LOS ANGELES—Jon Spelke has joined Storm Properties as director of development. In this new role, Spelke will oversee the firm's entitlement and development projects for both its commercial and residential portfolios. He will be based in Storm Properties' Torrance, CA, headquarters.

“The Storm Platform is well established and has been around for many years; it is private and focuses on urban infill development projects, which is something that I believe in and offers good opportunity for my career path,” Spelke tells GlobeSt.com about his attraction to the firm. In addition to his role as director of development, Spelke will also serve on the firm's originations team, where he will locate and execute acquisitions that will help to boost the firm's growth.

Spelke joins Storm Properties from Los Angeles-based CA Student Living/Campus Acquisitions, where he served has SVP of land acquisition and development. His storied career, however, also includes turns in leadership roles at Clarion Partners, the Hillman Co. and Lennar Urban. His expertise stretches across property sectors. In his career, he has developed more than 2.8 million square feet of commercial real estate, including retail, industrial and office properties, and has developed more than 900 residential units as well as a 320-room hotel.

For his directorial role at Storm, Spelke will leverage all of this experience to grow the company's portfolio. “My short-term goals are to come in and take responsibility for the existing projects that are currently in the pipeline in the entitlement or development phases,” he says. “My longer-term goals are to grow the platform, and move it from the smaller group that it is now to a slightly bigger group doing more and slightly bigger infill residential deals in Southern California, and primarily Los Angeles County. We are always looking for deals to continue our pipeline and continue to grow.”

Storm Properties has been actively growing its commercial portfolios this year, making headlines with its retail acquisitions. This includes the purchase of the Glendora Shopping Center on a high-traffic intersection in Glendora, CA. The 22,000-square-foot retail center was attractive to the investor because of the properties' prime location on the corner Lone Hill Avenue and Gladstone Street.