Steiner + Associates appoints new EVP of development

Gavin Thomas, who led the development departments at Kite Realty Group and Hendricks Commercial Properties, can now be found in Columbus tending to the ever-evolving Easton Town Center.

Thomas has taken over as executive VP of development at Steiner + Associates, Easton’s operator. His focus there will be on creating design-drive projects that enhance quality of life in the communities they serve.

While at Hendricks, Thomas led the development of the $600 million, 12-acre Bottleworks District, a renovation of the Coca-Cola bottling plant in downtown Indianapolis. The largest private development of its kind in Indiana, Bottleworks serves as an, arts, entertainment, and culinary hub that houses the city’s first food hall.

“Gavin is a critical addition to our leadership team at a time when we are experiencing great growth potential as a company,” said Steiner founder and CEO Yaromir Steiner. “His proven track record of unlocking value during a project lifecycle paired with his development and redevelopment expertise will be instrumental as we continue to expand our development business and project portfolio.”

At Kite, Thomas redeveloped some $260 million of mixed-use assets. As managing partner of Paper Street Associates in Chattanooga, Tenn, he was involved in more than a billion-dollars-worth of retail acquisitions for CBL & Associates.

Thomas, who received a Master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University, is a frequent panelist at industry events put on by the ICSC and the Urban Land Institute.