The Innovan Neighborhoods Community Developer's Roundtable is back in action again. The new cohort is different, but their mission is the same: building more affordable housing in Dallas.

BY  • OCT 30, 2023



An innovative approach to address the ongoing need for affordable housing in Dallas is showing results. Innovan Neighborhoods launched the Community Developers Roundtable in September 2022. The two-year pilot is designed to create more affordable housing options—both through owning and renting—as well as to address gaps in the community development ecosystem with a long-term, developer-led structure. 


During the nine-month program, the first CDR cohort of 15 added 112 housing units and six commercial projects to the pipeline. They also participated in a 10-site project tour and learned from 38 guest speakers. The developers will continue to have fingerprints on the Dallas community development market through catalytic projects, serving in leadership positions, and engaging with the second cohort. A few examples of that first cohort include: 

  • Jason Brown with Dallas City Homes and Armonia Apartments; 
  • Olga Lopez, serving as the Chair of the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; 
  • Jordan D’Silva, building industrial coworking spaces for mid-size businesses; 
  • James A. Armstrong leading the city of Dallas anti-displacement policy. 

 

Offering a $1M dedicated pre-development fund

In addition to providing opportunities to underrepresented real estate professionals, the roundtable offers a $1 million dollar dedicated pre-development fund—money given in the form of stipends for developers to train staff through technical assistance, professional coaching, and project feasibility studies. 


The new cohort members will meet monthly through June 2024 for eight sessions and two networking events. Their collective experience includes developing or rehabbing more than 140 units across Dallas-Fort Worth—with another 50 under construction or in the pipeline. 


Meet the new roundtable members:

List of Services

Beyond the Groundbreaking: Mastering the Fundamentals of Land Strategy

By Asheya Warren • January 29, 2026
This session continued the cohort’s exploration of the land development process, focusing on how developers evaluate opportunities through deal structure, pricing, yield, and timing—long before a project ever breaks ground. The conversation was anchored by Gilbert Gerst, Senior Vice President of Community Development Banking at Bank of Texas , who emphasized three fundamentals that consistently shape development outcomes: what you pay for the land, what you sell it for, and the time in between. From there, the discussion expanded to include how deal structures and evolving information influence risk, feasibility, and long-term value. Insights from Demarius Seals of DCS Development Services and Jared Helmberger of Bear Land reinforced that land development is an iterative process—one that requires disciplined analysis, adaptability, and an understanding of how product type and yield expectations shift over time.

Bridging the Gap: Fort Worth Cohort 3 Gains Direct Access to City Decision-Makers

December 23, 2025
The third session of the Community Developers Roundtable Fort Worth cohort brought developers inside City Hall for direct access to the leaders and staff shaping development across Fort Worth, hosted by the City of Fort Worth. Opening • Jay Chapa, City Manager City Leadership Panel • Kacey Thomas – Neighborhood Services • Ori Fernandez – Economic Development • DJ Harrell – Development Services City Staff & Program Experts Zoning, housing programs, finance tools, incentives, revitalization, and partnerships were represented by cross-department leaders including Marybel Pena, Sarah Odle, Dyan Anderson, Joshua Hezlap, Lilia Escobedo, Martha Collins, and Phillip Michael Smart. Lunch & Learn • LaShondra Stringfellow – Legislative updates impacting development This is exactly why the CDR exists: to give developers access to decision-makers, understanding of how systems connect, and confidence to move projects forward.

From Intimidation to Insight: Financial Fundamentals for Community Developers

November 28, 2025
Session 2 marked the first curriculum-focused gathering of the Community Developers Roundtable (CDR) cohort, hosted at the Fort Worth offices of Westwood .  This session brought participants together with experienced professionals from across the development and finance space. The focus was on connection, perspective, and creating room for honest dialogue, reinforcing CDR’s role as a place where emerging developers can engage directly with people who understand the realities of the work. The conversation continued throughout the day and wrapped up with informal discussion and networking, giving participants time to connect ideas back to their own goals and build relationships with one another and the speakers. Session 2 presenters included: • Will Northern, Crescendo Development • Porchia Barrett, HM&M • Diana Cetares, HM&M • Banking and financial institution representatives
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