About Us
Grand View Development Company prides itself in the offering professional real estate services to a diverse community of clients and involving a broad range real estate uses. Grand View’s clients represent some of the most recognized and respected individuals, corporations and philanthropic organizations in Western Pennsylvania.
The hands-on approach to advising and guiding clients through the intricate and lengthy real estate investment, entitlement and construction process has led to longstanding relationships that have spread over multiple projects and many years of engagement.
Grand View’s clients benefit from 25 years of broad and diverse development experience that includes mixed use and big box retail development, class A office development, auto dealerships, institutional grade self-storage, heavy industrial and warehouse/distribution, light manufacturing and makers, urban renewal and historic restorations and distressed commercial redevelopment.
Our Team
William T. Krahe
William Krahe has thirty years of real estate development experience. Krahe has played a variety of roles including operating his own boutique development firm, playing a key role in the start up and growth of one of Western Pennsylvania’s premier full-service commercial real estate firms and now the transformation of one of Pittsburgh most distressed communities. Krahe combines a unique blend of land planning and zoning law expertise, a keen understanding of development and construction process and consensus building skills.
Krahe formed Grand View Development Company (“Grand View”) in 1994 for the purpose of developing, investing and owning commercial real estate. During the 1990’s, Grand View was Krahe’s primary operating platform for development opportunities.
In late 2000, Krahe joined Giant Eagle, Inc. in the startup of ECHO Real Estate Services Company. As the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner of ECHO Real Estate Services Company, Krahe was responsible for establishing one of the leading commercial real estate companies in the tri-state area. From 2001 to 2007, Krahe grew ECHO’s operations from $700,000 in annual revenue and 10 employees to 50 employees generating $8M in annual revenue offering brokerage and leasing, financing, development, construction management and property management services; completed over 50 developments valued in excess of $1B, raised $150M in equity and $500M of project financing. During his tenure at ECHO, Grand View remained the investment arm of Mr. Krahe in the projects overseen at ECHO.
January 2008, Krahe resumed operations under Grand View as an active development company concentrating on commercial projects including in large retail anchored centers, office buildings and industrial sites.
In 2009, Krahe was the lead investor in the acquisition of Bushy Park Industrial Complex, Charleston, SC. The 1600-acre industrial park is home to six international light chemical manufacturers. Krahe was responsible for all negotiations with the seller, Lanxess Corp, the leaseback by Lanxess of their manufacturing facilities, arranging of bank debt and equity. From 2009 to 2014, Krahe has assisted senior management in the negotiations and structuring of transactions involving the development of the 400 acres of undeveloped industrial land.
Krahe and the other Bushy Park partners sold the asset in 2014.
Grand View is currently engaged by certain third parties to manage the disposition, development and/or redevelopment of their facilities. Grand View is responsible for all aspects of the development process including land acquisition, contract negotiations, selection and management of third party consultants, entitlements, the arranging of financing and oversight of the contract bidding, development and construction. Grand View provides development services to for–profit businesses and the not-for-profit sector. Since 2012, Grand View has provided development advice to Bridgeway Capital, a Pittsburgh based non-profit bank. Bridgeway plays a critical role in disbursing real estate development capital to organizations located in distressed Pittsburgh neighborhoods from the Pittsburgh based philanthropic organizations such as the RK Mellon Foundation, Heinz Foundation and McCune Foundation. Grand View has been instrumental in identifying investment projects, evaluating projects and providing processes and guidelines for investment and oversight. Since 2013, Grand View has represented Bridgeway in the redevelopment of 7800 Susquehanna Street located in Homewood. Grand View is also currently engaged by the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation, Hazelwood Initiative, McKees Rock Community Development Corporation to assist in the redevelopment of the core commercial districts.
Krahe also founded and manages Grand View Realty Services, LLC. Grand View Realty Services provides brokerage, leasing and property management services to strategic partners.
Prior to forming Grand View in 1994, Krahe was employed by R.A.K Development Co., Coraopolis, PA as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Krahe managed the development of several large commercial real estate developments. Krahe’s most notable accomplishment was the oversight of R.A.K.’s position in the acquisition of the Circle K Corp in 1993 for $450M.
From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Krahe was an associate attorney for Grogan, Graffam, McGinley and Lucchino, a Pittsburgh PA based general practice law firm. Krahe’s practice was focused on real estate, finance and transactional law.
EDUCATION
Washington and Jefferson College 1982
University of Duquesne Law School 1985
University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business
1996
CURRENT BOARD
Locking Arms Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh based Christian
men’s ministry
PRIOR BOARD POSITIONS
Pittsburgh YMCA Metropolitan Board 2005 to 2017
Executive Committee
2008 to 2017Chairman - Planning Committee (oversight of 20 facilities)
2008 to 2017
Construction Junction Board
2005 to 2013
LICENSES
Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar
Pennsylvania Real Estate Broker
OTHER
Krahe has five children and two adopted young men from the inner city of Pittsburgh. Krahe has been blessed to experience 7 international mission trips and 2 domestic mission trips. Serving the less fortunate is one of Krahe’s core values.