Adam Rosenberg

Adam Rosenberg – Inside an Affordable Housing Strategy That’s Changing Lives in Nashville

Adam Rosenberg is the Founder of AGB Real Estate, which revitalizes neglected real estate assets in sought-after neighborhoods. He is also the Co-founder and Advisor of House of Attention, a creative studio that specializes in immersive and interactive experiences. As a multifamily real estate developer, Adam identifies creative ways to convert existing assets into profitable apartment buildings.

Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn

[2:05] Why Adam Rosenberg joined EO to avoid missteps and learn from experienced entrepreneurs
[3:05] An introduction to AGB Real Estate and its focus on workforce and affordable housing development
[7:51] Adam talks about his involvement in the housing voucher system in Nashville
[14:30] Three pillars of affordable housing: shelter, case management, and purpose
[20:39] The future of urban housing and the potential redevelopment of parking lots
[22:07] How Catalyst transformed Adam’s business approach
[24:32] AGB’s expansion into property management and housing for youth aging out of foster care

In This Episode

As cities grow and housing costs rise, working-class individuals are often forced to relocate farther away from jobs, transportation, and essential services. Simultaneously, underserved populations struggle to find safe, stable housing, and the systems meant to support them are underfunded or fragmented. How can developers balance profitability with purpose to create housing for those who need it most?

Affordable and workforce housing developer Adam Rosenberg focuses on speed, partnerships, and support systems. Having transformed motels into high-quality workforce apartments, Adam emphasizes rapid development, on-site case management, and cultivating purpose for tenants through access to training and jobs. He also works closely with nonprofits and public agencies to provide wraparound services, like healthcare and transportation, ensuring tenants have the tools to stabilize and grow. By exceeding minimum housing requirements and leveraging underused housing vouchers, developers can drive meaningful change.

In this episode of The Decision, Eric Jackson and Robert Hartline interview Adam Rosenberg, Founder of AGB Real Estate, about building scalable housing solutions with social impact. Adam explains how his team rapidly redevelops properties, why partnerships with nonprofits are essential, and how he navigates public funding shifts.

Quotable Moments:

“We wake up in the morning, and you never know what fire is going to need put out.”
“We try and think of ways that we can alleviate what to us are mole hills.”
“Without that third pillar, it’s really difficult to have meaningful change and upward mobility.”
“We brought on over 350 units to Nashville, really, in about 18 months.”
“The trust is broken, and then it now falls to us, the property manager or the owner.”

Action Steps:

Build partnerships with local nonprofits: Collaborating with service organizations expands support networks for residents and increases access to essential resources. These partnerships help bridge the gap between housing and long-term tenant stability.
Incorporate on-site case management: Providing immediate access to case managers ensures timely support during mental health or addiction crises. This builds trust and prevents tenants from falling through the cracks.
Develop a sense of purpose for residents: Offering job training, volunteering, or educational opportunities supports upward mobility and long-term independence. Purpose-driven tenants are more likely to maintain stable housing and reengage with the community.
Convert underused properties into housing: Repurposing motels and parking lots accelerates affordable housing development in high-demand areas. It’s a cost-effective way to add units quickly and meet urgent needs.
Exceed minimum affordable housing requirements: Going beyond baseline quotas demonstrates a commitment to community impact. It also increases credibility with funding agencies and builds goodwill with the public.