David Waronker’s Biography

David Waronker
Born June 5, 1961 (age 55)
Moorestown TownshipNew Jersey
Alma mater Boston University
Occupation President of CBD Real Estate Investment, LLC
Spouse(s) Ruth Boulden
 
CBD Real Estate Investment, LLC

David Waronker (born June 5, 1961) is an American real estate investor. He is the President of CBD Real Estate Investment, L.L.C., and a lifelong ice hockey enthusiast. Waronker was the founder and commissioner of the World Hockey Association 2

Biography

Waronker is a proponent for affordable housing and for property rights. A total of twenty-three of his New Jersey developments were created and designed to include a set-aside for affordable housing. When communities resisted his development applications, he has sued the municipalities under the Fair Housing Act and the doctrine of the “Mount Laurel II” decision, in which he was the plaintiff. CBD and Waronker have been plaintiffs against New Jersey communities, including Cinnaminson TownshipEdgewater Park,[3]Harrison Township and Mount Laurel Township.

David Waronker also contributed to, and eventually joined, the Board of Directors of “The Defenders of Property Rights,” based in Washington, D.C. [1] This organization defends, as the name implies, property rights issues, challenging government on behalf of individuals, including the poor. Waronker has been a board member for the Defenders since 2003.[citation needed]

Presently, Waronker resides with his wife Ruth and their four children on their horse farm in Scottsdale, Arizona, dividing his time between his office locations in New Jersey, Arizona and Florida.

Education and early career

Waronker grew up in Moorestown Township, New Jersey and was a 1980 graduate of Moorestown High School. He attended Boston University, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the BU School of Management, in 1984.

During his senior year at BU, Waronker worked as an intern for the Beacon Hospitality Group, a Boston-based hotel developer. Waronker then worked for Jefferson National Mortgage of Marlton, New Jersey, as Head of the Real Estate Investment and Acquisition Division, focusing on the formation of limited partnerships to acquire, develop and sell residential development land throughout New Jersey.

CBD Development Group

In 1985, David Waronker formed CBD Development, Inc., a New Jersey based residential developer of single and multi-family housing. CBD Land Consultants, Inc., a New Jersey Real Estate Brokerage firm, was formed in 1987, with Waronker as the broker of record. CBD Builders Inc. was formed in 1989 for the purpose of constructing single and multifamily housing projects. Together, all three CBD entities were commonly known as “The CBD Development Group,” with the main office located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. A sister office was located in Ship Bottom, New Jersey.

CBD experienced growth through the 1990s, developing large tracts of housing throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. With its CBD Builders subsidiary, CBD became active in construction, and built residential projects in MedfordCherry HillLumberton TownshipSouthampton TownshipLong Beach IslandMount Laurel TownshipFieldsboroEdgewater Park TownshipGlassboroCinnaminson TownshipWilliamstown, and Pemberton.

Waronker and CBD were active members of the Builders League of South Jersey, where Waronker chaired subcommittees, eventually rising to the executive committee. Waronker then became the only two-term BLSJ President, in 1999-2001. CBD was named the BLSJ “Builder of the Year” in 2000. On the executive committee of the BLSJ, Waronker formed a subcommittee known as the “Regulatory Enforcement Committee”, which in conjunction with the BLSH Action Committee, was proactive in enforcing the rights of its members. This committee became the largest subcommittee in BLSH history.

CBD expanded operations to Central Florida in 1998. An office was established in the Walt Disney town of Celebration, and CBD eventually devoted most of its development work to Central and Southwest Florida.  In 2005, Waronker formed “CBD Real Estate Investment, L.L.C.,” which today has replaced the three other CBD entities. This Florida limited liability company is active in acquiring development land throughout the state of Florida. With David Waronker at the helm, CBD Real Estate Investment, L.L.C. recently expanded into Arizona to buy and develop land. CBD currently has offices in Delran, New Jersey, and Scottsdale, Arizona, as well as the Florida office.

Additional business ventures

In 2000, David Waronker formed USALANDSALE.COM, L.L.C., now known as USALANDSALE, L.L.C. Based in Celebration, Florida, this company became a national “land bank” with hundreds of parcels; building lots, vacant land, acreage, and development land in 41 of the 50 United States.[citation needed] USALANDSALE, L.L.C. also owned land in Canada

Additionally, Waronker formed Desert Mountain Land Holdings L.L.C., a land bank in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2004. The company purchases vacant land and investment properties in the American Southwest, specifically in the states of Arizona, NevadaNew MexicoUtahTexas and California.

