New Firm Willow Peak Bets on Downtown

Erin Fitzgerald, founder of the Minneapolis Renaissance Coalition and former senior director at JLL, has launched her own real estate company, Willow Peak, focusing on acquiring and redeveloping downtown office buildings. She plans to purchase financially distressed properties, starting in Minneapolis, and turn them into mixed-use spaces that include dining, wellness, co-working, and residential areas. Fitzgerald’s strategy is inspired by Warren Buffet’s philosophy to “buy when others are fearful,” and she aims to raise $10 to $20 million from investors to kickstart the venture. Her target properties are those no more than 200,000 square feet, located in entertainment districts, with the vision of creating family-friendly attractions downtown. Fitzgerald believes this initiative is not only a sound investment but also a socially impactful endeavor to revitalize urban areas.