PEEK Properties, a leading developer of luxury, transit-oriented multifamily assets, has formally expanded its in-house construction entity, PEEK Builders, to offer comprehensive third-party services. The company now provides single-source construction management, general contractor, project management and accounting services to investment entities and developers across the New Jersey multifamily market.
The fully integrated third-party services are spearheaded by construction industry veterans Nick Charles, partner and director of construction, and Luis Gartner, director of project management. Both leaders bring complex, large-scale experience, including work on high-profile Manhattan skyscrapers and transit infrastructure, to New Jersey’s residential market.
“When clients hire PEEK Builders, they are not just getting a general contractor; they are getting a partner with an owner’s perspective,” Charles said. “We manage the entire project lifecycle. This holistic approach ensures every decision… directly contributes to the long-term value and operational efficiency of the asset, and we build accordingly.”
Charles’ background is notable; he previously served as a general superintendent for Gilbane Building Company in New York City, including work on the $70+ million penthouse units at The Residence for the Aman Group. As a senior superintendent at Lend Lease, his projects included the super-tall residential tower 432 Park Avenue, the World Trade Center PATH Station, and the MTA’s Fulton Transit Center.
Joining Charles, Luis Gartner emphasized the team’s rigorous approach to execution on time and within budget.
“Our process is disciplined and ‘battle-tested,’” Gartner said, who has a master’s degree in Construction Management from Manhattan College and experience with top-tier firms like Blackstone 360. “By integrating every facet of the design-build process, we have perfected a methodology that keeps multi-million-dollar projects on track by constantly forecasting challenges and providing solutions before they impact the critical path.”
PEEK Builders was initially established in 2021 to ensure end-to-end oversight and uncompromising quality for PEEK Properties’ internal portfolio, which includes 590 delivered units totaling over 700,000 square feet and a hard cost exceeding $107 million.
Phillip Evanski, co-founding partner of PEEK Properties with Manny Klein, underscored the significance of extending these proven internal capabilities to industry peers.
“The quality and efficiency that PEEK Builders achieved internally set a new benchmark for us,” Evanski explained. “Extending these proprietary services—backed by Nick and Luis’s expertise—means we’re offering our industry peers a competitive advantage that protects their investment from start to finish.”
Klein added that the expansion is a natural evolution, allowing the firm to share the excellence and efficiency standards that the partners felt the market couldn’t consistently provide. The move offers fellow developers attention to detail, proactive risk management, and a truly integrated development approach.
