"It's a positive for everyone," Marcus tells GlobeSt.com. "There are new and promising things happening every day, and we look forward to pursuing the opportunities we think are going to be out there." The effort is underpinned by a staff featuring acquisitions ace William McAvoy; design/construction specialist David Fiore, who will lead the firm's Connecticut office; and Mark Stroud, a 25-year industry professional who is running the Florida operations. All were at Davis Marcus Partners, as was SVP of Development Jan Machnik, and SVP of Construction and Development Peter Scoba. Finance Director Lori Shea joins the firm from Lyme Properties.

About three-quarters of the 40 Davis Marcus Partners employees are staying on at the Davis Cos. Its leader reports his firm is hiring several senior real estate professionals to fill in the gaps of those departing for Marcus Partners, which will be headquartered at 75 Park Plaza in Boston's Back Bay. Davis is already hitting the ground running with his resurrected firm, unveiling the purchase of a $75-million loan pool backed mainly by properties in the southeast. "Things are great," says Davis. "We are excited and energized by what we see."

The loan pool, financed by a major life insurance company, demonstrates that the Davis Cos. will consider multiple geographies, but Davis explains that the firm's bailiwick will be from southern New Hampshire to metropolitan New York, the same territory he has concentrated on for more than three decades.