We had the good fortune of connecting with Derek Avery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Derek, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
COIR Development was founded to be a catalyst for a new style of real estate development. Our development theory is based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. We focus on making sure we develop projects around the needs of people. Typically development is solely based on the financial bottom line. We make sure to center people when we plan developments. COIR was born out of the need to address the affordable housing crisis. We need more people participating in the economy, so our goal is to create more homeowners and affordable places for people to rent comfortably.

What should our readers know about your business?
I got it out of the mud truly describes how COIR Development started. Entrepreneurship is not a fairytale story. It has been and is very hard. The ups and downs of running a business is not for the faint of heart. Even with a great support system of knowledgeable people, COIR Development was built on hard work and the genuine dedication to the community. We are a full service development company. We are small in number, but we have built relationships to be able to work on small and large projects. We started out building houses in black and brown neighborhoods where people said no one would buy. We built our first new construction house as COIR in South Dallas. We listed a rendering in 2017, and received 300 phone calls the very next day. The rest is history is the statement. Prior to that listing, we were told for 4 years that it was impossible. We had to bootstrap to build the first house without support from banks. Now, builders are flocking to the area. Our intention was to prove the value of this black and brown area for folks from this area to move back. Our company slogan is revitalization without gentrification. That is always our goal. Whenever we build a new house, we offer to represent the legacy homeowners at the appraisal district to protest their taxes for free. It is no fair for their homes to be compared to a new home. We typically win those appeals. My experience as a professional property tax consultant helps me with making sure we do not price people out of their neighborhoods. This is one of the things that sets us apart from other real estate development firms. We’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons during this journey. The most important is to build a great team. I’ve struggled over the years to find the right mix of people who can get things done consistently. I’m grateful for the team I have today. I want the world to know that COIR Development is here to revitalize once thriving communities and to build new thriving communities.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
the first place I would go is South Dallas. I will stop at the South Dallas Cultural Center to take in some black culture and art. Then I would grab a Texas style philly cheesesteak and wings at Southside steaks and cakes. I would run over to Fair Park to the African American Museum. I would talk to the curator Dr. Harry Robinson for a tour. Then I would go down to Malcolm X and Reed to the 913 Bar and Grill and hang out on the rooftop deck. I would give them a tour of some of the houses COIR Development built in South Dallas and Oak Cliff. While we’re in Oak Cliff, I would stop by La Calle Doce for authentic Mexican seafood. Then I would run over to the Pan-African bookstore to buy some books and other items created by black owned businesses. I would stop at For Oak Cliff to volunteer with the youth for a bit. Then I would head over to Del Sur Tacos for a quick bite. After that, we would run by the Juanita Craft House and Civil rights museum for some more history. Then in the evening I would run down to Cedar Hill to have a classy steak dinner at Hillside Prime. I love so many places, so I would invite my best friend back to go to more great spots.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I believe in Ubuntu which is an African principle of the collective we verses the individual me. There are a collection of people and groups who have contributed to helping me become who I am today. I have to always shout out Jesus because I’d be nothing without my faith. The inclusive love of Christ keeps me grounded. I’m imperfect, but I do my best to follow Christ’s example. My mother, Mary V. Avery, made sure I was equipped to lead from an early age. I only got 16 years with her, but she packed a lot of teaching into those years. She introduced me to mentors at my home church Holman Street Baptist Church. Four of my mentors all were in Real estate. This helped shape my vision of where I could make a difference in my community. Deacon Mike Smith, Ronnell Tresvant, Reginald Moore, Pastor Manson B. Johnson were key in shaping my view of real estate, community, and leadership. Also, my family has been a great support system to help me get here. Dr. Tanya Dugat-Wickliff has been a major inspiration and consistent contributor to my success. She pushes me to be more efficient and to get things done. She has been a driving force my entire life. My friend, Ms. Thea Walker, has stepped into my life to push me to lead COIR Development with boldness and the utmost integrity. I’m grateful for all of the people who I haven’t named who have helped me along this journey. I always say my mother left me a wealthy inheritance of loving people. Thank you!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Coirholdings?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Instagram: @derekavery1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-avery-31b61b13?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Twitter: @derekavery1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coirholdings?mibextid=LQQJ4d

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