About Us

Manchester Communities is a community development firm whose principals have decades of combined experience in the acquisition, entitlement and development of land throughout Florida and the Southeast. Over the past two decades, the founders of Manchester Communities have collectively developed and sold more than 15,000 residential lots, commercial, and multifamily land across Florida and the Southeast in both primary and active adult communities totaling well over $450M in value. 

Based in Central Florida, Manchester Communities is an active partner and manager on behalf of home builders and institutional funds as well as providing advisory and consulting services. Manchester’s goal is to optimize the vertical development opportunities in our communities by implementing optimal planning and development strategies. This approach allows for truly unique, successful projects which produce strong returns for all stakeholders. 

Manchester Communities focuses specifically on land and the vertical opportunities it can create in each project. 

• Capture market opportunities for each project 
• Incorporate best practices of planning and design 
• Develop detailed financial models and budgets 
• Provide day-to-day guidance and strategic management of land assets 
• Oversee the planning, permitting and implementation of infrastructure 
• Market and complete the sale of sites/parcels/projects/finished lots to third party buyers/builders 
• Create opportunities for vertical investments with potential third-party partners 
• Continually seek value-add opportunities and cost savings for the project through proactive development practices

Principal / Founder

Mr. Lefkowitz brings over four decades of experience across real estate development, construction and investment. Over the course of his career, Howard has built an impressive reputation and track record in the industry, developing over 20,000 lots and building thousands of homes across Florida. He founded Florida Residential Communities (FRC) in 1975 and grew the company into a vertically integrated residential building company that produced over 350 homes per year, manufactured pre-fabricated roof trusses and managed utility services for over 2,000 homes. 

Howard went on to launch Green Street Corporation in 1986 as real estate development, construction and investment company that included residential, commercial, industrial and land development. After selling the business to a national apartment and commercial development company in 1993, Howard launched Leeds Holdings Southeast, where he currently serves as President. Some of the notable projects that Howard has developed across Central Florida include; Westyn Bay (782-unit mixed-use & 25-acre commercial); Legacy Park (234-acre, 1,200-unit mixed use & 14-acre commercial) and; Founders Ridge (963-unit residential community).

A highly active member in the Central Florida community, Howard has served on numerous local government committees and volunteers his time to a number of non-profit community organizations including the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando where he was a founding member and instrumental in the development of the Jewish Community Center and Day School of Central FL. He is also Founder & President of the Jewish Capital Alliance, a 501c3 that lends and advises Jewish agencies. 

hlefkowitz@manchestercommunities.com

Principal

Mr. Bass brings almost two decades of experience in real estate construction, development and investment. Benjamin began his career as a real estate private equity analyst with CIM Group and then served as a development associate with Kettler in Washington, DC. In 2007 he relocated to India for an associate role with Lehman Brothers before co-founding Crescat International, an Africa focused frontier market investment company and financial advisor. He served as COO of Crescat until 2013.

Upon his return to the US in 2013, Benjamin settled in Central Florida to join a startup shell construction company, Akcel Construction and served as its Chief Operating Officer. He was instrumental in growing the company to over $80 million in revenue and helped evolve the business platform to include; a wall panel factory and building materials supplier; a general contracting company; and an eco-friendly affordable home building company. With thousands of housing units delivered, the company established itself as one of the leading vertically integrated general contractors and construction solution providers for residential investors and developers in Florida. Benjamin launched Eola Builders in 2020 as a real estate investment, construction and development company focused on the build-for-rent sector and serves as its Founder & President.

A highly active member in a number of home builder organizations and associations across Florida and the Urban Land Institute, Benjamin was also the co-founder and served as the inaugural chairperson of the Greater Orlando Builders Association Young Professionals Committee. He holds a B.aB.A in Finance and International Business from The George Washington University.

bbass@manchestercommunities.com