24 — February 2026 — Owners, Developers & Managers — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
O wners , D evelopers & M anagers
UEENS, NY — Award winning na- tional manufacturer Q New high-end aluminum product line introduction Crystal Windows brings OPUS Masterpieces to the market
MD lifestyle retail destination sells for $50M CRC and Nile Equity Group acquire Bowie Town Center
Crystal Window & Door Systems continued its prod- uct line expansion with the recent launch of the high-end aluminum OPUS lines. Intro - duction of the elite OPUS win - dows and doors catapults the firm into the upper echelons of window manufacturers. Three major model lines, each with several styles of windows and doors, are initially offered with the OPUS products, with more to be introduced in the coming months. “Born in Belgium, Built in America,” the Crystal OPUS products are the result of a strategic partnership with Reynaers, a leading European fenestration system designer and extruder. An “Official US Certified Fabricator for Reynaers”, the Crystal OPUS aluminum window and door fabrication as well as insu- lated glass assembly is all per- formed at Crystal’s American factories by its skilled Ameri- can workforce. All three of the new OPUS window and door model lines – SL38, ML8, and MP – are noted for their narrow sight- lines, slim but strong frames, robust high-performance thermal breaks, and several designer options for frame profiles. With clean lines, crisp details, and precise finishes, each Crystal OPUS product is a work of art. The OPUS windows and doors are perfectly tailored for high-rise luxury properties, elite institutions, superior commercial buildings, as well as unique premium homes. From grand historic resto - rations and lofty towers to cutting-edge modern projects, the Crystal OPUS windows and doors are perfectly suited for all applications. First among the three new Crystal OPUS lines are the 3-⅞” jamb depth Crystal SL38 aluminum models. With a slim design and narrow sightlines, its minimalist aesthetic can replicate the iconic industrial look of steel frame windows. Available styles include fixed, casement, hopper, awning, and a terrace door, with a choice of four frame profiles: functional, classic, cubic, and ferro. The Crystal SL38 aluminum terrace door has a 4-5∕16” frame depth and is CW-PG40 rated. Thermal performance
Shown from left: The new elite Crystal OPUS brand was launched with three model lines SL38, ML8, MP. The SL38 and ML8 lines are each available in several window and door styles. The MP is a lift-slide patio door with zero threshold and multiple nesting panels and tracks. All three model lines offer many features, great structural and thermal performance, and numerous design options.
Bowie Town Center
with Nile Equity Group on our second retail acquisition in the past 12 months.” The equity and debt for the acquisition was structured by Adam Bieber, Alec Jenkins, and Nicholas Kazma from BWE’s Washington, DC office, with senior debt provided by Benefit Street Partners’ CMBS group and equity pro - vided by private investors. “We share an aligned vision with CRC of investing in as - sets in the communities that we live in,” said Amine Ham - medi , one of the co-founders of Nile Equity Group. “These are the types of buys that you do not see often, so we are thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase this type of project.” “Our disciplined approach and willingness to invest sub- stantial cash and resources into Bowie Town Center will bring new life, excitement, and value to the community,” remarked Seyi Ademiluyi , one of the co-founders of Nile Equity Group.” MAREJ Developers who successfully move stalled projects forward do not try to overpower oppo- sition with messaging. They focus on listening, aligning internally, and presenting a unified, fact-based narrative that reflects both the project’s value and its realities. Momentum returns when stakeholders feel informed rather than managed. The takeaway Real estate development is as much about communication as it is about construction. Proj - ects do not just need approvals. They need understanding. When communication is pro- active, clear, and consistent, it becomes a stabilizing force during moments of uncer- tainty. For projects at risk of stalling, that clarity can be the difference between prolonged delay and forward progress. Jackie Tammaro is an associate vice president at Gregory. MAREJ
