Moxie Development Collective is a passion-driven real estate development and construction management company providing services for underserved neighborhoods primarily in the Greater Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis Metropolitan Area. The company founder, Angie Tabrizi, worked alongside Forward Community Investments on the Meta House Project Horizon, building on our common desire to empower local communities through nonprofit and community-focused developments.
Moxie delivers complete real estate solutions from planning and architecture to construction management, assuring quality control and efficiency assessments every step of the way.
In a recent interview with Forward Community Investments, Angie shared an inside look at the mission driving Moxie and her bold vision for the future: creating transformative spaces that uplift communities and inspire lasting change.
THE META HOUSE PROJECT
Q: How did you become involved in the Meta House project, and could you share a bit more about your role in bringing it to life?
A: Meta House selected me as their Owner’s Rep in the fall of 2023. At that time, I joined their site selection search and helped the project successfully receive its entitlements and approvals from the City of Milwaukee. As their Owner’s Rep, my role is to listen deeply to their organizational needs to ensure that their investment is efficiently and effectively deployed to meet their program requirements for years to come. With this framework as my guide, I provide them with real estate development, design, and construction expertise.
Q: What made this project meaningful to you—personally and/or professionally?
A: Meta House helps women recover from substance use disorder through residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and recovery communities. Project Horizon will triple the capacity of their residential, family-centered program which alone increases the capacity for substance use disorder treatment in Wisconsin by 20%. Meta House ends the generational cycle of addiction by healing women and strengthening families.
One unique thing about Meta House is that children are welcome to live with their mom during treatment, and they are expertly wrapped into supportive services. As a mom, this speaks to me personally, because I could imagine the added barrier to seek treatment if I did not have a safe place for my kids to stay.
The values that drive Meta House to expand its offerings to empower more women and heal more families speak to me personally. I am honored to provide project guidance that is rooted in the values that we share. When women are supported and healthy, families thrive.
Q: Were there any unique challenges or opportunities with this project that required creative thinking or collaboration?
A: Many new developments require expertise to successfully receive their entitlements. Project Horizon underwent extensive community outreach to gather feedback from community stakeholders during the entitlements process. With the feedback of the neighbors, we were able to improve our design by relocating the entrance to the property – improving the flow of traffic on the street and creating a more direct connection to the main roads and transit lines.
ABOUT MOXIE DEVELOPMENT COLLECTIVE
Q: What inspired you to launch Moxie, and what continues to drive your work today?
A: I began my career as an architect focused on providing services for underserved neighborhoods through nonprofit and community-focused projects. After a decade, I desired to expand the scope of my impact and became a real estate developer to bring about more projects that are vital to our city. In 2023, I founded Moxie Development Collective to focus on this passion.
Q: How would you describe your approach to development? What differentiates Moxie from others in the Milwaukee area?
A: As a licensed architect, construction project manager, and real estate developer, I have broad experience to achieve success in my developments.
- As a developer-operator, I provide expertise through the lens of lifetime value and performance, pragmatic facilities management strategy, and comprehensive risk mitigation.
- As a licensed architect, I have the foresight to proactively manage scope, budget, and schedule, while offering creative solutions to the unique project challenges that arise.
- As a construction project manager, I bring practical insight into constructability, cost, and environmental and geotechnical conditions to assess risks and gain efficiencies.
Q: What does “community-driven development” mean to you, and how does that show up in your work? Are there specific impact areas or missions you’re most passionate about?
A: Community-driven developments are inclusive projects that provide vital resources and supportive services to neighborhoods and people that need them. I focus on serving nonprofit organizations and developing attainable housing in the Milwaukee area. I am excited to go to work every day, because I get to focus on bringing socially impactful environments to life. My expertise is in housing and helping organizations strengthen their missions through real estate.
VISION, VALUES, AND WHAT’S AHEAD
Q: FCI’s mission is driven by a deep commitment to supporting projects that drive greater social and economic opportunity across the state. How do these values align with your development philosophy and practices?
A: I founded Moxie to do work that really matters – projects that lend a helping hand to those who need it and embody an alignment of my mission in real estate. These mission-driven projects typically need extra assistance to cross the finish line, and I have the experience, willpower, and drive to meet this challenge. With values-centered leadership and unwavering determination, I am excited to continue serving the community I’ve called home for almost two decades.
Q: What’s next for Moxie—are there projects or goals you’re excited about right now?
A: I am currently undertaking the challenge of developing attainable housing at a low-density scale to create more home ownership. Because housing is central to stability, I view it as a critical need in the city. The available housing stock in Milwaukee tends to be very old and inaccessible or outside of an average person’s income level.
Specializing in providing Owner’s Representative services for nonprofit organizations, Angie supports organizations through the decision-making process when considering whether a building project is the right next step to achieve their mission. If you are interested in learning more, please visit www.moxiedevco.com.
Forward Community Investments is proud to highlight and support partners who join us in working toward our mission of investing in people, projects and organizations that are driving lasting impact throughout the state.
Read more about our impact here.