Waronker has invested in the ownership of minor league ice hockeyteams, and was the lead investor and owner of the Florida Seals, Macon TraxJacksonville BarracudasMiami Manatees, and Asheville Aces.

Waronker also was the founder of the World Hockey Association 2, which eventually merged several of its teams with the defunct SEHL to form the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).[13]Waronker provided much of the start up capital for all teams, including several in which he had no ownership interest, such as the teams in Lakeland and Birmingham. Today, Waronker still retains an interest in one “AA” hockey franchise and still retains his childhood fascination with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Charity work

David Waronker is actively involved in horse rescues, while also an active volunteer member for both the Children’s Miracle Network and the American Cancer Society. Since 1997, CBD Real Estate Investment, L.L.C. has run a nonprofit organization named Hockey 4 Kids, which introduces disadvantaged and disabled children to the sport.

As alumni of the Boston University School of Management,David and his wife Ruth (nee Boulden) established The Ruth and David Waronker Scholarship Fund, which will provide scholarships for female student athletes.

Berkley Ranch

Press Release

BERKLEY RANCH

October 7, 2015

Celebration Florida

CBD Real Estate Investment LLC of Celebration Florida has acquired 44 acres of land off of Berkley Road and Pearce Road in Auburndale, Polk County Florida,

Here, CBD proposes to build 190 single family detached home sites.  The project will be known as “Berkley Ranch.”  CBD has hired Cornelison Engineering of Zephyrhills Florida to engineer and permit the development.  Construction is expected to commence by the second quarter 2016

Berkley Ranch Investors LLC, an affiliate of CBD, bought the land in two separate transactions.  19.7 acres were purchased from SONANSTINE TRUST on September 4, 2015 for $325,215.00.  The remaining 23.6 acres were purchases from B @ F Central Florida Citrus LLC on September 11, 2015 for $375,000.00.  Both were cash transactions.

CBD Real Estate Investment LLC is a Celebration based real estate investment, development and building company with additional offices in Arizona and New Jersey.

 

Wire Ranch

Press Release

WIRE RANCH

October 5, 2015

Celebration Florida

Residential developer CBD Real Estate Investment LLC of Celebration Florida announced the acquisition of 24 acres of land located on Highway 3013 (Gall Blvd) in Zephyrhills, Pasco County Florida,

Here, CBD proposes to develop 338 garden apartments in three and four story buildings.  The project will be known as “Wire Ranch.”  CBD has hired Cornelison Engineering of Zephyrhills Florida to engineer and permit the development.  Construction is expected to commence by the second quarter 2016.

With the unprecedented demand for rental housing, Wire Ranch will be another location where East Pasco County residents can move and live in affordable yet luxury housing.  CBD has two other projects currently being permitted in Zephyrhills for rental housing.  The Oaks at Pasco, which will be 224 units on the corner of Simons Road and Eiland Boulevard on the Silver Oaks Golf Course.  And, Pretty Pond Estates, 168 units at the intersection of Wire Road and Pretty Pond Road adjacent to the Publix shopping center,

Wire Ranch Investors LLC, an affiliate of CBD, bought the land on September 15, 2015 from the Purvis family for $966,000 in a cash transaction.

CBD Real Estate is a Celebration based real estate investment, development and building company with additional offices in Arizona and New Jersey.

 

 

Housing Dispute Advances A Judge Appointed A Planner To Help Edgewater Park Meet Its Affordable-housing Quota

Housing Dispute Advances A Judge Appointed A Planner To Help Edgewater Park Meet Its Affordable-housing Quota.

By Jan Hefler, INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF

POSTED: January 03, 1999

EDGEWATER PARK — Last year, the township was sued by a developer who contended the community had not provided sufficient zoning for affordable housing, as mandated by state regulations.

Now, the township’s zoning will be scrutinized. Superior Court Judge Ronald Bookbinder has appointed a professional land-use planner to serve as special master to review the township’s zoning plan and to devise a plan on how Edgewater Park should meet its affordable-housing quota of 50 units. The town must pay the planner’s fee, estimated at up to $5,000.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit by CBD Development Inc. of Mount Laurel is still pending. The complaint seeks zoning to build nearly 300 housing units on two vacant tracts.

