September 8, 2026

Welcome to People and Properties, the Cohen-Esrey newsletter where we celebrate the successes of our team members and keep you informed about what is happening in the Cohen-Esrey world. If you have something you would like to share or an achievement that you would like to celebrate, please send it to Lee Harris at lharris@cohenesrey.com. If you are on a property, please print and distribute this newsletter to each member of your property team. You can also find People and Properties on KnowledgeNet. Click here to view previous editions.

Affordable Housing With a Special Purpose

Life Skills Apartments and Fillmore Place represent an innovative affordable housing development in St. Louis County, MO, designed to serve residents with distinct housing needs. The project combined the rehabilitation of existing apartments for adults with developmental disabilities with the construction of new affordable senior housing.

Life Skills originally consisted of 48 apartments occupied by developmentally disabled residents. Recognizing the importance of preserving this housing, the development team structured an acquisition and rehabilitation using affordable housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds and HOME financing. Easter Seals Midwest, the former owner, remained involved as the service provider for Life Skills residents, allowing supportive services to continue while the physical property received substantial improvements.

The redevelopment also incorporated 16 newly constructed senior apartments known as Fillmore Place, increasing the project's scale while expanding its community mission. Financing closed in 2015, and the completed development was well received by residents, Easter Seals, the Missouri Housing Development Commission, lenders and investors.

Today, Life Skills operates as an income-restricted tax-credit community for disabled adults offering one-bedroom units of 588 square feet that rent for $1,095 per month, and two-bedroom apartments of 875 square feet that rent for $1,320 per month. At Fillmore Place, one-bedroom apartments are 724 square feet and rent for $661 per month, and two bedroom units are 989 square feet and rent for $908 per month. The Overland, MO, location is at 2215 Lackland Road. Amenities include utilities, energy-efficient appliances and windows, washers and dryers, air conditioning, community space, landscaping and off-street parking. Fillmore Place serves residents age 55 and older in Kirkwood, MO.

Together, Life Skills and Fillmore Place demonstrate how affordable housing preservation, supportive services and new construction can be combined to create stable, long-term housing for people with specialized needs. Cohen-Esrey manages the properties for a third-party client.

Keith Miley (2026) is the Property Manager, and Heather Sauerwein (2010), is the Regional Manager. Jalen Havel-Stephens (2024), is the Property Accountant, and Rhianna Jones (2025), is the Property Accounting Assistant.

We welcome the following new team members to Cohen-Esrey and the Nexus 5 Group.

Kameryn Hussein – Hawthorne Hills – Cedar Rapids, IA – Leasing Agent
Lorraine Plata – Corporate – Regional Manager
Curtis Wilbur – Centennial Park – Kearney, NE – Maintenance Technician
Kellie Williams – The Landing at 818 – Sun Prairie, WI – Property Manager
Jeronimo Esqueda – Loma Vista Lofts – San Antonio, TX – Maintenance Technician
Araceli Gurrola – Carlyle – Shawnee, KS – Leasing Agent
Keith Miley – Life Skills – Kirkwood, MO – Property Manager
Gerald Nichols – Jefferson on the Lake – Olathe, KS – Groundskeeper
Junior Solis – Jefferson on the Lake – Olathe, KS – Maintenance Technician
Keenen Tyson – Oneida Mill Lofts – Graham, NC – Lead Maintenance Technician

Transformational Construction

Construction continues at Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) future communities.

A view of Overlook 157 in Asheville, NC, from the freeway below.

Washer and dryer installation underway at Overlook 157.

Meet the Lofts at Creekview Team

Meet the Lofts at Creekview team. L-R – Gustavo Gallegos (2026), Assistant Property Manager; Belinda Facundo (2025), Property Manager; Fatima Zendejas (2026), Leasing Agent; and Steven Zuniga (2004), Lead Maintenance Technician.

Lofts at Creekview is a 301-unit affordable community in San Antonio, TX, that was developed by the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG).

