Mackenzie Makepeace is a Managing Director at DiGeronimo Development, where she leads the company's growing portfolio of transformative real estate projects. As part of the DiGeronimo Companies, a family of vertically integrated companies spanning heavy civil construction, demolition, construction management, and development, Mackenzie leverages the group's unique ability to self-perform critical phases of the building process. This vertical integration creates seamless collaboration, cost efficiencies, and exceptional quality across every stage of a project.
DiGeronimo Development focuses on acquisitions, entitlements, ground-up development, and property management, with a strong emphasis on large-scale, mixed-use projects. Mackenzie is at the helm of the company's flagship development, Valor Acres, a 70+ acre, multi-phase community in Brecksville, Ohio, designed to bring together residential, office, retail, and hospitality spaces in one thoughtfully planned destination.
Before joining DiGeronimo Development, Mackenzie served as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Market Research at Forest City Realty Trust, a national real estate developer and owner/operator with over $8 billion in assets. Continuing her work with the Ratner family, Mackenzie joined The Max Collaborative as Director of Development, where she oversaw the creation of over 1,000 multifamily units totaling $625 million in development costs.
Mackenzie holds a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration from Washington and Lee University. She is deeply engaged with the Urban Land Institute, where she serves as Chair of the Americas Women's Leadership Initiative, sits on the Americas Executive Committee, and is a member of ULI Cleveland's Governance Committee and Advisory Board, the YLG Governance Committee, and ULI's Urban Development and Mixed-Use Council (Bronze Flight). Mackenzie lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with her husband and two children.
Speaking at
Wed Nov 05
2:30 PM — 3:30 PM (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time
Demographic Shifts and the New Landscape of Residential Real Estate
Category
Housing/Residential
In recent years, the North American residential real estate market has transformed due to shifting demographic trends. This session explores population movements, generational preferences, and cultural diversity reshaping housing across metropolitan centers and rural communities. Attendees will learn how aging baby boomers, the rise of millennials and gen z as homeowners, gen x as the sandwich generation, and the influence of multicultural populations are redefining demand, location, and the concept of home. It examines younger generations' shift toward urban living and reverse migration to suburbs and smaller cities fueled by remote work. Participants will also consider how a growing senior population with unique needs—such as accessible design and proximity to health care—impacts development patterns and market offerings. The session addresses fluctuating immigration rates and internal migration within North America, invigorating some regions while challenging others. Developers and policymakers are rethinking affordability, infrastructure, and inclusive community development. Changing household structures—such as multigenerational living and single-person households—drive innovation in housing design and amenities. Whether you are a developer, agent, investor, or urban planner, you will leave with a deeper understanding of how demographic change is both a challenge and a catalyst for innovation in the residential property market.