“Mixed use transportation centers are the way of the future” says Rod MacDonald, Director of New Construction for KDF Communities of Newport Beach. “We need to spend more time and energy building high density housing around transportation nodes”.

Here’s a guy who should know about such things. A developer with both commercial and residential credentials, KDF Communities has spent the past 11 years involved in the construction, acquisition and rehabilitation of over 4,800 rental units in 25 cities in the state of California.

“We build and/or buy, depending on the ebb and flow of market forces” MacDonald explains. And with their business model working in cities from Santa Ana to Bay Point, it’s easy to see why KDF is known statewide as a leader in developing and rehabilitating affordable multifamily and senior housing.

A native of Glendale, CA and a graduate of USC’s School of Architecture, MacDonald is one of those guys who knew from an early age that he wanted to build things. “I started in the business in 1971, and quickly realized that this has to be a team effort for it to work. and that the quality of the professional associates involved would be critical to a project’s success” he says.

In 1976, after five years spent between El Paso and Chicago learning the office building trade (including a stint with the company that would become LaSalle Partners developing two 10-story office buildings), Rod returned home to sunny southern California. “Chicago’s a GREAT place to learn the business, but I got tired of the ‘four days of spring, four days of fall’ stuff” he says with a laugh.

But Rod says now that he didn’t really find his place in the world until 2004. That was the year he joined forces with KDF.

“I’ve worked on everything from 20 unit condos to completing over 600 multi-family units to guiding a 42-acre site from its agricultural zoning into an industrial park. I’ve spent years building apartment complexes and condominiums, and am comfortable with any kind of development challenge anyone wants to throw at me.” he says.

But it’s KDF’s team approach that gives this innovative real estate practitioner a real feeling of professional satisfaction.

“I like an environment where everyone around you is a seasoned specialist in his field, committed to doing business in an ethical manner. Only when you’re surrounded by a team of experts capable of making quick, effective decisions that produce timely results can you respond rapidly to an ever-changing marketplace.” he observes.

The company’s success traces back at every turn to that team approach. “We’ve developed long-term relationships with construction partners, financiers and cities throughout California. These relationships are all geared to supporting our company’s commitment to quality and integrity.” says MacDonald. “And having that team approach as a core philosophy of the firm allows us to buy existing apartments and convert them to suit affordable housing programs for such a large number of cities.

“KDF Communities has become successful by developing relationships and trust over a period of years. We work with many partners, such as Sun Country Builders. These are partners who truly reflect KDF’s values and our dedication to the community.”

To date, KDF has done three projects with Sun Country Builders. Says MacDonald of the experience; "Sun Country's ability to become a team member from estimating to design to construction through handing the keys to KDF Communities is unsurpassed."

Today, Rod MacDonald works exclusively on the development and construction of new projects. “I, and my company, could never be where we are without the Sun Country Builders team by our side.”