Relationships Matter:
Making Every Resident Feel Valued

At Cohen-Esrey, we manage apartment communities, but our real business is people. Our buildings are important. Occupancy is important. Collections, maintenance, budgets, inspections, and financial performance are important. But none of those things should cause us to lose sight of something fundamental: Every apartment we manage is someone’s home.

The quality of the relationships we build with our residents can be one of the greatest differences between an average apartment community and an exceptional one.

Know Our Residents

We should make a deliberate effort to get to know the people who live in our communities. Learn their names. Say hello when you see them. Ask how they are doing. Remember something they told you during a previous conversation. When possible, call residents by name. These are small things, but small things matter. Imagine walking into your apartment office and hearing, “Good morning, Mrs. Johnson. How are you today?” Now compare that with walking into the same office and being asked, “What apartment are you in?” One feels like home. The other feels like a transaction. Our goal should be to make residents feel that they are known, welcomed, and appreciated.

Every Interaction Is an Opportunity

Relationships are built one interaction at a time. The leasing professional answering the telephone is building a relationship. The property manager responding to a complaint is building a relationship. The maintenance technician repairing a faucet is building a relationship. Even the team member walking across the property that smiles, waves, and says hello is building a relationship. Every interaction communicates something about Cohen-Esrey.

We should ask ourselves: How did that resident feel after interacting with me? Did the resident feel listened to? Respected? Appreciated? Did we demonstrate that we genuinely cared about solving the problem? That is the standard.

Maintenance Is Resident Service

Our maintenance professionals have an especially important role. When a maintenance technician enters someone's apartment, that team member is entering the resident's home. That requires professionalism, courtesy, and respect. Introduce yourself. Explain what you are going to do. Be careful with the resident's belongings. Clean up after completing the work. Before leaving, explain what was repaired and ask whether there is anything else that needs attention. A maintenance request should not simply be considered a work order to close. It is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship.

Problems Are Opportunities, Too

Things occasionally go wrong. Air conditioners fail. Plumbing problems occur. Repairs take longer than expected. Misunderstandings happen. Residents do not expect perfection. But they should expect communication. When there is a problem, acknowledge it. Explain what is happening. Provide realistic expectations. If something changes, communicate again. And never make a promise we cannot keep. Trust is built when residents discover that when a Cohen-Esrey team member says something will be done, we do it.

Relationships Are Good Business

Building relationships isn't just the right thing to do. It also produces better-performing properties. Residents who feel appreciated are more likely to renew their leases. They are more likely to recommend the community. They are more likely to provide positive reviews and work constructively with management when problems arise. Turnover is expensive. Retaining a satisfied resident reduces vacancy, marketing expenses, make-ready costs, administrative work, and leasing costs. Sometimes the best resident-retention program isn't a special promotion. It's simply having team members who care.

Practice the Second Mile

Great service means doing what is required. Exceptional service means looking for opportunities to do a little more. Return the call you promised to return. Follow up after the repair. Help carry a package when you see someone struggling. Check on an elderly resident after a severe storm. Congratulate a family on a new baby. Thank a longtime resident for choosing to stay another year. Those moments may require only a few minutes, but residents remember them. That is Second Mile Service.

Every team member at Cohen-Esrey has an opportunity every day to make someone's life a little better. Our residents may eventually forget the details of a lease, a maintenance request, or a conversation in the office. But they will remember whether the people managing their community treated them with kindness, dignity, and respect.

We manage apartments. We serve people. We build relationships. And when we do those things exceptionally well, we build communities that people are proud to call home.

Historic Buildings of Cohen-Esrey

Cohen-Esrey has a long history of developing and/or managing some really cool historic buildings. In this series, we feature one such building in each issue.

Tower Village

Tower Village Apartments, located at 5050 Highland Avenue in St. Louis, MO, represents an enduring piece of the city’s post-World War II housing history. Constructed in 1951, the eight-story building emerged during a period of residential growth and modernization in St. Louis. Unlike the large public housing towers that would become prominent later in the decade, Tower Village was originally developed as a privately owned apartment building, giving it a somewhat different place in the evolution of the city’s multifamily housing.

