In October 2025, Fairlawn commemorated its 10-year anniversary with a celebration at Pear Tree Estate in Champaign, bringing together employees from across the company and their guests for an evening of reflection, appreciation, and excitement for the future.
Fairlawn began in 2015 with just six employees and 284 units managed, and has since grown into a vertically integrated real estate investment, development, and management firm with more than 150 employees, 5,750 units, and $850 million in assets under management.
A Decade of Evolution
As detailed during a special presentation from Chris Hartman, Gozen Hartman, and Jason Barickman, the story of Fairlawn can be told through distinct eras with each one marking a new chapter of progress that builds on the last. From the early foundations to scaling operations, from navigating challenges to expanding into new markets, these eras capture the milestones and moments that have defined Fairlawn’s path forward.
The Foundations & First Plays Era
With its initial acquisitions of Fairlawn Village in Champaign, IL, Townway Place in Danville, IL, and Prairie Hills in Decatur, IL, Fairlawn embarked on its journey to establish a long-lasting property management firm. Early milestones included developing an employee handbook, implementing Buildium as the company’s first property management software, and launching the Project Management department to begin work on 2401, its first ground-up development. Together, these efforts laid the groundwork for a solid foundation.
The Scale Up & Systemize Era
Building on its strong foundation, Fairlawn entered a phase of expansion and optimization. During this period, the company adopted the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to support strategic growth and began a lasting partnership with AppFolio, the comprehensive property and investment management software still in use today.
Fairlawn also established its corporate headquarters at 2500 Galen Drive in Champaign and expanded its portfolio with the acquisitions of Pinecrest Apartments in Normal, IL, as well as Garden Pointe, Highland Pointe, and Park Place Apartments in Indianapolis, IN.
The Resilience & Expansion Era
Marked by significant growth and diversification, this era showcased Fairlawn’s ability to adapt and expand. In April of 2020, at the height of a global pandemic that brought much of the world to a standstill, Fairlawn launched its first student living portfolio, Smile Student Living, on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) campus. Despite the uncertainty of that period, the company continued to grow, acquiring the CPM portfolio that included 1,100 units and 3,000+ beds at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and marking the largest real estate transaction in Champaign County history.
Fairlawn also opened a new office in downtown Chicago, strengthening its acquisition, asset management, and development capabilities.
Among its many acquisitions during this period, Fairlawn also broke ground on Westhaven at Avon, its first build-to-rent community.
The Platform Growth & Innovation Era
In 2023, Fairlawn surpassed $500 million in asset value with the acquisition of Aspen Pointe Apartments in Indianapolis. A number of new developments also began during these years: Southwood Crossing in Champaign, IL, Weldon Reserve and Carden Springs in Normal, IL – the latter representing the largest residential development in McLean County’s history – along with three student housing developments at UIUC: 405 Stoughton, 608 Chalmers, and 404 Clark.
In 2024, Fairlawn launched its new cohesive brand and reached $700 million in asset value.
The Enter New Frontiers Era
Year ten of Fairlawn has been nothing short of exciting. With the acquisition of two new properties, Fairlawn officially entered the Louisville, Kentucky market with The Heritage by Fairlawn, and the student housing market in West Lafayette, Indiana with Fairway Apartments.
Additionally, $30 million was raised for Fairlawn’s first fund, units were delivered at Carden Springs, and 404 Clark and 608 Chalmers fully leased up. Highland Pointe and Townway Place were also sold.
Entering a New Era
Today, Fairlawn stands poised for its next phase of growth. With a proven track record, the company continues to expand throughout the Midwest, guided by its mission: to create better places through a hands-on approach focused on sustainable, long-term growth.
Thank you to our investors, partners, and employees for being part of this journey. The past ten years have built a foundation we’re proud of, and the next ten promise to be even more exciting!
Gozen Hartman, Chris Hartman, and Jason Barickman give a presentation to employees at 10-year celebration