CBD and township officials said they had agreed on a lower number in recent negotiations. They said they expected to file a plan with the judge this month. CBD lawyer Mark Vittese said the new number was “much less” than what had been proposed, but he would not elaborate. Township Solicitor Thomas Coleman 3d was unavailable for comment; Township Committeeman Robert Dovey said a compromise had been reached.

Art Bernard, former executive director of the state Council On Affordable Housing, was named special master Dec. 15. He was instrumental in formulating the council’s rules and, after leaving the agency, acted as a consultant to communities that have developed housing plans for low- and moderate-income families. Bernard could not be reached for comment.

Dovey said, “Our solicitor went to the judge to ask for a rezoning, but the judge said to wait because he wanted to appoint a special master to review it. We wanted to change the zone where the Irongate Apartments are located, so that it would be designated for senior-citizen housing.”

Less than one-third of the Irongate’s 296 units are occupied. Township officials want the apartments converted into housing for senior citizens and counted toward the town’s affordable-housing quota.

David Waronker, president of the development firm, said the town had ignored its affordable-housing obligations for years. He said he had filed suit because he wanted to develop land he was acquiring.

Waronker initially wanted to build 220 townhouses on a commercial 13-acre property on Route 130 and 70 homes on a six-acre tract on Beverly-Bridgeboro Road. His suit says he would include the state-mandated 50 units of affordable housing.

 

High-rent crisis: Workers can’t afford to live here

High-rent crisis: Workers can’t afford to live here

 DICK HOGAN, DHOGAN@NEWS-PRESS.COM8 a.m. EDT October 1, 2015

 

(Photo: Andrea Stetson/news-press.com)

Population growth, rising land prices and stagnant wages are making Southwest Florida, and around the state, one of the toughest places in the country for renters to make ends meet, according to a study released Thursday.

“Florida has the highest number of renter households in the U.S. paying unaffordable rent, with nearly 1 in 3 renter households in Florida’s top ten metro areas paying at least half of their household income (before taxes) toward rent and utilities,” according to the survey by nonprofit Los Angeles-based Make Room.

Southwest Florida is no exception: 28 percent of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area’s renters are “severely burdened” by the high cost of renting.
Younger renters are bearing the brunt of the crisis: 6,223 people from 18-34 were severely burdened, compared to only 4,257 ages 50-64.

Statistics released recently by Carrollton, Texas-based ALN Apartment News show how rental prices have escalated: for apartment complexes of 100 or more units in August, the Fort Myers area has an average monthly rental cost of $1,083 – up 14.1 percent from a year earlier.

The market is stretched tight, according to ALN, which tracks rental statistics across the country: this market has an occupancy rate of 96.4 percent, up 0.6 percent over August 2014.

Statistics weren’t available from ALN or Make Room for the Naples area but the crisis there likely is even worse, said Steve Sanderson, executive director of the United Way of Collier County.

“We have many hard-working individuals who I regret to say are just one paycheck away from a major challenge,” he said. “Their car breaks down or a health issue or another issue they have to take care of. And part of the reason is that what they’re spending on housing in our market compared to other places in the country is significantly more. And because of that, they have significantly less money to spend in other areas of their lives.”

United Way is holding a forum and luncheon today at the Hilton Hotel in Naples on the issue of workforce housing in the increasingly pricey county.

 

A whopping 28 percent in Cape Coral-Fort Myers are “severely burdened” by the high cost of renting. The first residents of Colonial Commons are moving in this week. (Photo: Andrea Stetson/news-press.com)

Christopher Westley, director of the Regional Economic Research Institute and professor of economics at Florida Gulf Coast University, said the lack of affordable workforce housing threatens future economic development as employers from out of town eye this area as a potential place to operate.

“One thing recruiters want to know is ‘Can our workers afford to live down there?’ ” he said.

The aftershocks of the recession are also keeping the rental market tight, he said. “I think a lot of people are choosing to rent because they had such a bad experience with the housing market crash and they’re wary of committing” to home ownership.

Connect with: @DickHogan (Twitter) or email dhogan@news-pres