Thoughtful Development. Lasting Value.
Our Story
Excelsior Properties was founded in 2000 with a mission to create neighborhoods that families are proud to call home.
Over the last two decades, we've successfully identified land development opportunities across the United States, including cities such as Cincinnati, Ohio; Ogdensburg, New York; Morrison, Colorado; and southeastern Wisconsin.
By recognizing valuable properties and maximizing their distinctive features, we design communities with appealing amenities that harmonize their natural environments and offer inviting places to live.
The Reserve at Hillcrest
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Kenosha County, situated in southeastern Wisconsin along Lake Michigan, is a fast-growing region with around 169,000 residents. It acts as an important commuter hub between Chicago and Milwaukee and is renowned for its blend of urban conveniences, historic charm, and industrial development.
Key employers include Amazon, Uline, and Snap-on, and the county offers recreational opportunities and boasts a 175-year history.
Locals enjoy a high quality of life, with easy access to beaches, parks, and museums. The area features a historic downtown, electric streetcars, and 90% publicly accessible shoreline.
Our land development project aims to further enhance the area's quality of life by transforming nearly 16 acres of farmland into a new community featuring 35 single-family homes. It will connect previously separated neighborhoods to the north and south.
The plan focuses on utilizing this unique site by offering low-density housing, creating a pocket park for families, and providing access to an existing community park to the east. A distinctive feature is its commitment to maintaining, enhancing, and integrating the existing wetlands, making them a valuable amenity for residents.
The Reserve at Lakewood
Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Our Pleasant Prairie is a vibrant village in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, strategically located along Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Chicago. The community is noted for its high quality of life and offers a balanced blend of residential, commercial, and industrial districts, supplemented by extensive natural conservancy areas.
Among its prominent destinations are the RecPlex, recognized as the largest municipal recreation facility in the United States, and the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets.
Our land development initiative aims to transform a 25-acre farm into an exclusive pocket neighborhood consisting of 28 single-family homes enhanced by integrated water features.
The project’s design prioritizes low-density housing, with residences mainly positioned on cul-de-sacs to foster privacy and a sense of community.
Development and Design Partners
Our Founders
Ajay Kotha
Ajay has been actively investing in, redeveloping, and managing real estate since 1993, building a diversified multi-state portfolio spanning residential, multifamily, land, and subdivision development.
Over three decades, he has acquired, repositioned, developed, and sold properties across Ohio, Colorado, New York, California, Montana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and beyond.
A licensed Ohio real estate professional and graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Operations Management, Ajay brings operational discipline and systems-driven strategy to every investment.
His experience includes condominium conversions, historic renovations, ground-up construction, and the development of a 44-acre residential subdivision in Morrison, Colorado.
Through vertically integrated oversight with AK Property Management, he maintains hands-on control of leasing, renovations, and short-term rental operations. Ajay combines long-term asset vision with disciplined execution to create sustainable value across markets and cycles.
Joe Mannino
A seasoned construction executive with more than three decades of experience leading large-scale healthcare and higher education development projects. He has overseen over $2 billion of capital programs during his career as an architect, owner’s representative and program manager and partnered with world-renowned architects on award-winning, technically complex facilities.
A graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Architecture and Building Sciences, Joe brings deep expertise in real estate development, sustainability, and integrated project delivery.
As Senior Advisor of Campus Transformation at White Plains Hospital, he has played a central role in a $1 billion expansion initiative, including major outpatient and medical tower developments.
Practicing construction management and development from the “Owner’s Perspective,” Joe aligns design vision with operational performance, financial discipline, and long-term institutional value. Joe combines strategic foresight, speed, and accountability to deliver transformative projects with precision and lasting impact.