George Roberts

Biography: George Roberts is the co-founder and managing principal of Civic Companies. In this role he oversees all aspects of Civic’s investment, development, and consulting services and leads the companies vision, strategy, design, and community engagement. George is currently in the process of developing post-COVID, creative office space in a historic glove factory, attainably priced townhomes on the site of a demolished mansion, and an innovative Jewish community center in a decrepit downtown department store, among other projects. George’s approach is place based, design focused, equity driven and transcends typical distinctions between product types, while creating value for communities and investors. George is committed to development that is public space oriented and transportation linked. Before co-founding Civic, George was the Senior Director of Civic Development for Rock Ventures and Director of Public Spaces for Quicken Loans Community Fund. Before Quicken Loans, George lived in New York City and worked for the national leader in public space redevelopment, Biederman Redevelopment Ventures. In this role, George developed parks and public spaces across North America for premiere real estate developers. George attended the University of Michigan earning a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Metropolitan Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Ross School of Business / Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. He is originally from Birmingham, Michigan and currently lives in Downtown Detroit. George is a member of the Executive Board of NEXTGen Detroit at the Jewish Federation and Founders Junior Council at the Detroit Institute of Arts. George is also a board member of JARC, The Well, the Detroit Greenways Coalition, and Woodbridge Neighborhood Development. George is a member of the Placemaking Product Council at the Urban Land Institute.