Corporate Overview

Garver Development Group LLC is keenly focused on protecting our partners’ interests and driving value creation through our hard work. We stand in the Owner’s shoes as its advocate, with fealty to no one else. Specifically, our role can include:

  • Joint Venture Developer
  • Fee Developer
  • Feasibility Analysis
  • Owner’s Rep
  • Owner’s Project Manager

Garver is a  real estate services company that provides, either directly or through strategic partnerships, any assistance needed for a building or development project.

Our deepest experience includes these project types:

  • Multi-Family and Senior Housing
  • Self-Storage
  • Adaptive Re-use
  • Corporate Headquarters Relocation

Our seasoned staff uses a unique set of skills and tools to create value as we:

  • Assemble the best team available based on the project type and location
  • “Tap the wisdom in the room” through facilitation
  • Guide the project by its goals and best practices rather than who has the loudest voice
  • Speak the language of the many specialists involved in projects today, from engineers to lawyers to building code officials
  • Ensure that the focus on technical issues remains in service of the project’s goals, by breaking through the “silos” in which specialists are typically housed; this often leads to solutions that would not otherwise be seen
  • Quickly analyze what needs to be done
  • Think outside the box and apply our passion for problem solving
  • Be hard on the issues and soft on people

Team

Peter Garver

Founder and President of Garver Development Group, Peter excels at protecting the interests of his partners. He creates value through his focused and respectful manner of working on projects with the various players. His proven track record with mixed use, self-storage, corporate office and senior housing work includes over 6 million square feet of development since the late 1990’s.

Peter has led development work for joint venture partners, a REIT, private corporate clients, public entities and non-profits. He is a licensed Real Estate Salesperson and a LEED Accredited Professional. A licensed architect, he practiced for ten years prior to his work as a developer. Peter earned a Masters of Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee.

Peter is active with NAIOP as a member of its national Private Developers Forum and the Board of the Maryland State Boychoir. An accomplished marathon runner and open-water swimmer, he was the top fundraiser for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Swim seven years running, and now supports cancer research at Johns Hopkins as part of Swim Across America- Baltimore.

Connect with Peter on

Speaking & Presentations

Executives at Garver are available to speak to large or small groups regarding real world sustainable real estate experiences, solutions and to lend insights into completed or projects underway.

Recent speaking engagements include:

Bisnow Multi Family Forum panel participant

Baltimore Business Journal panel discussion “The Future of Columbia”

Maryland Center for Construction Education & Innovation “A Mile In Your Shoes” event (regarding project delivery methods) table leader

Clark Leadership CEO Groups- presented “Office Trends: Office as an Environment; Office (Building) as an Artifact”

SMPS MD Developers’ Panel: “Sustainable Development in the Corridor”

BOMA Maryland “Economic Update” Commercial Real Estate Presentation

Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporation, Energy Efficiency Roundtable, Panel Discussion

NAIOP MD, “Green Buildings: Are They Valuable To Tenants?,” Moderator

Greater Baltimore Committee, Small Business Summit, Panel Discussion re; Green Development

Greater Baltimore Committee, Built Environment and Sustainability Committee, Panel Discussion

U.S. Green Building Council, Jacksonville, Florida, Master Speaker Presentation: “Green Development and the Bottom Line”

CREW Baltimore, “The State of the Region” panel participant

NBI Conference, Mastering…Development Processes in Maryland, Baltimore, MD “Sustainable Development Requirements and Trends”

The Downtown Partnership Business Over Breakfast, Baltimore, MD “Green Development Update”

The Daily Record Symposium, Baltimore, MD “Go Green for Green”

CoreNET Global Conference, Tyson’s Corner, VA “Corporate Sustainability Programs: the Developer’s View”

Maryland Economic Development Agency spring meeting, Hagerstown, MD “Green Buildings for Economic Development”

National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Phoenix, AZ “Speculative Green Office Development Case Studies”

National Facilities Management & Technology Conference, Baltimore, MD “Creating Healthier Offices”

Commercial Real Estate Women, Baltimore, MD “How sustainable building techniques benefits the bottom line”

Urban Land Institute Industrial Office Product Council, Denver, CO “Green building trends in the future and how to get on the bandwagon”

NAIOP national meeting San Francisco, CA ” Update on new trends, best practices and the latest technological advances in green and sustainable building design”

Green Building Alliance/NAIOP Green Sense conference, Pittsburgh, PA Keynote: “Why Green Spec Office Development?”

