About Us

Our Mission and Values

We are guided by our central mission: transforming places into communities where all people can thrive. Our mission is enhanced by our values (represented by the acronym MOSAIC):

Mindful: Communicating through thoughtful listening and sharing.
Opportunity-Centered: Fostering personal and professional growth.
Socially Responsible: Investing our resources to strengthen communities.
Authentic: Working with integrity, accountability and respect.
Innovative: Trailblazing new ideas that create value.
Collaborative: Leveraging relationships for greater impacts.

A Leader in Building Communities

From a commitment to improving low-income housing to a commitment to transforming lives and cities.

Since its founding in 1973, McCormack Baron Salazar has made quality, affordable housing the cornerstone of our efforts to rebuild central cities across the United States that have deteriorated through decades of neglect and disinvestment.

McCormack Baron Salazar’s role as an innovator in community and urban redevelopment can be traced to 1963, when an idealistic Oberlin College student named Richard Baron volunteered at a Freedom School established by social activists and residents of Cleveland’s impoverished Hough neighborhood. Mr. Baron’s experience working with children in Hough opened his eyes to the needs, hopes and potential of low-income urban communities.

After graduating from law school, Mr. Baron became a legal aid lawyer representing public housing tenants in St. Louis. There he saw first-hand huge disparities in housing quality and opportunity available to poor families. Baron helped create a more responsive public housing bureaucracy and persuaded the agency to give tenants a role in managing public housing developments.

During this time he forged a relationship with labor leader and homebuilder Terry McCormack and in 1973 the two formed McCormack Baron & Associates (now McCormack Baron Salazar). Their vision, to rebuild low-income communities by providing quality housing options for all people, is the core principle of the company’s mission today.

Through the intervening years, the firm has evolved in order to address broader challenges and create stronger impacts. Early projects focused on the development of small, single sites with mixed-income rental housing.  Striving for even greater impact on disadvantaged neighborhoods, McCormack Baron Salazar began to develop multi-block areas, creating financial structures that combined local and Federal programs to support a mix of affordable, public housing and market-rate homes.  Recognizing that quality, secure and stable housing was just the beginning, McCormack Baron Salazar now includes the development and support of neighborhood schools, early childhood education, youth and senior activities, resident job training and self-sufficiency, economic development, access to quality health services, environmental stewardship and energy efficiency and a long-term commitment to the community as core activities in comprehensive neighborhood revitalization.

Through the same period, the company began expanding its real estate services to include property management, asset management and specialized services like public infrastructure consulting, sustainability, and a New Markets Tax Credit group. In expanding its vision and scope, McCormack Baron Salazar has also created long-term partnerships with local governments, housing authorities, non-profit providers, key institutions, and employers.

The results of these efforts are tangible: revitalized communities, with stable, sustainable housing, quality educational choices, access to economic opportunities, connections to retail and services, and enriched recreational and health options. These are communities of choice, not of last resort, where families can raise their children, seniors can age in place, and all people have the opportunity to thrive.

Our Vision

McCormack Baron Salazar is poised to help cities meet 21st century challenges head-on. We bring a comprehensive and workable approach to a complex development environment and our successes demonstrate our ability to deliver on the goals set for us by our clients: the cities, residents, authorities, institutions, and businesses of Urban America. 

Through it all, we strive to achieve our vision: a future when all people live in sustainable, opportunity-rich communities.

 

Company Profile

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS

TOTAL INVESTMENT

HOMES

DEVELOPMENT PHASES

COMMERCIAL SPACE

$5.6 billion

26,299

239

1.6 million
sq. ft.

 

CHOICE NEIGHBORHOOD/HOPE VI ACHIEVEMENTS

TOTAL INVESTMENT

HOMES

COMMUNITIES

CHOICE IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS

$3.6 billion

14,549

47

16

 

 

GREEN CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENTS

NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS

HOMES

COMMUNITIES

NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT ALLOCATION

TOTAL NMTC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENT

8,282

74

$525 million

$2.1 billion

 

MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

ASSET MANGEMENT PORTFOLIO

HOMES

PROPERTIES

HOMES

PROPERTIES

15,686

132

19,389

165

(updated Nov 2023-NMTC, Green, MBS and MBAM; May 2023-MBM) 

A Leader in Building Communities

McCormack Baron Salazar is one of the nation’s leading for-profit developers of economically integrated urban neighborhoods. Here is some key information about our company and our work:

Operating Divisions

McCormack Baron Salazar, Inc. (Development and Consulting)
McCormack Baron Management, Inc. (Management)
McCormack Baron Asset Management, Inc. (Asset Management)
MBS Urban Initiatives CDE (New Markets Tax Credits)

National Employees: 526

General Development

Total Development Investment: $5.6 billion
Homes Developed: 26,299
Commercial Space: 1.6 million square feet
Development Phases: 239
Development City Locations: 54
Development State Locations: 24, DC, PR, USVI

Mixed-Finance (HOPE VI/Choice Neighborhood/HUD Capital Funds)

Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grants: 16
Choice Neighborhood/HOPE VI/Mixed-Finance Phases: 120
Choice Neighborhood/HOPE VI/Mixed-Finance Development Investment: $3.6 billion
Choice Neighborhood/HOPE VI/Mixed-Finance Homes: 14,549

New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC)

New Markets Tax Credit Allocation: $525 million
NMTC investments closed since 2006: 71
Total NMTC Development Investment: $2.1 billion

Property Management

Portfolio: 15,686 homes in 132 properties
States: 22
Cities: 38

Asset Management

Asset Management Portfolio: 165 properties with 19,389 homes
Asset Management Activities: 26 states and 2 territories

Renewable Energy

Solar panel installation sites: 39
Clean power generated: 3.7 million (kWh annually)
Total system size: 2,637 kW (DC)

Green Building

Green Certified Homes: 8,282
Green Certified Communities (third party certified): 74
LEED for Homes--Platinum-434, Gold-376, Silver-110: 920
LEED Certified Neighborhoods (LEED-ND): 8
Enterprise Green Communities: 35

Notable Corporate Awards

Raul Yzaguirre President’s Award from the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) (2015); Tony Salazar).
Emeritus Award.  St. Louis Green Business Challenge (2013). 
National Award for Program Excellence. National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) (2005).
J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.  Urban Land Institute. (2004; Richard D. Baron).

Notable Community Awards

American Society of Civil Engineers Metropolitan Los Angeles Branch, Outstanding Urban or Land Development Project of the Year (2015; Taylor Yard Transit Village).
Green Ribbon School Award. U.S. Department of Education. (2021: Flance Early Learning Center; 2012: Crossroads College Preparatory School).
Development of the Year. St. Louis Development Corporation. (2012; Arlington Grove and North Sarah).
Vanguard Award. National Affordable Housing Management Association. (2012; Harmony Oaks).
Renovation Project of the Year. Associated General Contractors of America. (2010; the Valentine).
Best Multi-Housing Renovation.  Multi-Housing News. (2010; the Valentine).
Outstanding Achievement Award.  Energy Star. (2006; Renaissance Place at Grand).
Award for Multifamily Housing to Recognize Excellence in Residential Design. AIA Housing Committee. (2006; Metro Hollywood Apartments).
New Community.  Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence. (2005; Pueblo del Sol).
HFA Annual Awards for Program Excellence - Special Housing Needs.  National Council of State Housing Agencies (2005; 6 North).
Bridge Builders Award. Partners for Livable Communities (2003; Center of Creative Arts (COCA).