Investing in the long-term vitality of our communities.
Our name is Community Investment Strategies because we do just
that – we invest in communities. We’re strategic planners, expert builders, and involved participants in the communities we design.
CIS goes beyond building affordable housing.
We build places people can call home.
Since 1994, we have proudly developed and revitalized dozens of properties. That alone does not set us apart from any other real estate development firm. So what makes us different? We recognize the unique qualities at the heart of each neighborhood, and we design each new community with those intricate details in mind.
Our communities are thoughtfully designed and developed to improve the lives of our residents and the neighborhoods in which they live, work, and play. We want our residents to be proud of their homes, so we focus on building communities that feature leading-edge building practices and energy-efficient systems and are designed to exceed area building regulations so our residents can enjoy living in safe, comfortable, attractive spaces.
The homes we build are built to last, utilizing state-of-the-art design techniques that protect our properties and our residents. Once construction ends, we don’t pick up our shovels and leave. CIS’ committed management team provides onsite support to residents and operates each building as a long-term investment. We work together seamlessly to develop and operate communities that reflect the needs of our residents, as well as each municipality, nearby residents, and area businesses.
A BUILDER'S STORY
CHRISTIANA FOGLIO
Founder & CEO
Christiana Foglio is all about impact investing – finding creative ways to merge public funding and private capital to invest in making communities better. Her motto is to not only do well, but do good.
An industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience in the private and public sectors, Chris specializes in building senior and multi-family housing that reflects each community’s vision, needs, and character. She founded Community Investment Strategies in 1994, and as a successful entrepreneur, she’s grown her company’s diverse portfolio to include more than 3,775 apartment rental units valued at over $600 million. More than her success, though, is her determination to be a thoughtful developer, backing the development of communities purposefully and with people in mind.
Chris’ business model focuses on building assets – high quality properties that retain their value and provide a benefit to the community in which they are built. In addition to the high-quality housing her company builds, Chris stresses the importance of building relationships – with her residents, local municipal officials, and like-minded investors who see the value in supporting the fiscal revitalization of neighborhoods in need of their support.
Prior to founding CIS, Chris was executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, serving under two governors. In that role, she was responsible for more than $1 billion in multi-family bond financing and created the state’s Housing Policy. She also chaired the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing. As the former president of the not-for-profit New Brunswick Development Corporation, Chris is credited with launching that city’s economic rebirth by implementing $300 million worth of urban renewal projects.