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John O'Brien, Vice President, Urban Infill, Brookfield Southland

As a former City Planner and Landscape Architect, John O’Brien is a natural in his role as Vice President of Urban Infill with Brookfield Southland. He understands that urban planning goes far beyond location choices and architectural styles. It’s about people. It’s about lifestyle. And as John transforms neglected properties into vital residential neighborhoods, his passion focuses on building strong communities that create a sense of place.

What defines John’s appreciation for community is his family. His wife and children have deepened his commitment to making every Brookfield infill project a place where families can make a true home for themselves; where people know their neighbors; where they can walk out their front doors and jog through the park, walk to the corner store, and eat at their favorite neighborhood restaurant. This is what John strives to create for Brookfield’s homebuyers…because it’s what he’d want for his own family.

From acquisitions, entitlements, product development, and operations to his public-spirited involvement in the communities he develops, John enthusiastically leads his team to create neighborhoods that complement the area, while also balancing style, craftsmanship, and of course, family.

John believes in always striving to improve the Brookfield Experience by supporting the team and by ensuring the right thing is always done for the customer. Because when homebuyers choose to build a future at a Brookfield urban community, he wants that decision to be one they’ll treasure for years to come.

“Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
Joshua J. Marine

John has been part of the Brookfield Southland team for 13 years. He received his BLA from University of Arizona and his Master of City and Regional Planning degree from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. His urban housing projects make up one-half of Brookfield Homes’ portfolio. He is a member of the CRA housing committee and ULI.