Mark’s Vision
Mark Hess founded GreenDoor in 2024 to create responsible, high quality housing in low- to moderate-income communities struggling to attract sufficient responsible capital for housing production. Mark is applying the tools he formerly used developing larger 100+ unit properties to now maximize outcomes in medium-scale, local, often landmark sites. Mark is prioritizing well-located sites that are overlooked by larger developers due to size, and overlooked by local developers and builders due to physical and financing complexities.
In former roles, Mark spent 25 years overseeing the acquisition, development, financing and preservation of over 20 affordable housing and assisted living communities from Florida to Maine, contributing in a material way to a portfolio of over 4,000 quality rental units under common management and control.
In addition to his experience accessing private and institutional capital, Mark creatively uses incentive programs to balance investment and community objectives in challenging markets. Mark has direct experience with the low income housing tax credit (LIHTC), historic tax credit (HTC), new market tax credit (NMTC), tax-exempt bond (TEB), HOME, CDBG, FHA, Fannie and Freddie lending, as well as other local, state and federal economic development programs.
Prior to founding GreenDoor, in New Bedford alone Mr. Hess led financing and development efforts to acquire and rehabilitate over 180 units of mixed-income housing and 16,000 sf. of retail in 35 historic buildings, managing initiatives that secured over $60m of economic development and affordable housing investments within the city limits. Mark is excited to intensify his focus on New Bedford and on similar communities through GreenDoor.
Mark’s Experience
As one of HallKeen Management’s three COOs, Mark directed all activities for HallKeen’s real estate investment, construction management and asset management platform, a role he grew into over his 25-year tenure as an employee and partner of the firm. Mark transitioned out of his employee/employer relationship with HallKeen in March of 2024. While fully focused on GreenDoor and its growing pipeline, Mark remains a partner in over 30 HallKeen controlled assets and remains personally invested in the future success of HallKeen, its people and its mission.
Mark got his start in affordable housing development and finance as an intern at the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC/MHEF), a non-profit low-income housing tax credit syndicator, lender and investor.
Prior to his career in housing, Mark was a line-cook, shucker and bartender on Martha’s Vineyard for over 10 years.
Personal
Mark is a Massachusetts native who settled in New Bedford in 2001, where he and his wife, Stacie, proudly restored a boarded-up historic home and raised their children. They now rent out the New Bedford family
home and reside in Mattapoisett with their youngest child, dogs, bees, chickens and an elderly cat.
Mr. Hess is a former board member of The Waterfront Historic LeaguE of New Bedford (WHALE) and the former, founding co-chair of the New Bedford Seaport Cultural District. Mark remains an active member of
the greater New Bedford community.
Mark earned his Master of Regional Planning degree from the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) with a concentration in Economic Development, and a Bachelor of Arts from Ithaca College in Environmental
Studies.