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Philosophy

Cymbal Development is a design-driven development and construction company that creates and enhances communities. We are sensitive to our environments and engage in strategically important and responsible projects. Our firm was formed with the intent of developing and constructing aesthetically significant neighborhoods.

We focus on value creation, on transformational projects, and on projects that create the highest possible yields for our investors. We typically undertake projects that have a complex legal, financial, entitlement, or construction component.

Our company excels in developing urban mixed-use properties in underutilized neighborhoods. Our development projects typically spur additional, thoughtful development and are a catalyst to further quality-of-life improvements.

Above all, our projects must be thoughtful and exciting. They must make a significant, positive impact on the community, and be economically compelling.

We are structured as a creative, entrepreneurial, and intellectually curious company committed to leaving a positive mark on the places and people that we focus on.

Developer Point of View

Urban infill developer

Design-driven

Eco-friendly

Creator of communities

Works with internationally renowned architects and designers

Opportunistic real estate investor

Achieves spectacular yields for its investors

Expert in complex construction and real estate development

Q&A With Asi Cymbal

Q: How has your background given you a competitive edge as a developer?
A: I have great sensitivity for my environment, and I also have passion for architecture and design. That passion is critical in order to contribute in a positive way as a real estate developer. It took me a long time to realize this, but good design enhances quality of life.

As a businessman, builder, attorney, and restauranteur, I can draw from a varied skill set to envision a cohesive community, navigate the myriad political, financial, legal, and logistical obstacles in its creation, build it, and then curate the community in a manner that gives it life and soul.

Q: Why do you focus on urban projects? What is your process for vetting deals?
A: I identify with urban. I grew up in New York City and spent most of my life there. I also spent considerable time in Los Angeles, Tel Aviv, and now Miami. These are all cosmopolitan, urban cities. There is an intellectual and sophisticated dynamic and curiosity to these cities, and a nuance that I am in tune with and that I believe gives us a competitive advantage.

The deals that we pursue need to be exciting, make a significant positive impact on the community, and must also produce the greatest possible yields for our investors. We typically focus on value creation, on deals that transform communities, and that are economically compelling. We are very precise and selective in the deals that we undertake. We typically review hundreds of deals before closing on one. We are looking for home runs.

Q: Design is an important aspect to your developments. Why?
A: I have worked with the best architects and designers in the world and they have taught me about good design and the impact that it makes. Good design enhances lives and inspires communities.

A real estate developer has a moral obligation to leave its environment better than it found it. It doesn’t take more money to produce a beautiful project. It merely requires sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

I have no interest in building an uninspiring box and squeezing money out of it. But if you build beautiful buildings and communities, you will maximize a project’s value on all levels.

Q: How have your other ventures helped inform your development strategy?
A: As a restauranteur, I have seen the impact that food and beverage businesses have on communities and development projects. Restaurants and bars serve as social gathering places. They give color and soul to neighborhoods. These food and beverage businesses are an important ingredient to the creation of communities. We use them as our starting point. From there we will curate the retail, office, and residential uses to complement the mixed-use projects that we create.

As an attorney, I am not afraid to take on projects that have ‘hair’ on them, projects that involve complex legal or construction challenges, or projects that everyone else will stay away from. We like projects that no one else wants or that others are scared of. We find them to be intellectually stimulating and meaningful. Those projects maximize our yields and are the cornerstone of our investment strategy.

Q: What does it mean to be an innovative developer?
A: To be innovative is to create something new or compelling in a way or place that no one else thought of before. Much of the time, being innovative requires taking risks.

An innovative developer is a calculated risk-taker, is creative, and has deep sensitivity.

Sometimes this involves creating environments that no one thought was needed or wanted, or that are not immediately supported by empirical data.

Q: How do you consistently deliver financial success to your investors?
A: It takes a lot of responsibility and trust to handle other people’s money. I do not take that responsibility lightly.

There is nothing more important than to insure great yields to our investors. That is the number one priority in our company and it guides all aspects of our investment strategy.

We strive to return a minimum of 30% in annual yields to our investors and have been fortunate enough to exceed those numbers to date.

Our future plans are ambitious. We would like to develop $4 billion in projects within this real estate cycle and be the premier multifamily developer in South Florida. The only way to do that is to have a strong track record of producing high yields for our investors, and we are extraordinarily motivated to do so.

Our deals are structured in order to protect our investors and their principal investment. The only way that our company can reap profits on our investments is if our investors first see tremendous financial rewards. Our investors must get their principal back plus significant preferred returns before we see any upside on the deal.

We are very cautious on the investments that we make, pay close attention to our costs and basis in the deal, and are highly selective in the deals that we undertake.

Our goal is for each and every deal to be a financial home run.