About Us

What makes us successful in acquiring, developing, and managing our properties? It's simple. We achieve success by drawing upon community support with a diverse and highly competent staff committed to making a difference.

Peter Holsten started with a simple, 16-unit building in 1975. His dream was to create community jewels by nourishing tarnished properties and turning vacant land into thriving spaces.

Over the years, changing markets and economic challenges, and the complexity of management processes never wavered his core belief in making the communities he served a vital part of who Holsten Companies have become.

Today, our diverse portfolio includes over two million square feet of mixed-use housing and commercial spaces. Our team is an enterprise of dynamic professionals knowledgeable in complex and specialized programs of affordable and low income tax credit housing programs, and the market rate segment. Our diverse staff shares a common philosophy, to be committed to improving the quality of people’s lives and making our communities stronger.

Holsten has developed more than $500,000,000 in mixed-income, mixed-use housing, and commercial development throughout Chicago, becoming a leading innovator in multi-layered development financing, resident and commercial screening and selection, fiscal and asset management, resident services, and property management. Holsten provides a full range of real estate services:

Real Estate New Development
Redevelopment and Acquisition
Property Management
Community Empowerment

We've been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, and the Chicago Journal on numerous occasions. In addition, we've been featured in U.S. News and World Report, Builder Magazine, Affordable Housing Finance Magazine, and the New York Times. And, we were highlighted in a CBS 60 Minutes II segment as a result of our groundbreaking work on our North Town Village development. Accolades like this come from persevering until the job is done right, and sticking with the development over the long term.

Project of the Year Award for Rehabilitation - 2016 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Awards - Strand Apartments
Richard H. Driehaus Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design - WHISTLER'S CROSSING - THE BELLE SHORE
National Trust/HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation - WHISTLER'S CROSSING
Good Neighbor Award - Chicago Association of Realtors® - THE BELLE SHORE - THE BRYN MAWR - THE MIDWEST APARTMENTS
LEED – ND Award for Sustainability at Neighborhood Scale (First Ever in Illinois) - WHISTLER'S CROSSING
Development Deal of the Year - Real Estate Forum - WILSON YARD
Best Practices Award - U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development - THE BELLE SHORE - THE BRYN MAWR - THE MIDWEST APARTMENTS
Mixed-Income Award - Chicago Sun-Times 2000 Housing Awards - NORTH TOWN VILLAGE

Philosophy

We’re devoted to the principle that everyone deserves affordable, quality housing. And we’re committed to working with neighborhood leaders and government officials on broader community revitalization efforts. This simply guides our mission to profitably develop, construct, and manage mixed-income housing; to strive for excellence in everything we do; and to benefit our investors, our residents, and, most of all, the communities we serve.

Our Mission

“To build a community, you have to do it from the inside out. And, you have to start with people. This means that we must make more than a bricks-and-mortar commitment. It means that we must all make a commitment to work together to make a difference in the city. Therefore, our mission is to be a unique real estate company that turns diverse opportunities into successful communities.”

~ Peter Holsten, President

Values

We achieve success by adding value to the lives of others by drawing upon community support, dedicated to addressing local needs, and invite community organizations who desire safe, attractive, and vibrant neighborhoods to partner with us.

Making a difference

Holsten Human Capital Development, NFP (HHCD) is a non-profit, charitable organization with the mission to strengthen at-risk populations by expanding their access to viable resources that promote self-sufficiency, wellness and stability through comprehensive service provision, developing low income and affordable housing, and fostering economic development.

Learn more about how we’re helping to make a real difference in our communities through Holsten Human Capital Development program.

Leadership

By nature, the real estate business is a people business. Our success is grounded in the quality of our leadership and their unwavering commitment to work closely with the communities they serve.