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Creating Value - Developing
Active Neighborhoods

Golden Hour Collective is a group of seven real estate professionals with a wealth of experience in market analysis, land acquisition, site assessment, construction, and property management. We have a strong track record of producing outsized returns, collectively developing more than $1 billion worth of real estate, including thousands of residential units.

Golden Hour Collective came to life when the owners of Doran Companies, one of the leading integrated real estate companies in the Midwest, met up with the respected Minneapolis-based development firm PerkinsLevin, and after several successful collaborations, discovered synergies that led to a partnership focused on land acquisition and development in the Carolinas.

We are united by our entrepreneurial spirit and our passion for the creative process of bringing residential communities to life. Currently, we are focused on under-supplied markets in the Carolinas, seeking out large tracts with exceptional locations and natural beauty that can serve as an amenity in and of itself.

Markets

Our mission is to create neighborhoods that foster a sense of community and life-long bonds, much like the ones where we ourselves grew up. In selecting sites for development, we prioritize stunning landscapes where we can build active communities with plenty of open space for people of all ages to enjoy.

 

We are currently pursuing opportunities in the following markets. To learn more about these projects, please reach out to us!

raleigh, NC

asheville, NC

Clayton, NC

Clayton, NC

Markets

Our mission is to create neighborhoods that foster a sense of community and life-long bonds, much like the ones where we ourselves grew up. In selecting sites for development, we prioritize stunning landscapes where we can build active communities with plenty of open space for people of all ages to enjoy.

 

We are currently pursuing opportunities in the following markets. To learn more about these projects, please reach out to us!

raleigh, NC

asheville, NC

Clayton, NC

the collective

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Our name was inspired by the sessions we would have after work, during the “golden hour,” when the sun is close to the horizon, casting a beautiful array of soft, warm tones. It is during this time, when the world seems to glow with opportunity, that our creative juices truly flow. We are excited to share our vision with you.

Golden Hour Collective © 2023 All Rights Reserved

Raleigh, NC

Raleigh is a city located in one of the nation’s foremost technology job hubs—North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, a region known for its wealth of knowledge. Simply referred to as “the Triangle” or RTP, this area includes Raleigh, home to North Carolina State University , Duke University, and UNC Chapel Hill. Raleigh has historically been known for attracting many businesses due to the highly educated workforce it provides.

 

Raleigh is known for its young, well-educated population, easy-going lifestyle, and a bustling nightlife. The city’s inviting setting, with plenty of parkland, museums, performing art centers, and a prosperous job market continues drawing new residents and retaining the student population after they graduate from the local universities. These favorable conditions create many exciting investment opportunities within the Triangle region.

Asheville, NC

Cradled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, there’s something special about Asheville, and the world is just beginning to discover it. Asheville sits at the crossroads of two major western North Carolina interstates, I-26 and I-40.  It is home to a growing number of education and medical facilities as well as more than 9,000 businesses that include restaurants, museums, boutiques, swank hotels, retail outlets and independent breweries. 

Clayton, NC

Clayton is home to some of the world’s largest companies (Grifols, Novo Nordisk, Caterpillar, and more). Strategically located less than 20 miles from Raleigh, 30 miles from the RDU airport, and 33 miles from the Research Triangle Park, Clayton, NC is conveniently located.

 

In addition to a booming business town, clayton offers a thriving community with a plethora of Arts and Music opportunities, a year-round lineup of community events for all audiences, miles of greenways, trails, and safe parks in every part of town, a recreation center, plus a lively Downtown District with shops, restaurants, bars and more at the heart of it.

Anne Behrendt Project Strategy & Execution

Anne is Golden Hour’s chief strategic thinker. Her ability to cut straight to the heart of any matter — even as she’s juggling innumerable different tasks — adds fuel to our collective productivity. Anne’s leadership skills spring from her role as CEO and majority owner of Doran Companies, one of Minnesota’s largest general contractors and commercial real estate developers. Anne’s experience leading a fully integrated firm like Doran enables her to fill multiple roles at Golden Hour Collective, from entitlements to legal (she also has a J.D.) to designing with architects.

