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Joel M. Carlins
Co-Chief Executive Officer

Joel Carlins, founder of Magellan Development Group L.L.C., has been instrumental in the company’s growth and continuing success. Carlins supervises the overall activities of the development group, from acquisition of raw land through financing, property development, design and construction.

Carlins attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois and a Juris Doctor of Law degree from DePaul University. He is a member of the Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism society. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois and the Virgin Islands, and has practiced law throughout the United States as well as several foreign countries.

He is a member of the Illinois, American and Federal Bar Associations and the Virgin Islands Bar Association and is admitted to practice in several states. In addition, he has practiced in the United States Tax Court of Appeals, United States Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the Seventh Appeals, State of Illinois Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court.

In his early years as a practicing attorney, Carlins represented professional athletes and well-known entertainers. His client portfolio included a number of authors, artists, composers, publishers and movie, theatrical and concert production companies.

His legal experience spans all aspects of real estate development, where he has represented developers, architects, contractors and related professionals. As an attorney/developer Carlins has also been retained by national and local pension funds, syndication companies, lenders, asset managers and banks to supervise the disposition of real estate assets in several states. Properties included raw land, single and multifamily rentals, condominium developments, hotel, golf course, retail, commercial and marina developments.

Carlins’ personal development experience covers a broad swath that includes residential, commercial and retail properties, hotels and medical facilities. His first development experience was the restoration of the Skokie Swift Terminal Building, which is classified as a historic landmark in Skokie, Illinois.

He has served as a director on the executive boards of The Bank of Hillside, National Republic Bank and the Advisory Board of the Lakeview Bank. Other directorships include Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and he is currently serving as a director of Roosevelt University’s newly established Real Estate Program.

He has lectured on various topics at several academic institutions as well as numerous real estate and professional organizations including Real Estate Investment Association, the Illinois Bar Association, Crain’s Real Estate Forum and the Illinois CPA Society. In addition, Carlins was honored by the Anti-Defamation League with the 2002 Arthur Rubloff Humanitarian Award, and was inducted into the Chicago Real Estate Hall of Fame in August 2007.

Carlins previously has served or is actively involved in an extensive list of charitable and community organizations including:

  • President of Patrons of Washington Square Park, an organization that raised funds through a series of events and worked with the Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago for the restoration of the park also known as the legendary “Bughouse Square”
  • Director and past president of the Yul Brynner Cancer Research Foundation
  • Co-chairman of the NFL Mackey Awards Banquet on behalf of the Better Boys Foundation
  • Sponsor and instructor for baseball programs for children in Uptown, in conjunction with the Community Services Department of the Chicago Police Department
  • Sponsor and instructor for sailing programs on behalf of children at St. Joseph’s, a half-way house in Chicago, and for hearing-impaired students attending St. Joseph’s Institute in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Founder and sponsor of Ogden Elementary School mentor and scholarship programs
  • Former Director of River North Association Board of Directors
  • Director of the Greater North Michigan Avenue Assn
  • Member of the Auxiliary Board of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Member of the Chicago Development Council
  • Member of the Board of Directors of the Lawson House YMCA
  • Member of the City Club of Chicago
  • Member of Chicago Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Executive Board of the Roosevelt University Real Estate MBA program
  • Council of Regents at Loyola University Chicago