Alex de Parry is founder and president of Fifth Avenue Communities, a highly skilled and experienced land development, construction and property management company which grew from Ann Arbor Builders, Inc., a company Alex founded in 1971 two years after graduating from The University of Michigan.  At the time, he was acquiring and restoring older homes in downtown Ann Arbor and launched Ann Arbor Builders, Inc. to handle his own acquisitions as well as the extensive renovation and remodeling work that he had undertaken. By 1973, the company was developing land and building new homes. As the company grew, so too did the need for subsidiaries which would serve specific purposes.  Fifth Avenue Communities is the managing entity for these subsidiaries.

The oldest of these is Ann Arbor Builders, Inc. which has continously operated the land development and construction division since its inception.  In Southeast Michigan, the company has developed numerous subdivisions, built thousands of single and multi-family homes and completed many major renovation projects. It has also developed property and built homes in South Florida.  de Parry Homes LLC is the homebuilding division in Coastal Georgia.

Fifth Avenue Limited Partnership manages the investment properties owned by the various subsidiaries. 

Fifth Avenue Communities handles project feasibility analyses, site acquisition, entitlements, financing and asset management. It is currently developing Beakes Place, an apartment community in downtown Ann Arbor.  In Coastal Georgia, the company is planning Palm Court, an active adult community in Savannah as well as a waterfront condominium community located farther south.

Throughout this long and varied history, these companies have built an impressive array of communities.  With the help of experienced teams who are as dedicated to excellence as he, Alex has remained personally involved in every step of development, construction, and project management. Over the years, the companies have earned a well deserved reputation for professionalism, sound business practices and commitment to quality, value, service and client satisfaction.

Alex is currently Vice President of The Home Builders Association of Washtenaw County and a member of The Historic Trust for Preservation. He and his wife Betsy have supported numerous community organizations, including chairing an event benefitting the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Leukemia/Lymphoma/Bone Marrow Transplant Program.  Together, they continue to educate and advocate for lymphoma patients through Patients Against Lymphoma where Betsy serves as Public Policy Advisor.

Alex and Betsy, who is the company’s vice president for marketing and sales, divide their time between Ann Arbor and Savannah.