Over the ensuing 75 years, the property adapted to changing neighborhood demographics and housing needs. Today, it contains 98 apartments and provides affordable housing primarily for residents age 55 and older and currently operates with project-based Section 8 rental assistance.

Its continued operation is particularly significant given the population loss and disinvestment experienced by many neighborhoods in north St. Louis during the latter half of the twentieth century. Rather than being demolished or abandoned, Tower Village has remained a residential anchor. The City of St. Louis has continued to recognize its importance, including a 2023 award of $625,000 in CDBG/HOME funding.

Today, Tower Village illustrates how an older urban apartment building can be preserved and repositioned to continue serving an important community purpose generations after its original construction.

The Delinquency Champions!

By Michele Rollo-Burns (2018), Director of Leasing and Revenue

Each month we recognize communities and teams that have excelled at rent collections. The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is 2% or less Current Resident Rent Balances. For the month of August 2026, we have 26 properties that are Delinquency Champions or made Honorable Mention, down from 30 the prior month. Rent collection does not happen on autopilot! It requires constant attention. Congratulations to each team!

Core Value of the Month

A Healthy Tip

By Jennifer Miller (2025), Director of Human Resources

Fall Into Healthy Habits

Fall brings cooler temperatures, changing leaves, football season, and often a return to busier routines. It’s also a great time to check in on the small habits that help us feel our best. As we head into a new season, consider giving your wellness routine a fall refresh.

Get outside while you can. Cooler temperatures make fall a great time for a walk, hike, bike ride, or even a few extra minutes outdoors during your lunch break. Regular movement supports both physical and mental well-being—and fresh air can be a welcome break during a busy workday.

Give your immune system some support. Cold and flu season is approaching, so get back to the basics: wash your hands regularly, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your meals. Fall favorites like apples, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, and leafy greens can make healthy seasonal eating a little more interesting.

Don't forget the water bottle. When the weather cools down, it can be easy to drink less water because we don't feel as hot or thirsty. Your body still needs adequate hydration, so keep that water bottle nearby even after summer ends.

Take advantage of the seasonal reset. Fall can be a good time to reestablish routines that may have slipped during summer. Rather than making a long list of changes, choose one manageable habit—taking a 20-minute walk, going to bed a little earlier, packing lunch a few days a week, or taking a short break away from your screen.

Prepare for shorter days. As daylight hours decrease, try to get some natural light during the day, particularly in the morning. And when you're walking or driving around our communities in the early morning or evening, remember that reduced daylight means visibility becomes even more important.

Make time for something you enjoy. Wellness isn't only about nutrition and exercise. Make room for the things that help you recharge—watching a football game, visiting a pumpkin patch, reading, spending time with family or friends, or simply enjoying a quiet fall evening.

The Healthy Takeaway: You don't need to completely overhaul your routine to improve your health. A few small, consistent choices can add up. Pick one healthy habit to focus on this fall and give yourself time to make it stick.

Here’s to a happy, healthy fall! 🍁

Property Management Word Find

Cities of Cohen-Esrey

Independence, KS: City of Festivals

Independence, KS, is a southeastern Kansas community with a rich history, a diverse economy, and a strong sense of civic pride. Located in Montgomery County near the Oklahoma border, Independence serves as an important commercial and employment center for the surrounding region. The city developed rapidly after its founding in 1869 and later benefited from the oil and natural gas boom that transformed southeastern Kansas in the early 20th century. (Note – photo is of Monkey Island at the Ralph Mitchell Zoo).

Today, Independence has a population of approximately 8,500 residents and combines the character of a traditional Midwestern community with a significant industrial base. Manufacturing, healthcare, education, agriculture, and retail trade are important components of the local economy. Independence Community College, founded in 1925, provides higher education and workforce training while contributing to the community’s cultural and economic life.

One of Independence’s best-known traditions is Neewollah – “Halloween” spelled backward. The annual October celebration, which dates to 1919, attracts thousands of visitors for parades, entertainment, performances, food, and community activities.

