Willow Bridge (formerly known as Lincoln Property Company) has been named one of the top 5 Largest Apartment Managers according to the 2024 NMHC Top 50 list. Willow Bridge has ranked on the NMHC 50 list every year since the rankings debuted in 1989.
Following the company’s acquisition by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) in February 2023, Willow Bridge is no longer affiliated with Lincoln Property Company or Liberty Military Housing (37.2K units), which resulted in a drop to 180,000 units under management. In just a matter of months, Willow Bridge steadily grew to over 200,000 units, a remarkable feat despite an industry-wide dip in transaction volume and apartment starts.
“While the numbers might tell the story that we dipped in units under management, that is far from the truth,” said Scott Wilder, President, Property Management for Willow Bridge. “Despite separating from Liberty Military Housing and undergoing a rebrand, Willow Bridge had one of our best years in terms of net unit growth, climbing from 180,000 units to over 200,000 in 2023. These 20,000 additions to our portfolio signify the long-term partnerships we continue to build with our valued clients and are a testament to the exceptional level of service from our teams.”
After unveiling a new name, logo and visual identity in October 2023, Willow Bridge Property Company has ambitious growth plans for the future. With strong sponsorship from its shareholder, OTPP, the company has a thoughtful strategy to grow and support property management operations, while significantly expanding investment and development programs, and building on capital relationships.
Recognized by NMHC as one of the 25 Largest Developers with 2,854 units started in 2023, Willow Bridge has several notable multifamily developments in the pipeline. Solverre, a 303-unit amenity-heavy development bordering Lake Michigan is pre-leasing in Chicago, and Balsa, a 222-unit office-to-multifamily conversion in Washington D.C. is set to open this summer, among others.
Looking ahead, Jeff Courtwright, President, National Development at Willow Bridge, expressed optimism about the company’s future growth trajectory. “We’re looking forward to continued growth in our development and acquisitions as we enter the second quarter” he stated. Despite the economic conditions, Willow Bridge remains steadfast in its commitment to pursuing quality developments across the U.S. with projects underway in major metros from Miami, to Chicago, DC, Dallas, Orlando, Nashville, and beyond.