Who we are

Bywater specializes in the planning, financing, and production of high-quality affordable and mixed-income housing developments that help transform communities and neighborhoods into better, stronger, and more sustainable places to live, work, and play.

As a Developer, we manage the entire process of planning, financing, implementing, leasing/selling and operating residential real estate developments. This multi-discipline process requires a wide array of skills and expertise, including real estate acquisition, municipal process management, financial structuring, debt/equity negotiations, and engaging and managing strong third-party development teams for design, construction, engineering, legal, accounting and property management.

Our team is expert in the structuring and administration of tax credit financing programs and other public/private financing tools that can be used to finance housing and community development initiatives that create great places to live for families and seniors, and establish positive anchors in the communities in which they are located. We have the expertise, strength, and capacity to serve as the stand-alone Developer of such initiatives-and are also experienced in creating positive and effective partnering models working together as co-developers with other partners, including non-profit, for-profit and governmental entities.

Company Leadership

David Dodson

CEO

Aaron Burnett

President

Over the course of David’s 30+ year career in affordable housing and community development, he has worked in the non-profit and private sectors, and has acted as a development, financing, or program consultant to a variety of non-profit, for-profit, and governmental entities, including local CDCs, private developers, municipal and county governments, financial institutions, and investor groups. During the 11 years prior to starting Bywater, David was the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of Regional Housing & Community Development Alliance, the St. Louis Region’s premier non-profit community development and technical assistance organization. In this role, David led the organization’s strategic planning, managed the professional staff, and oversaw the development and operation of $150 million in redevelopment in the St. Louis region. David has worked on affordable housing developments in Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Louisiana, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Kentucky.

- contact David Dodson

Aaron is one of the founding members of Bywater Development Group. Aaron possesses 15 years’ experience in housing and community development, with special expertise in structured finance. Aaron has substantial experience utilizing Affordable Housing Tax Credits, Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and a variety of other federal, state, and local funding sources, including a variety of state tax credits, Community Development Block Grant, and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds. He has been involved in the successful development of over 400 high quality apartments and homes. Through his experience Aaron brings to Bywater a proven ability to work in partnership and collaboration with a wide range of development partners including non-profits, for-profits and governmental entities. This experience helps the organization in planning, financing and implementing positive and transformative developments.

- contact Aaron Burnett

Core values

We are passionate about our work

Effective Partnering

We focus on listening, and a collaborative and inclusionary approach.

Great Ideas

We creatively utilize structured finance and other tools to address community goals.

Exceptional Planning/Design

We provide leadership in sustainable, walkable, asset-based development.

Strong Teams

Bywater offers cultivation of high-performing teams that include local professionals.

Informed Decisions

We specialize in information and data-driven analysis and decision-making.

Meaningful Goals

We aim for achievement of outcomes that make communities demonstrably better.

Areas of expertise

Community input & engagement

Contract administration

Debt & equity negotiation

Design review & quality assurance

Development team management

Due diligence & financial closings

Financial analysis & structuring

Financial management

Funding application preparation

Historic preservation & adaptive reuse

Lease-purchase developments

Lease-up oversight

Leveraging public resources

Neighborhood revitalization planning

Ongoing asset management

Partnering & collaboration

Private equity & debt finance

Project planning

Real estate acquisition

Repositioning troubled properties

Tax credit & public finance

Get In touch with us

To learn more about what we do and how we can help in your community please contact us.