In multifamily development, the corporate structure of a firm often determines the quality and efficiency of the final product. Companies that integrate development, construction, leasing, and management under one roof make decisions that differ from those that outsource each phase, and this distinction is evident in both project timelines and building standards.
When the same entity designs a building and retains ownership for the long term, early decisions are made by those who will live with the consequences. This alignment eliminates a common source of compromise in development. “When you own the full life cycle, you understand everything,” says Yuval Shram, Founder and CEO of TAY Investments, whose firm is delivering the 202-unit LAZUL WEST at 301 West Side Avenue in Jersey City. “You make every decision knowing you will own the property for the long term, so you build it to last.” This approach yields choices optimized for durability and resident experience rather than for a quick handoff.
Vertical integration also enables a developer to keep a project moving while refining it in real time. Because TAY serves as its own general contractor, design refinements and construction can advance in parallel, coordinated internally rather than renegotiated across separate contracts. Shram describes it as managing a large, interconnected system with a single hand on every piece. Changing one element, such as a building entrance, affects utilities, access, and site planning simultaneously. Keeping these relationships within one organization ensures the project advances smoothly and the finished product reflects exactly what the team intended. On LAZUL WEST, this coordination allowed construction to stay on schedule while plans were refined to a higher standard.
The benefits of this structure continue long after opening. TAY's leasing and management teams are involved during design, shaping the building around how residents will actually use it. “Our leasing agent will look at the plans and tell us where we can make them better,” Shram says. “She might say a layout needs more walk-in closet space, because that is something residents value, so we build it in.” Electric-vehicle charging is another feature added early because the operating team knew residents would want it. “Those small touches are what create the value of a building,” he notes.
As development expands into emerging neighborhoods like Jersey City's West Side, the ability to control quality end to end is becoming a genuine differentiator. A developer that builds and operates its own assets can maintain a consistent standard from the first drawing through years of management. LAZUL WEST, now delivered and leasing, exemplifies this approach. For investors and residents, the implications are clear: vertical integration can lead to better-built, better-managed properties that stand the test of time.
