes to modern, urban high rises. These new facilities offer a wide range of enticing amenities to accelerate the leasing timeline