Developers Specialty Services, LLC was created in 2010 as a specialized organization devoted to the following specific purposes:
- Rehabilitation and comprehensive renovation/modernization services for multi-family apartment communities.
- Construction of new single family and multi-family housing projects.
- Single-family and multi-family acquisition, rehabilitation and development.
- Ancillary multi-family and rental real estate construction services including cap-ex projects, disaster restoration, large scale modernizations and major repair projects.
- Development consulting, including construction scope (cost) development, architectural/design, project budgeting, permitting, project management, compliance and dispute resolution.
ABOUT US
DSS offers an extreme depth of internal experience custom built to successfully execute the design, preconstruction, construction and compliance complexities of LIHTC, affordable housing and multi-family development projects:
Senior Management Experience
- Under the direct management of Michael Kucera, DSS brings experience in managing nearly every type of project, in dozens of different jurisdictions, using nearly every type of project financing. We are experienced in sourcing and managing a diverse labor force taking into account variables such as changes in the labor marketplace, labor shortages, managing smaller local subtrades and training/mentoring up and coming contractors. We have lived through economic cycles, supply-chain disruptions and many recent marketplace challenges with the ability to navigate through these issues. The list of projects completed under the direct management of Mr. Kucera (attached for reference) is as extensive as it gets and indicates our ability to perform and successfully execute on any type of project.
Project Management Team
- DSS employs a team of seasoned project management professionals with deep experience not only in the Cleveland market but throughout the Midwest. Our senior project managers are involved with a project from initial inception through the design phase, budgeting, buyout and ultimately the construction phase and post construction follow up. Our team has overseen and directly managed hundreds of projects and are skilled in budget management, technical execution, quality control and schedule delivery.
Administration/Compliance
- The DSS team has significant experience in the management and reporting process for all layers of project compliance, including:
- Prevailing wage reporting
- MBE/FBE reporting, bidding, outreach
- City of Cleveland labor force compliance
- HUD/Section 3
- Compliance reporting mandated by State Housing Finance Agencies, State, County, Local, other financing sources
Subtrade/Vendor Relationships
- Given the extensive network of subtrades and vendors utilized in the vast array of projects performed over the years under Mr. Kucera’s direction, DSS is able to source the “right trades” for any individual project, large or small. Past experience being a good indicator of future performance, we are able to understand how individual trades perform, their suitability to a particular project and current availability. Additionally, a vast array of bidding data on materials/supply costs enables us to make the most cost-effective choices for any individual project and to control product timeline, delivery and warranty.
Direct Trades
- In order to control key components of projects such as final completion, punch list and long-term warranty, DSS carries an “in house” staff of trades which are utilized to keep projects on schedule and to fill in gaps in trades availability. This allows us to deliver a reliable, consistent, high-quality product and to offer long term warranty and follow up services.
Tax Credit/Affordable Housing
- DSS is fully experienced and works with the unique requirements of tax credit and affordable housing programs on a daily basis. Whether in energy efficiency, universal design, fair housing, accessibility, agency dictated policy or other lender, agency, federal or local requirements. DSS understands how critical it is to ensure compliance in all areas of project design, construction and implementation.
Plans/Specifications/Designs
- DSS, as a business model, has established relationships with a variety of architects, engineers, interior designers and other professionals required to successfully design a project that is functional, durable, and compliant with a myriad of compliance and regulatory requirements while still satisfying the owner’s development budget and programmatic requirements. Our depth of experience has given us unique value-engineering and common-sense constructability skills that ensure best value for the construction budget available. Additionally, we maintain close relationships with all needed professionals, enabling DSS to thoroughly understand all of a project’s code, design and functional elements.