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Major national developer names Puerto Rico lead

By on June 15, 2020

(Screen capture of https://www.mccormackbaron.com/)

McCormack Baron Salazar taps Antonio Garate as VP, director

SAN JUAN — McCormack Baron Salazar (MBS), a national affordable housing developer, announced it has named the architect Antonio Garate as its vice president and director of development for Puerto Rico.  

St. Louis-based MBS is one of the nation’s largest developers, managers and asset managers of economically integrated urban neighborhoods that works in 47 cities and has built more than 22,000 homes.

Antonio Garate (Courtesy)

The firm said it selected Garate to lead its development efforts on the island to draw on his 25 years’ experience in commercial, residential, institutional and industrial design and construction management, Garate will. The architect earned a master of science in Building Performance and Diagnostics and a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional, with a specialty in Building Design and Construction, with the U.S. Green Building Council, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Association of Architects and Landscape Architects of Puerto Rico.

Garate was a partner and senior project architect for Alvarez-Diaz & Villalon, an architecture and design firm based in San Juan and southeast Florida. He has worked closely with MBS in the design and contract administration of the Renaissance Square in Hato Rey and Bayshore Villas in Puerta de Tierra, both completed with 314 multifamily units and the revitalization of the Barrio Turabo community in Caguas.

The Caguas project, a $133 million investment, is back underway following the pandemic lockdown. MBS said its former public housing site will now include “housing options that are affordable to families and seniors with a broad array of incomes.” The 20-acre site in south Caguas will have 238 apartments for families in town homes and walk-up apartments and a 200-unit apartment building for seniors, the developer said.

“We look forward to Antonio growing and furthering our efforts to build more mixed income housing in Puerto Rico following best practices for resiliency and green design,” said Vincent R. Bennett, president of MBS. “His approach and experience with public-private partnerships, high-quality design and sustainable development reflect MBS’ values and vision. We look forward to being a part of the future of Puerto Rico.”