The Business
Serving as build visionary, often landmark, developments, Metro Star is built upon the diverse experience that its founder, Robert Smith, Jr., has accumulated over his 40-year career developing all major types of residential and commercial properties. Mr. Smith is highly regarded for his skill as a developer who endeavors to create architecturally significant buildings that have a lasting and positive impact on communities. His operating philosophy is rooted in the belief that to maintain ongoing success in real estate, one must have an extensive understanding of each layer of the development process to effectively apply the financial calculations necessary for proper decision making.
Metro Star, and its affiliated companies, vertically assemble proprietary financial modeling, relevant design and quality construction aligned with a long-term view of property management to deliver unmatched products to market.
New England Urban – The Metro Star Brand
Metro Star identifies real estate opportunities (multi-family, retail, and office) embedded in New England transit-oriented and central urban locations. This business model includes either ground up or adaptive reuse development that re-invigorates downtown areas through the creation of high quality, architecturally significant buildings. This development program combines high concentrations of residential dwellings with the renewal of business spaces to stimulate the urban "lifestyle" rental environment.
Mature Inner-Ring Suburban – The Star Deluxe Apartment Brand
Recognizing the Millennial transition from core urban living to suburban settings, Metro Star created the Star Deluxe apartment brand. Ranging from 125 to 250 units, Metro Star targets inner-ring suburban locations with convenient access to major highways and employment centers. Despite this lifestyle shift, Millennials continue to seek urban style socialization and entertainment. Many New England cities and towns provide this atmosphere with a high density of restaurants, retail, and recreation opportunities located in their signature downtown areas yet surrounded by suburban housing opportunities.
Medical Office – Patriot Center by Metro Star
Using decades of Medical Office development experience as a guide, Metro Star created the Patriot Center MOB brand. Designed for Suburban locations, Patriot Center provides a sophisticated warm New England architectural feel with easy parking layouts to deliver a comfortable welcoming environment for patients. Patriot Center was met with great success and has attracted credit tenant such as Yale University and Yale New Haven Health Systems.
For Sale Home Building – Metro Star Homes
During favorable economic times, Metro Star can quickly enter and exit the for-sale home building market. With many years of experience building and selling homes, the Metro Star team can develop condominium communities and single-family homes at scale.
Retail – Select Retail Development
The retail business environment is ever changing with brick and mortar facing significant disruption in the coming decade. With this transformation, Metro Star sees existing retail as a redevelopment opportunity. New England is riddled with underperforming "strip" retail centers, often in desirable locations and perfectly positioned for mixed use development that include significant multifamily concentrations. Metro Star has years of experience working with national and local grocery, retail, and restaurant operators to create modern mixed use developments.
Construction – Smith Construction
Four generations of construction knowledge, a tradition of quality and a heritage of integrity. Smith Construction Company is the Construction Managers for all Metro Star projects. As a vertically integrated real estate development company, the success of the construction process can greatly influence the financial goals of a project. With extensive experience in all real estate categories, the construction team performs with timely completion schedules, manages budget goals, and delivers the quality demanded by our founder.
Merritt Furnished Apartments
Merritt Furnished Apartments has established itself as one of Connecticut's leading providers of upscale boutique furnished apartment rentals. Merritt has modern, fully decorated apartments in amazing New Haven County walkable locations. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Metro Star, Merritt benefits from access to New Haven county's best in class apartment communities. Metro Star has owned and managed furnished apartments for over 25 years.
