Mission

To shape places that celebrate and serve their communities.

The Civic Group is a purpose-driven real estate and investment firm reimagining urban infrastructure. We leverage innovative financing, design, and public-private partnerships to develop housing and community-focused spaces across all income levels. The firm delivers strong risk-adjusted returns while addressing structural housing challenges head on.

We approach every step of the development process with an open mind, from how a space is designed to how a deal is structured. Most importantly, we work in lockstep with the community to make sure each project reflects its needs and values.

Once the vision is set, we carry the project through from conception to completion to ensure that what is built is an asset to the community and profitable to investors. Such a broad undertaking often requires innovating new ways forward to get things done. It is our favorite part of the process.

Civic Group was founded in 2017 by Chris Mfume. Over the past decade, Civic and its principals have executed on transactions representing over $850 million and more than one million square feet of real estate.

Development with a Public Purpose

Real estate shapes how people live. The buildings we develop define neighborhoods for decades, and the choices we make as developers, what gets built, where, and for whom, ripple far beyond the property line. We see real estate as civic infrastructure, something the public depends on the way it depends on roads, transit, and parks. We approach every project with that responsibility in mind whether we are working on urban plans, residential buildings, university buildings or museums.

Every Civic project starts with the community it serves. We design with the people who will live, work, and gather there in mind, balancing function, beauty, and accessibility. The result is real estate that works for residents, investors, and the city as a whole.

Experience

Twelve Years Building Baltimore

  1. Beatty Development Group

    2013 to 2017

    Beatty Development Group

    Led over $600M in mixed-use development across Harbor Point and Perkins Somerset Oldtown. Two of Baltimore's defining transformations.

  2. Founded Civic

    2017

    Founded Civic

    Established the firm to apply institutional development experience to community development. Purpose-driven development as the operating thesis.

  3. Broke Ground on St. James Place

    2018

    Broke Ground on St. James Place

    Construction began on Civic's first project as an independent firm.

  4. Completed St. James Place

    2019

    Completed St. James Place

    Delivered St. James Place. The first stamp of Civic's execution discipline.

  5. Broke Ground on HOHM Highlandtown

    2020

    Broke Ground on HOHM Highlandtown

    Construction began on HOHM Highlandtown, a mixed-use development in East Baltimore.

  6. Completed HOHM Highlandtown

    2022

    Completed HOHM Highlandtown

    Delivered HOHM Highlandtown. Operating momentum builds across the pipeline.

  7. Broke Ground on Crook Horner Lofts

    2022

    Broke Ground on Crook Horner Lofts

    Construction began on the historic rehabilitation of Crook Horner Lofts in downtown Baltimore.

  8. Completed Crook Horner Lofts

    2024

    Completed Crook Horner Lofts

    Delivered the adaptive reuse of the Crook Horner building into mixed-use housing.

  9. Crook Horner Lofts Recognized

    2025

    Crook Horner Lofts Recognized

    Awarded the ULI Americas Award for Excellence, the AIA Design Excellence Award, and the Maryland Historical Trust Excellence in Rehabilitation Award.

Core Values

From deal to delivery, Civic champions these six core values, which guide our process.

Integrity

We approach every aspect of the development process with the highest of standards. That means following through on what we promise and always doing right by the people we serve, even when no one’s watching.

Execution

We have no tolerance for the status quo. Instead, we work to always exceed expectations, setting the bar even higher for each project to come.

Innovation

We view every challenge as an opportunity, which leads us to more creative solutions and is reflected in our portfolio’s diverse range of projects and executions.

Sustainability

For us, sustainability is more than a buzzword—it’s the ruler we measure every decision by, whether rental rates or building materials.

Responsibility

When people are your purpose, it’s imperative that you make decisions that support their wellbeing. We act accordingly.

Entrepreneurship

Our nimble size allows us to be quick to pursue opportunities and support our partners, both public and private.

Services

We believe in the power of a dedicated group of people acting on behalf of the greater good. Here are a few of the ways we do it.

Learn More
Development
Advisory Development Services
Acquisitions
Affordable Housing
Public-Private Partnerships
Construction Management
Learn More
Leadership

Our work is rooted in people—and thoughtful leadership keeps that focus clear. With over a decade of experience, we remain committed to showing up with purpose, consistency, and a long-term view for our residents, clients, and partners.

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Christopher Mfume
Founder and Managing Partner
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Christopher Mfume
Founder and Managing Partner

Christopher Mfume founded The Civic Group, a purpose-driven real estate development and investment firm reimagining urban infrastructure. Civic leverages innovative financing, design, and public-private partnerships to develop housing and community-focused spaces across all income levels—delivering strong risk-adjusted returns while tackling the housing crisis head-on. As the managing partner of The Civic Group, Mr. Mfume is responsible for leading all development and investment activities and guiding the firm’s projects from inception to completion.

Prior to founding Civic, Mr. Mfume worked for Beatty Development Group, a real estate development firm focused on large-scale mixed-use projects where he completed over $600 million in real estate investment and development. Projects include Harbor Point, a $1.8B mixed-use project blending office, residential, retail, and hotel spaces with 9.5 acres of green space. He also was deeply involved in the creation of the $900M Perkins Somerset Oldtown (PSO) project, revamping 244 acres on Baltimore’s east side into over 1650 housing units, a hotel, and a new community school.

Mr. Mfume is committed to improving communities through the development of innovative and sustainable projects. He holds a B.A. from Wake Forest University and serves on the board of several non-profits and community initiatives, including serving as Chair of The Inclusionary Housing Board of Baltimore City, UMB Cure Scholars, The Baltimore Tree Trust, and The Baltimore Hotel Corporation. He is also a member of The Housing Association for Non-profit Developers (HAND), focused on the production and preservation of affordable housing in the Capitol Region, AAREP DC, and the Urban Land Institute.

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Christopher Mfume
Founder and Managing Partner
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gallery image
Christopher Mfume
Founder and Managing Partner

Christopher Mfume founded The Civic Group, a purpose-driven real estate development and investment firm reimagining urban infrastructure. Civic leverages innovative financing, design, and public-private partnerships to develop housing and community-focused spaces across all income levels—delivering strong risk-adjusted returns while tackling the housing crisis head-on. As the managing partner of The Civic Group, Mr. Mfume is responsible for leading all development and investment activities and guiding the firm’s projects from inception to completion.

Prior to founding Civic, Mr. Mfume worked for Beatty Development Group, a real estate development firm focused on large-scale mixed-use projects where he completed over $600 million in real estate investment and development. Projects include Harbor Point, a $1.8B mixed-use project blending office, residential, retail, and hotel spaces with 9.5 acres of green space. He also was deeply involved in the creation of the $900M Perkins Somerset Oldtown (PSO) project, revamping 244 acres on Baltimore’s east side into over 1650 housing units, a hotel, and a new community school.

Mr. Mfume is committed to improving communities through the development of innovative and sustainable projects. He holds a B.A. from Wake Forest University and serves on the board of several non-profits and community initiatives, including serving as Chair of The Inclusionary Housing Board of Baltimore City, UMB Cure Scholars, The Baltimore Tree Trust, and The Baltimore Hotel Corporation. He is also a member of The Housing Association for Non-profit Developers (HAND), focused on the production and preservation of affordable housing in the Capitol Region, AAREP DC, and the Urban Land Institute.

Careers

Interest in joining our team? We're always looking for talented people, especially for the current openings linked here.

No current openings at this time.
But we’re always open to talk with talented people.