Elzie Higginbottom

Chief Executive Officer, East Lake Management

Higginbottom emphasizes long-term ownership and preservation rather than rapid development churn. Under his leadership, East Lake has leaned heavily into compliance and operational stability while scoring large — and sometimes controversial — government contracts for real estate services.

East Lake has been involved in high-profile projects tied to public agencies, including work connected to the Illinois Medical District, where a long-stalled hotel project finally moved forward in 2022, following Higginbottom taking a more direct role after years of delays.

His tenure has also drawn scrutiny. A former chairman of the Housing Authority of Cook County, Higginbottom has been the subject of political watchdog investigations over his campaign donations and public-sector relationships that have influence over his business. More broadly, East Lake has had to navigate the same pressures battering the sector nationwide: rising operating costs, labor shortages, funding gaps and increased regulatory oversight.

Recent litigation tied to lead paint conditions at CHA-linked properties East Lake helped manage in partnership with the Habitat Co. has further underscored the legal and reputational risks embedded in managing aging housing stock. (Both East Lake and Habitat were cleared while the CHA was put on the hook for a large payout to residents in the lead paint case.)

— Sam Lounsberry