The city also offers attractive parks and recreational amenities. Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo provide a distinctive combination of green space, recreation, and family attractions.

With its historic downtown, affordable cost of living, established employers, educational resources, and strong community traditions, Independence remains an important regional center and an appealing example of small-town Kansas life.

Cohen-Esrey has a long history in Independence beginning in 1996 when CEDG opened the 97-unit Pheasant Point Apartments. That property was sold several years ago. CEDG also developed the 8th & Main Senior Residences and the Washington Historic Residences in Independence, both of which are still a part of the Cohen-Esrey portfolio.

An Empowerment Story

By Misty White (2025), Mobile Leasing Agent

Cohen-Esrey has Empowered Me to Thrive by giving me the opportunity to do work that has a meaningful impact on people’s lives. Helping families find a place to call home is what keeps me going. Hearing a simple “thank you,” hearing the excitement in someone’s voice, or reading a heartfelt email saying that I made a difference in their lives truly warms my heart and reminds me why I love what I do.

Lately, working from home as a Mobile Leasing Agent has shown me just how important we are to the communities we lease up. It has also shown me how powerful team morale can be. The support, encouragement, and collaboration within our team make me feel valued and remind me that my work truly matters.

I want to give a special shout-out to my leader, Naomi Sedberry (2024), Mobile Leasing Manager. Naomi, you inspire me and set me up for success every day. You make it possible for me to do my job with confidence and purpose, and I sincerely thank you.

I believe Cohen-Esrey genuinely cares about the families and communities we serve, and that commitment shows. The company goes above and beyond to create communities where residents can feel comfortable, supported, and proud to call home. From the amenities provided to the resources and care invested in each community, Cohen-Esrey truly pulls out all the stops.

Being part of that mission empowers me every day. It gives purpose to my work and motivates me to keep showing up, giving my best, and making a difference – one family at a time.

Fun Photos!

Here’s an awesome Fun Photo. Our very own Eric Kirk (2011), Corporate Accounting Manager, struck this pose from a March 2017 issue of People & Properties.

This is How It’s Done . . .

Leading with Care, Consistency and Follow-Through

By Maelin Seamons (2022), Marketing Coordinator

Mary Drainer (2024) may be relatively new to property management, but she has quickly made an impact. After two years in the industry, the Property Manager of Brookshire Estates and Lexington Farms (Jerseyville, IL) has helped both communities climb the NPS Leaderboard. Brookshire Estates currently ranks No. 3, while Lexington Farms has recently reached No. 5. Mary credits much of that success to staying organized, following through on her responsibilities and continually looking for ways to improve the resident experience.

Growing up on a farm, Mary learned early the importance of responsibility, honesty and hard work – values she now brings to her role as a Property Manager. For Mary, Customer Fulfillment means creating a community where residents feel cared for and know their concerns will be addressed. Her approach comes down to three simple actions: “Listening, responding and following through.” She also leads her team by example, staying positive, communicating clearly and making sure residents remain a priority.

Regional Manager Heather Sauerwein (2010) believes Mary’s genuine care for residents has played a major role in her success. “She takes pride in Brookshire Estates and works hard to make sure residents feel heard, respected and taken care of,” Heather said. “She is very hands-on and responsive, and she does a great job building relationships while still maintaining expectations and managing the property effectively.”

Mary says her residents have reinforced just how important listening, communication and respect are to great customer service. It’s a philosophy that goes back to something her mother taught her growing up: “Treat people how you want to be treated.” Whether she is addressing a concern or simply interacting with a resident, Mary wants people to know they can come to her and trust that she will do her best to help.

For Mary, the greatest accomplishment isn't the Leaderboard position itself, but what those scores represent. “I’m most proud of creating a community where residents feel heard, respected and cared for,” she said. Heather sees that same connection, adding, “Her residents know she cares, and I think the NPS results are a great reflection of the trust and relationships she has built within the community.” With two communities now among Cohen-Esrey’s NPS leaders, Mary's commitment to Customer Fulfillment is clearly making a difference.