David Friedman

President, F&F Realty

Over more than four decades, Friedman has assembled and managed a diversified portfolio that includes some of the biggest deals in multifamily, hospitality, restaurants and senior housing across the Chicago area.

With his firm F&F Realty, Friedman is best known for helping to reshape the West Loop skyline by co-developing 727 West Madison, the 45-story elliptically shaped luxury apartment tower completed in 2018 with Fifield Companies. The 492-unit building was the tallest structure west of the Kennedy Expressway at the time.

In 2023, the property was sold to Pontegadea, the family office of Zara founder Amancio Ortega, for about $232 million, marking one of the most significant apartment trades in the neighborhood’s history.

Beyond downtown development, Friedman has been an active buyer in suburban multifamily. Recent acquisitions include Northgate Crossing, a 288-unit complex in Wheeling purchased for $78.5 million in late 2024, and a 504-unit property in Des Plaines acquired in 2022. The moves signal a shift toward stabilized suburban assets as urban demand fluctuates.

— Caleb McCullough