Derrick L. Tillman, president and CEO of Bridging the Gap Development, LLC is a man of vision, faith and determination. He credits all three in playing a major role in molding him into the man he is today.
As a child his family moved around a lot. “We lived all over the city,” he said remembering living in Rankin, Wilkinsburg, Homewood, East Liberty, and the Hill District. Raised by a single mother in Section 8 housing he knows first-hand what it is like to be displaced.
In 2006 relaying on his sensitivities and life experiences Tillman established Bridging the Gap Development, a diversified real estate wealth management firm with the mission to preserve and grow a financial portfolio by investing their preferred capital into income producing real estate assets and major development projects. The company vision is to rebuild sustainable communities through residential and commercial development while bridging the gap for many unemployed and underemployed individuals with skills to work on construction job sites.
“In addition to affordable housing, we also build market rate residential and commercial property with a priority to provide many opportunities for M/W/DBE companies,” he said. Since its existence, Tillman said BTG has redeveloped more than 80 units that include multi-family, commercial and single-family properties.
Even though Tillman possess a low keyed disposition and quiet demeanor he perks up when discussing his upcoming Miller Street project, a 36-unit area median income property. Raising the bar in development within the city, the plan, he explained is to demolish the current structure and build quality housing and a beautiful in and out apartment building.
Not only will the units be affordable for all, Tillman says the goal is for the structure to be built by utilizing a 40 percent M/W/DBE company quota, which includes professional services. A unique component of the project, according to Tillman is to provide customized supportive service training for the residents that includes soft skills, financial literacy training and a trauma counseling. “Partnering with the Energy Innovation Center and FOCUS Pittsburgh staff our goal is to help create a pipeline to self-sufficiency. I’ve developed strong relationships with private groups that will provide employment opportunities to 36 residents at $15 an hour for 20 hours a week for three months with the hope that permanent employment will occur.”
The overall drive of the development, he says is to help people become financially stable so their income level exceeds the limit to stay in the apartment causing them to relocate making room for someone else.
To Tillman’s’ knowledge providing quality housing, training and jobs within a project has never been done before which makes his company unique and potentially moves BTG to top developer status.
Other projects BTG is involved in is a six-unit luxury apartment building rehab in Manchester which he will own and operate. They are also working in partnership with two Hill District nonprofit entities; Amani Christian Community Development and the Macedonia Development Corporation to develop scattered site units. The project consists of building 22 single family townhouses for the Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh throughout the Hill District. Tillman also mentioned that he is working with several other nonprofit organizations to help fulfill their mission of providing housing for vulnerable populations.
A University of Pittsburgh School of Information Science graduate, Tillman is a CORO Pittsburgh participant and George Westinghouse High School Alumni. Involved in the real estate business for over a decade, his experience includes working in commercial real estate, property management, residential real estate, development, contract negotiations, general contracting and leasing. He is also in a partnership with Greg Spencer, president and CEO of Randall Chemical Manufacturing Company with the City of Bridges Cafe located in the landside terminal at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Tillman previously was a partner in a multi-million-dollar Weatherization business, which had contracts with gas and electric utility companies, housing authorities and County Action agencies to perform services for homeowners and tenants to make their homes more energy efficient. Services were performed for residents in Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Washington, Greene and Franklin Counties.
Overall he believes his unique combination of brokering commercial and residential deals as well as owning and operating several successful companies gives him a great advantage in business and serving his clients.A product of the environment he is providing for, Tillman knows what it is like to be unable to obtain employment and is very familiar with the communities he is developing. Spencer, who he considers his mentor has worked with him and provided guidance since his CORO days. They both identify mentorship as a key component and as a way to assisting people to get on tract to reaching their potential.
With an array of knowledge of the Hill District and the developments he is involved with, the offices of BTG will soon be located in the Energy Innovation Center on Bedford Avenue. “We’ll be located on the third floor overlooking the lower Hill,” said Tillman.
At the age of 36 Tillman looks forward to a bright future. A strong man of faith and definite visionary, he views BTG as becoming one of the top developers within the area in a matter of years. “Everything happens in God’s time,” he says. In preparation to moving to the next level, his goal is to expand into Ohio, New York, Michigan and Florida. “I’ve learned to be patient and I’m cognizant that God is and has strengthened my faith.”
A family man, Tillman and his wife have three children who he says he is driven to create a legacy for.
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