Testimonials

On multiple projects in Columbia, Garver Development makes very significant contributions to our endeavors here in Downtown. Peter Garver well understands how to drive value creation in real estate development. That combined with his positive demeanor, integrity and reputation fashion him as a powerful force to be reckoned with and we are pleased to be working with him. Garver was an integral part of our success at bringing Whole Foods to the adaptive re-use of the former Rouse Company headquarters. Peter helped us figure out how best to re-position this building. He understands both the big-picture business points as well as the technical details, and pivots from one to the other without missing a beat.

“I had the distinct pleasure of working with Peter Garver during the construction planning phases of a courthouse and a government services building. Having participated in a number of similar processes during my thirty-year career, I was delighted to see his many talents displayed for our mutual benefit during this lengthy effort. Supremely knowledgeable and committed to best practices, Peter also possesses truly superb interpersonal skills. He routinely managed meetings with twenty-five consultants and government representatives with poise, efficiency and unflappable politeness. Results were always forthcoming due to his professional standards, expectations and personal conduct. All of us who are dedicated to sustainable development are most fortunate to have someone of Peter’s stature working in this important field.”
Suzanne James

Howard County Courts Administrator, Retired

Garver Development was a big help getting our manufacturing plant development project off the ground. While we’re really good at the produce business, we are less familiar with how to get permits, how to manage a design team, or even the most effective way to approach the construction. Peter Garver is a businessman who is very skilled with all aspects of the development process. He understands the value of relationships, which he uses effectively, whether to navigate through a bureaucracy or to maximize the benefit of members of a team. We would recommend Garver to other manufacturers who have real estate issues.
Bill Class

Co-Owner, The Class Produce Group

Peter Garver brings the owner’s perspective and a wealth of technical understanding to his sustainable development work. He uses his financial and architectural/construction skills to creatively analyze various green strategies, and he understands the financial metrics of how to present this information. Peter is sensitive to both the first cost and operational issues, taking a long view of the bottom line.
Jonathan Ratner

Vice President of Sustainability Initiatives, Forest City

Peter Garver exhibited exceptional talent and leadership in formulating the Master Plan for the economic redevelopment of Fort Ritchie Army Garrison, Cascade, Maryland. His integrity and commitment to the project was unquestionable. His understanding of this complex project was instrumental in blending economic viability with historic preservation and environmental initiatives. Peter’s work is first-class and I would highly recommend him as a key team member for any real estate project.
Richard Rook

Executive Director, Penmar Development Corporation (designated Local Redevelopment Authority for Fort Ritchie)

On multiple projects in Columbia, Garver Development makes very significant contributions to our endeavors here in Downtown. Peter Garver well understands how to drive value creation in real estate development. That combined with his positive demeanor, integrity and reputation fashion him as a powerful force to be reckoned with and we are pleased to be working with him. Garver was an integral part of our success at bringing Whole Foods to the adaptive re-use of the former Rouse Company headquarters. Peter helped us figure out how best to re-position this building. He understands both the big-picture business points as well as the technical details, and pivots from one to the other without missing a beat.
John E. DeWolf, III,

Senior Vice President, Development, The Howard Hughes Corporation

Peter brought his professional expertise to the table as he collaborated with the architect and engineers, engaged and consulted with the faculty, and guided the Board of Trustees in its decision making responsibilities. He brought clarity, humor, and warmth to a technical and critical project.
Pat Whitehead

Executive Director, Waldorf School of Baltimore