Diversified Properties taps former Bowery Farming exec as new director of acquisitions and development

Diversified Properties has hired Jon Leifer as director of acquisitions and development, according to a Tuesday announcement from the company.

In his new role, Leifer will leverage his deep experience and entrepreneurial approach to oversee all building and land acquisitions and development efforts for Diversified Properties. His leadership will enable the company to continue to capitalize on property investments and opportunistic ground-up development and redevelopment projects in key growth markets.

Before joining Diversified Properties, Leifer served as head of real estate for Bowery Farming, a New York City-based vertical farming and indoor agriculture company with farms in New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Leifer executed expansion strategy and led corporate site selection for indoor vertical farms and research & development facilities, including leasing and facility buildout negotiations, incentive procurement and project entitlement. Leifer also spearheaded renewable energy purchases, sustainable design initiatives and design-build feasibility analysis.

Additionally, Leifer previously served as director of acquisitions for Case Real Estate Capital, where he led deal sourcing and execution, due diligence, purchase and sale negotiations, capital raising and joint venture partnership structuring.

Over the course of his career, Leifer has participated in numerous high-profile projects, including the development of the 1.2 million-square-foot Chicago O’Hare Northeast Cargo Center, a 700,000-square-foot cargo facility redevelopment at Miami International Airport and the design-build of indoor farms throughout the Eastern Seaboard.

“Jon’s extensive acquisitions experience across multiple asset classes speaks to his ability to provide substantial long-term value to our company,” Diversified Properties’ founding and managing partner, Nicholas Minoia, stated. “We are thrilled to welcome Jon to the team and are excited to have his vision and expertise help us as we continue to improve properties and create distinctive and thoughtfully programmed spaces where businesses and communities can thrive.”

“Success in today’s commercial real estate world is no longer defined solely by a company’s bottom line, but, instead, the broader, lasting impact it makes on the local community,” Leifer said. “From my first conversation with their team, it was clear that Diversified Properties shared my focus on community-oriented development and benefiting the residents and tenants we serve. I look forward to immediately helping Diversified realize its long-term business goals.”