Anne’s Favorite Neighborhood Memory: “Rollerblading everywhere with my friends — our primary means of transportation. We would meet at the park, rollerblade around the lakes, stop at Walgreens for candy, and sometimes even hit up a fast food drive-through on our blades.”

Joey Brehm Strategic Partnerships & Land Acquisition

Joey’s responsibility for strategic partnerships is a natural role for a person who’s easygoing, generous, and great at building relationships. Joey wears multiple hats at Golden Hour Collective, including land acquisition, site assessment, market analysis, entitlements, and development coordination. Joey entered real estate in 2014, when he started purchasing and fixing up multifamily properties, a portfolio he managed while overseeing sales and operations for a beverage distribution company. He parlayed that experience into a full-time development position at PerkinsLevin. Joey’s passion for real estate, meaningful relationships, and creating products that people will enjoy for years makes him our Evangelist in Chief.

Joey’s Favorite Neighborhood Memory: “Coming home from school every day in the winter, grabbing my hockey skates, a stick, and a puck, and walking down the street to the neighborhood rink where I would skate with my friends until we could no longer feel our toes.

Ryan Johnson Finance & Construction

Ryan’s core skill is performing complex financial analysis very quickly — credit his role as Chief Financial Officer, President, and Principal of Doran Companies. He’s also incredibly organized and detail-oriented, able to immediately perceive how one small change will impact the bigger picture. Beyond being the numbers guy, Ryan has a remarkable work ethic and an aptitude for forging genuine connections with people — an invaluable skill when it comes to building relationships in the communities where we’re planning developments.

Ryan’s Favorite Neighborhood Memory: “Driving my two-seater go-kart all over the countryside with my neighbors. It created a sense of freedom, exploration, and friendship.”

DREW LEVIN Business Development & Land Acquisition

Drew is the creative visionary of Golden Hour Collective, the one who dreams up big ideas and then builds the relationships and connections to bring them to life. His keen instinct leads to being an early adopter in the right markets, seeking out excellent value acquisitions ahead of the herd. Drew started his real estate career in 2008 acquiring & managing over $30 million in single family rentals and has since led the PerkinsLevin team through the acquisition & development of over $200 million of real estate. He inspires the group with his entrepreneurial drive and his enthusiasm for diving into a new discipline, learning it quickly, and showing the rest of us the way.

Drew’s Favorite Neighborhood Memory: “Every Halloween, we would all meet up for a pre-sunset bonfire at one of our neighbor’s homes. The kids would show off their costumes, drink hot chocolate and play until dark. Then we’d all head out to trick-or-treat. Knowing my neighbors and having opportunities to hang out gave me a strong sense of belonging.”

DANNY PERKINS Site Design & Entitlements

Danny is equipped with multiple secret weapons: a passionate eye for design, superior construction knowledge, an uncanny knack for finding solutions that balance the needs of all parties. His genuinely affable personality is a huge plus in community meetings, helping reach consensus amongst multiple stakeholders. Danny is a founding partner of PerkinsLevin, where he has directly overseen the construction of over 600 units and successfully led the entitlement and design of over 2,000 units. He instills excellent design into all of his projects — because good design attracts better tenants, and better tenants lead to higher returns.

Danny’s Favorite Neighborhood Memory: “Every day after school, I would take out my bike and venture to new activities — basketball, kickball, fishing, anything outdoor-related. I loved these after-school adventures for the freedom they gave me. It was like nothing else.”

Jake Vanderboom Equity & Land Assessment

Jake is the most analytical member of Golden Hour Collective. His aptitude with data and strong organizational skills derive from his prior experience in the environmental and life sciences testing industry, where he was a VP at Pace Analytical. Jake possesses well-honed instincts for everything from site assessment and land acquisition to raising capital and building a team structure that will sustain our growth. Whatever the role, he plays it with a serenity and intentionality that’s absolutely Zen.

Jake’s Favorite Neighborhood Memory: “It’s happening right now in Minneapolis: I live in a community where my wife, daughter, and I walk to the local coffee shop or farmers market every weekend, stop at the local playground, and cap afternoons with a beer at the local brewery. The community vibe is hard to beat.”