Bob Pofahl has been involved in real estate for more than 40 years as a developer and builder. Bob and his associates have developed, designed and built over $6 Billion in projects in the U.S. and Mexico. Beginning with family-owned real estate projects in the 60’s, Bob moved to work for a leading design/build contractor while attending the University of Texas at El Paso. He formed his own construction development business in 1971 and, with his associates, went on to build and develop in major U.S. markets serving a broad range of national clients.
Prior to forming Community Builders International (CBI), Bob and his associates built a nationally recognized construction company, integrated into subsidiaries, which provided real estate development and construction services encompassing architecture, engineering, construction, development, property management, financing and real estate securities.
Past Projects
Some of Bob’s more notable accomplishments include the development of over 20 Embassy Suite Hotels. Bob’s responsibilities for Embassy included site acquisition, entitlement, design and construction. Many of the hotel sites also involved mixed-use development of adjacent land to office buildings, apartments and/or retail. In 1985 Bob acquired the Park Suite Hotel chain from Brock Hotels, which he developed and later sold to Sara Hotels of Stockholm, Sweden.
In the early 1980’s Bob became convinced that the future of real estate was in mortgage-backed securities. In 1985 he acquired Amreal Securities of San Diego, CA. He worked with America First Securities and E.F. Hutton to sponsor the first combined debt and equity real estate security offered on Wall Street. The offering successfully raised over $300 million for the development of residential apartments in Texas, Tennessee, Virginia and Florida. Other accomplishments include:
- Development and construction of over three million square feet of industrial, commercial and office/warehouse space in El Paso, Texas
- Development of multi-family communities totaling over 8,000 units in Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, Virginia and Florida
- Development of affordable, master-planned communities in Mexico
- Development of mixed-use resort communities in Baja, Mexico with MDG Resorts and ResortCom
Current Projects
Picacho Mountain Master Planned Community – In 2004, CBI purchased and began development of the Picacho Mountain Master Planned Community, an 800-acre upscale, mixed-use development in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Project will consist of 1560 dwelling units at build out and includes estate homes, patio homes, town homes, retail space, a boutique hotel and private residence club. Currently, Picacho Mountain is in its third phase of development and is considered the premier upscale master planned community in the region. (www.picachomountain.com)
Downtown Las Cruces Redevelopment – Bob is the managing partner of Las Cruces Community Partners LLC (LCCP). In March of 2012, LCCP was selected by the City of Las Cruces as the Master Developer for the Downtown Las Cruces Redevelopment. In July of 2015 LCCP purchased the Bank of the West in the center of Downtown Las Cruces and is currently repurposing the building for office, retail and upscale dining. LCCP also constructed the new Las Cruces Civic Plaza on a portion of the bank site previously used for the bank drive-through and parking lot. The Civic Plaza was completed sold as a turnkey project to the City of Las Cruces. The Plaza Grand Opening was held in September, 2016.
The Civic Plaza is the first of 13 public/private partnership projects between LCCP and the City of Las Cruces. In addition, LCCP has acquired development rights for the historic Doña Ana Courthouse to be developed into a boutique hotel and conference center with LaTour Hotels and Resorts. (www.lascrucesdowntown.com)
Park Ridge Urban Village – CBI is a partner in the Park Ridge Mixed-Use Urban Redevelopment project adjacent to Downtown Las Cruces. Park Ridge acquired the 110-acre Las Cruces Country Club site in August of 2012. The project will include a hospital and healthcare campus, retail, multi-family, retirement and recreation. The project is being planned by nationally recognized architects and planners and will be anchored by national and regional retailers and healthcare providers. Construction of the hospital and first medical office building is scheduled to begin in November of 2016. (www.parkridge-lc.com)
Midtown Las Cruces Redevelopment – Bob is currently working with the City of Las Cruces to redevelop a 51-acre parcel adjacent to the Downtown area. The former Calcot Cotton Exchange site has been vacant and blighted for over 20 years. In July of 2015 the City of Las Cruces sponsored a design charrette to get public input on redevelopment of this strategic area. CBI will work with the City to develop an affordable, mixed-use village with an emphasis on job creation, affordable and market rate housing options, parks and a public plaza.
On October 5, 2015, the Las Cruces City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the redevelopment plan for the Midtown site. CBI is currently working with the City to acquire grants and incentives for this vital infill project. (www.amadorproximo.org)
Downtown Las Cruces Partnership – Currently, Bob serves as a board member for the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, a non-profit association representing local stakeholders in the redevelopment of Downtown Las Cruces with an emphasis on enhanced economic development. (www.downtownlascruces.org)
Strategic Relationships
Over the years Bob Pofahl has worked with and developed strategic relationships with nationally recognized clients, architects, planners and consultants to develop outstanding design and state of the art projects. Some of these relationships include:
- Orlando Padilla, Padilla Network/former GM executive, Las Cruces, NM,
- Stefanos Polyzoides, Architect and Planner, Pasadena, CA
- John Small, LaTour Hotels, Scottsdale, AZ
- Robert Gibbs, Gibbs Planning Group, Birmingham, MI
- Laurie Volk, Zimmerman/Volk Associates, Urban Planners, Clinton, NJ
- Andy Hume, Senior Planner/Downtown Coordinator, City of Las Cruces, NM
- Susan Henderson, Planner, PlaceMakers LLC, Albuquerque, NM
- Gil Martinez, GMA Int’l., Architect and Planner, Newport Beach, CA
- Jack Cardwell, President, C&R Investments, El Paso, TX
- Doug Wright, Wright Development Services, El Paso, TX
- Chris Crane, Crane Capital, San Diego, CA
- Jane O’Connor, 55+ Marketing Group, Claremont, MA
- Tom Wermers, Wermers Companies, Multi-Family, San Diego, CA
- Joe Schiff, ASI Capital LLC, Colorado Springs, CO
- Eric Davis, Integrity Bank, Colorado Springs, CO
- Ben Hutton, Hutton Construction Company, Wichita, KS
- Greg Tice, Spangenberg Phillips Tice Architecture, Wichita, KS
- Fernando Gomez, Account Executive, Siemens Medical Solutions
- Deborah Burns, CEO, InvestUS LLC, Albuquerque, NM
- Sean Lambert, President, Youth With A Mission San Diego/Baja
- Dave Bernard, ScottHulse PC, Attorney, El Paso, TX
Bob is noted for building great project teams that bring together the expertise and talent to address each unique project. From early in Bob’s career, he recognized the value of working with great partners and consultants to bring outstanding value to projects and customers.
Community Involvement
Bob and his family believe in giving back to the community. They have been active in many local and national civic organizations. Giving is part of the corporate culture that Bob brings to his companies. Bob and his family have contributed both financially and actively to many local charities in Las Cruces, NM, including: Mesilla Valley Hospice, the First Step Clinic, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, Artists of Picacho Hills and others. Bob formerly served on the Las Cruces Chamber Spaceport Council and Discover Las Cruces.
For the past 35 years Bob has been active on the boards of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) El Paso/Juarez, King’s Kids El Paso, YWAM San Diego/Baja and Community Resource International. Bob and his family have volunteered countless hours for YWAM and King’s Kids, including construction of churches, orphanages, drug rehab centers and homes for impoverished families in various parts of Mexico.