In many cities across the United States, there are entire neighborhoods full of history, culture, and resilience—yet they remain economically disadvantaged, often excluded from the benefits of new investment and development. These communities have been overlooked for decades, and the resulting lack of access to resources has created generational barriers to wealth and opportunity. But there is a way forward—through thoughtful, community-centered real estate investment that doesn’t just build new structures, but also builds lasting value for the people who already live there.
At the heart of this approach is the belief that development should serve the community—not displace it. It’s about creating wealth with the community, not around it. This mindset is central to the work of developers like Chinedum Ndukwe, founder of Kingsley + Co., who is helping redefine what it means to invest in underserved neighborhoods.
Real Estate Investment as a Tool for Economic Justice
Real estate investment is often seen as a wealth-building strategy for individuals or corporations. But in marginalized communities, it can be something much more powerful—it can be a tool for economic justice. When done right, development can help close wealth gaps, provide access to jobs, support small businesses, and strengthen community infrastructure.
In many low-income neighborhoods, the challenge isn’t a lack of potential. It’s a lack of access to capital. These areas often have strong social networks, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep sense of identity. But years of redlining, underfunded schools, and systemic neglect have made it difficult for residents to build wealth. Community-centered development seeks to change that by bringing investment into these neighborhoods—and keeping the value it creates within them.
This means more than just putting up new buildings. It means creating housing that residents can afford, partnering with local entrepreneurs, providing spaces for education and healthcare, and designing developments that reflect the culture and character of the community. It’s development with a conscience, guided by the idea that everyone deserves to benefit from growth—not just outside investors.
Empowering Through Ownership
One of the most powerful ways to build wealth in marginalized communities is through ownership. When people own property—whether it’s a home, a business, or a stake in a development—they gain access to a critical source of long-term financial stability. Real estate developers have the opportunity to make ownership more accessible, even in areas where it has historically been out of reach.
This can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, affordable homeownership programs can be integrated into new residential developments. Commercial spaces can be leased with equity options, allowing small businesses to build value over time. Community land trusts can be created to ensure that land remains in the hands of local residents and is used in ways that benefit them.
By providing opportunities for ownership, developers help residents move from being passive recipients of change to active participants in shaping their neighborhoods. This approach fosters a sense of pride, investment, and long-term commitment that benefits the entire community.
Inclusive Planning and Local Partnerships
A key principle of community-centered development is inclusion. Real estate projects should not be imposed on communities—they should be created with them. This requires a commitment to listening, learning, and building trust with residents, community leaders, and local organizations.
Inclusive planning begins with community engagement. This means holding listening sessions, conducting surveys, and working alongside local groups to identify the community’s needs, values, and priorities. It also means hiring local talent—contractors, designers, and consultants who understand the neighborhood and have a stake in its future.
Partnerships with nonprofits, schools, faith-based groups, and local entrepreneurs are another important element. These partners can help guide the direction of a project, ensure cultural relevance, and provide critical support services to residents. When developers approach a project with humility and a willingness to collaborate, they are much more likely to build something that creates lasting value.
Chinedum Ndukwe, through Kingsley + Co., has prioritized these types of partnerships in his work. Whether it’s collaborating with local governments, community boards, or small business owners, he understands that meaningful development is a team effort. It requires more than vision—it requires real relationships.
Avoiding the Pitfalls of Gentrification
Too often, development in marginalized communities leads to gentrification. New projects come in, property values rise, and longtime residents are priced out of their homes and businesses. While the physical neighborhood may look “revitalized,” the people who gave it its soul are often no longer there.
Community-centered real estate investment seeks to avoid this outcome by putting protections in place. These might include rent caps on residential and commercial spaces, commitments to maintaining affordable housing, and programs to help residents build credit and qualify for mortgages. It also means keeping cultural spaces intact and investing in community services like schools, parks, and transit.
The goal is not to replace the community, but to reinforce it. By planning for equitable growth, developers can ensure that rising tides truly lift all boats. That requires discipline, intentionality, and a willingness to prioritize impact over quick returns.
Measuring Success Differently
In traditional development, success is often measured in square footage, occupancy rates, and return on investment. While those metrics matter, community-centered development requires a broader view of success.
What if we also measured how many local jobs were created? How many families gained access to safe, stable housing? How many local businesses opened and grew? How many young people saw new opportunities for their future? These are the kinds of outcomes that reflect real progress—and the kinds of questions developers should be asking themselves.
Developers like Chinedum Ndukwe are helping to lead this shift in mindset. By putting community impact at the center of the development process, they are creating projects that don’t just deliver financial returns, but social ones as well.
The Path Forward
Creating wealth in marginalized communities through real estate investment isn’t easy. It takes time, collaboration, and a deep commitment to equity. But it is possible—and more importantly, it is necessary. For too long, real estate development has ignored the people most in need of its benefits. It’s time to change that.
Community-centered investment offers a new path forward. It allows us to reimagine what development can be: not a force of displacement, but a driver of empowerment. Not a tool for profit alone, but a pathway to justice and opportunity.
When developers choose to invest with communities, not just in them, they create more than buildings—they create hope, dignity, and a foundation for lasting wealth. That’s the kind of legacy worth building.