BOWIE, MD — Com- munity Realty Company, Inc. (CRC) , and Nile Equity Group closed on the Bowie Town Center, a premier life - style retail destination lo- cated in Bowie. The purchase price was $50 million. “We are focused on oppor- tunistic acquisitions, like the Bowie Town Center, that fit our investment thesis of long- term ownership of unique as- sets,” said Joshua Aronson , president of CRC. “Bowie Town Center is a property that we look forward to bringing the center back to its former vibrancy, and we cannot wait to engage with the market, retailers, brokers, and com- munity stakeholders to ensure that we are enhancing the experience with long-term vision. Given the importance of this property to the com- munity, we feel a great sense of responsibility. We are grate- ful to our investors for their conviction and are excited to continue our partnership Projects that maintain mo - mentum tend to share several common practices. They estab- lish a clear project narrative early, one that explains not only what is being built, but why it matters, how decisions are made, and what tradeoffs exist. They anticipate ques- tions before they are asked, particularly around traffic, density, environmental impact, and timing. They tailor mes- saging to different audiences, recognizing that community members, regulators, and me- dia are listening for different things. And they communicate consistently, even when time- lines shift or details evolve. Rebuilding momentum when a project is already stalled When a project is facing resistance, regaining trac- tion often requires resetting the conversation. That starts with acknowledging concerns, clarifying misunderstand- ings, and re-establishing
achieves U-values of 0.30 with double glass and 0.25 with triple glazed IGUs. Acoustic ratings are STC of 38 and OITC of 34. Available with several frame profiles, the SL38 terrace door also offers a “zero threshold” option. The new Crystal OPUS ML8 aluminum windows and doors have a 3-7∕16” jamb. This flagship quality model line offers great thermal and acoustic performance, as well as countless design options. The Crystal ML8 line strikes the right balance between sleek aesthetics and strong function. All the Crystal ML8 windows and doors use polyamide insulating strut thermal break technology. The ML8 windows are avail- able in several styles – fixed, in-swing casement, project-out hopper, project-in awning, and even a center-pivot – with four frame profile options. Key aesthetic features of the ML8 window line include hidden operating sash sightlines, con- cealed hinges and drainage, and glass corner options. Out- standing structural, thermal, and acoustic characteristics are demonstrated with an AW- PG70 rating for the casement style, U-values of 0.23 with double glass and 0.16 with triple glass, and STC of 50 and OITC of 44. The aluminum ML8 swing terrace door offers numerous great performance, function, and aesthetic features. Avail- able in sizes up to 5’-7” wide and 10’ tall, the ML8 terrace door utilizes a “soft opera- tion” integrated closer in the head, concealed hinges, and low and zero ADA thresh- olds. Optionally, the door’s pivot point can be adjusted out from the jamb for unique functionality and style. The AW-PG70 rated terrace door’s thermal performance can reach U-values of 0.26 with double glass and 0.20 with triple glass IGUs. Sound
attenuation performance rat- ings are similarly excellent with STC of 43 and OITC of 35. The new Crystal OPUS MP Lift-Slide door is rated AW-PG60, has a 7-⅛” jamb, offers outstanding strength and performance, and is read- ily compatible with the ML8 products. The door features a zero threshold, multiple nest- ing panels and tracks, and can be fabricated in sizes up to 9’-10” wide and 12’ tall. Insu- lated or monolithic glass sizes range from ⅝” to 2-⅜” thick. The polyamide thermal strut design can deliver U-values of 0.30 for double glass and 0.21 for triple glass IGUs. With top strength, durability, ther- mal performance, and using premium recycled aluminum extrusion materials, the MP door is an exemplary sustain- ability performer. The Crystal OPUS mod - el line frames are currently available in a variety of colors in a standard AAMA 2604 powder coat finish, with an optional upgrade to AAMA 2605. Future plans call for the color choice, for large quan- tity orders, to be expanded to hundreds of colors. All finish coatings meet strict European standards and receive the “Qualicoat Class 2 Coating Certified” official quality label. The Crystal OPUS products receive a full US warranty from Reynaers, which is only available through US-based certified fabricators like Crys - tal Windows. As such, the installed OPUS windows and doors receive on-site and vir- tual technical support from Crystal and the US-based Reynaers technical assistance teams. Additionally, Crystal supports design and construc- tion professionals through all stages of their OPUS projects, from initial consultation for concept, design, and product selection, all the way to job delivery, installation training, and inspection. MAREJ
continued from page 2 Why strong real estate projects stall . . . and realities aligned. credibility through straight- forward communication.
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