Technical Excellence and Market Intelligence Drive Multifamily Development Success
McKenzie Darr
McKenzie Darr (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenzie-darr/), Director of Development – Technical at JPI in Seattle, is a rising force in Pacific Northwest multifamily, combining technical depth in entitlements with pragmatic market intelligence to unlock value and de-risk complex urban projects. She consistently translates policy, zoning, and underwriting dynamics into actionable strategies that move projects from concept to execution.
Darr’s expertise in entitlements enables her to anticipate regulatory shifts and design pathways that insulate projects from future code changes, keeping schedules aligned and momentum strong. Her approach to land-use planning exemplifies her ability to navigate evolving municipal requirements and deliver certainty for stakeholders.
Her value creation is equally evident in code analytics and feasibility studies. Darr’s reviews often identify opportunities to increase density and optimize unit mix, balancing feasibility, community outcomes, and underwriting rigor. She is adept at leveraging incentives and zoning tools to maximize project value while maintaining compliance and supporting affordable housing goals.
Darr improves project economics through disciplined underwriting collaboration. She proactively updates financial models to reflect changing market conditions, such as tax rates and operating costs, ensuring assumptions are realistic and lender-ready. Her attention to detail builds confidence among capital partners and shortens decision cycles.
Her communications foster capital alignment and strategic clarity. Darr delivers succinct briefs on political and operating risks, mitigants, and regional supply constraints, enabling teams to make informed decisions. She is known for proposing creative solutions, such as interim revenue strategies during pre-construction phases, that enhance near-term cash flow and project resilience.
Darr’s leadership extends to negotiations and partnership structuring. Her collaborative approach ensures alignment among stakeholders and supports long-term success. She equips teams and stakeholders with forward-looking policy intelligence, distilling complex legislative changes and operating implications into clear guidance for lenders and internal partners, turning regulatory developments into executable strategy across the Pacific Northwest pipeline.
For her ability to improve underwriting outcomes, de-risk entitlements, and align capital, all while advancing community-minded design, McKenzie Darr exemplifies the Pacific Northwest’s next generation of CRE leadership—analytical, collaborative, and relentlessly focused on building great places that stand up to market, policy, and execution realities.
