Derek Avery

Derek Avery: Pioneering Revitalization Without Gentrification

Derek Avery is a community-conscious real estate developer based in Dallas, TX who owns COIR Holdings, LLC with his wife Bianca. He has been in the real estate industry for most of his career, working in almost every aspect of it.1

Avery is committed to providing middle- and low-income housing in struggling neighborhoods while taking a holistic approach to revitalization. When building in a community, COIR Holdings not only constructs affordable homes but also invests in education resources and the overall well-being of the area.1

Revitalization Without Gentrification

Avery's mantra is "revitalization without gentrification".2 He believes you can run a sustainable business while being committed to the people you serve, and that more developers should follow this practice.1

To avoid displacing existing residents, Avery controls the mix of incomes in the homes he builds. He focuses on building in a concentrated area, committing to revitalizing a street or two at a time.1 Avery also hires locally and has partnered to create training programs so community members are involved in the physical rebuild of their neighborhood.12

Holistic Approach to Community Development

COIR Holdings takes a comprehensive approach to community development, not just constructing houses but forging relationships and seeking to lift up both the place and the people who already live there.2 Avery sees his role as activating the community and involving them in the revitalization process.1

He draws inspiration from Tulsa's former Greenwood district, also known as "Black Wall Street", and aims to create a similar sense of community ownership and empowerment in the neighborhoods he works in.2 Avery believes that to affect positive change, development must be approached from the base level of how neighborhoods are designed.1

Overcoming Perceptions and Challenges

Avery acknowledges that there are widespread negative perceptions of developers exploiting struggling neighborhoods.2 To combat this, he focuses on building relationships, hiring locally, and involving the community every step of the way.12

One challenge Avery has faced is pushback from some who say building more expensive homes, even if mixed-income, will be seen as gentrification.1 However, he remains committed to his approach, believing that controlled, community-driven reinvestment is key to revitalizing neighborhoods without displacement.12

As a real estate developer, Avery has shaped projects that blend community revitalization with smart business practices.3 He continues to advocate for and implement his vision of "revitalization without gentrification" in Dallas and beyond.