ATLANTA - The first few months of 2000 have been a busy time indeed for Atlanta-based Post Properties Inc. On March 1, Jeffrey A. Harris became the president and COO of the company and will oversee its day-to-day management. He succeeds John T. Glover, who will become the company's vice chairman and focus on strategic planning and capital funding efforts.
A 16-year veteran of Post who previously served as the president of Post Apartment Management, Harris is not planning any big changes. "Our vision is that we want to continue to develop infill, urban apartment communities," he says. "We remain focused on our strategy of promoting the brand and providing excellent services."
Harris graduated cum laude from Davidson College with an economics degree. He joined Post in 1984 after receiving a master's degree in business administration from Dartmouth College.
In other Post news, at the beginning of February, the company launched a new Website, www.postproperties.com, that allows apartment hunters to fill out pre-application forms online. During the first week of operations, 50 such forms were filed, says Post spokeswoman Janie Maddox.
"We think the page is very attractive," says Harris. "It's very user-friendly as far as finding information on our communities." He adds that Post is at leas t temporarily reducing its advertising in the Atlanta Apartment Guide - although he wouldn't say by how much - as it tests the marketing potential of the Internet. By June, the company will evaluate the effects of the advertising change and decide how to continue, says Harris. "We're assessing what the most effective use of our money is," he notes.
Finally, Post, which owns 104 apartment communities located mostly in the Southeastern and Southwestern United States, is moving into the New York City market. The company has signed an agreement with Clarett Group, a New York-based developer, to look for multifamily development opportunities in the New York City area, says R. Byron Carlock Jr., CIO of Post. The two hope to begin development of a multifamily property by the end of the year, he adds.