Southern Impression Homes (SIH) and JLM Living are moving forward with construction of The Eleanor – Bloomingdale, a 253-unit build-to-rent (BTR) community located in Bloomingdale, Georgia, just outside Savannah, Georgia.
The project, situated on Little Neck Road, began vertical construction in October 2025. Developers expect the first homes to be delivered in April 2026, with full completion targeted for early 2027.
Vertically Integrated Approach Drives Delivery
The Eleanor – Bloomingdale reflects a growing trend toward vertically integrated development models, where a single firm manages multiple phases of a project—from land acquisition to construction and delivery.
“The Eleanor - Bloomingdale demonstrates our ability to seamlessly integrate design, development, and construction into a single execution platform,” said Chris Funk, President and CEO of Southern Impression Homes. “Our team can move efficiently from land development through vertical construction while maintaining cost certainty, quality control, and delivery timelines. We are proud to support JLM Living’s vision of thoughtfully designed communities that offer the independence of single-family living with the benefits and amenities of a professionally managed rental property.”
This approach allows developers to better manage costs, streamline timelines, and maintain consistency across large-scale residential communities—an increasingly important advantage in today’s volatile construction environment.
Expanding Build-to-Rent Housing in Growth Markets
The Eleanor – Bloomingdale is designed to meet rising demand for flexible housing options in the fast-growing Savannah metropolitan area. The community will feature single-family rental homes alongside a range of amenities, including a clubhouse, fitness center, swimming pool, and walking trails.
“The Eleanor - Bloomingdale is bringing essential, quality housing options to the thriving Savannah market,” said Chris Votaw, Co-Founder and Partner of JLM Living. “By partnering with Southern Impression Homes, we are leveraging a proven, vertically integrated construction team that aligns with our disciplined investment strategy and commitment to delivering strong, risk-adjusted returns.”
Build-to-rent communities like this are gaining traction across the Sunbelt, offering residents the space and privacy of single-family homes without the long-term commitment of ownership.
Partnership Expands Across the Southeast
The collaboration between Southern Impression Homes and JLM Living extends beyond Georgia, with additional projects underway across Florida, Texas, and other high-growth markets.
“We’ve enjoyed cultivating a fruitful and results-driven relationship with JLM Living,” Funk continues. “Our team is also currently constructing JLM Living’s 266-unit BTR community in Daytona Beach, Florida, The Eleanor - Daytona. We’re thrilled to continue working with JLM Living on dynamic and timely developments nationwide.”
The firms’ expanding pipeline reflects strong investor interest in the BTR sector, particularly in regions experiencing population growth and housing supply constraints.
Backed by Scale and Financial Strength
Southern Impression Homes brings a comprehensive development platform supported by its 140-person team, covering areas such as land entitlement, structured finance, homebuilding, and asset management.
The company’s capabilities are further strengthened by its parent organization, Sumitomo Forestry, which acquired an 80% stake in SIH in 2023. This backing provides financial stability and global expertise, positioning the firm to scale operations across multiple markets.
The rise of build-to-rent communities like The Eleanor reflects a broader shift in the U.S. housing market. High home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and changing lifestyle preferences are pushing more households toward rental options that still offer the feel of traditional homeownership.
Developers are increasingly targeting suburban and secondary markets like the Savannah region, where land availability and population growth create favorable conditions for large-scale residential projects.
At the same time, vertically integrated development models are becoming more common as firms seek greater control over supply chains, construction timelines, and financing structures—especially amid ongoing labor shortages and material cost volatility.
Projects like The Eleanor also highlight how institutional capital is flowing into the rental housing sector, with investors prioritizing stable, long-term income streams in growing Sunbelt markets.
Originally reported by Southern Impression Homes in Construction Dive.
