____________________________________________________________________ ZappiCo Real Estate Development
with local agencies. ZappiCo treats engineering and construction as parts of a single process, which helps teams spot challenges early and adapt designs before building begins. Keeping engineers involved connects development, design, and construction. It aligns with the specifics of each site.
The company’ s pipeline keeps expanding. Alongside active projects in Greenwich and Sleepy Hollow, ZappiCo has more than 100 lots in various stages of approval across Westchester County. Managing projects at different points in the cycle helps the brothers balance current construction with future growth.
Engineering shapes many company decisions. Before buyers even step into a model home, years of work might have gone into evaluating land, approvals, infrastructure, and coordination with local agencies. Keeping engineers in the conversation gives ZappiCo a unique perspective on risk, timelines, and site planning.
That expertise grows more valuable as codes change and municipalities expect more from developers. Treating engineering and construction as one helps teams spot challenges early and adapt designs before building begins.
Evolving requirements
That one-stop model also shapes how the brothers split their roles. Brian’ s work starts years before construction crews step onto a site.“ I focus on the bigger subdivisions and guide projects from start to finish. That includes the full approval process, designing for steep slopes, stormwater management, and site plans. Everything needed to deliver pad-ready lots,” he notes.
“ Brian prepares the approved lots, and then I meet with the buyers and guide them through the rest,” Brandon adds.“ It’ s easy to get on a call and work through anything that comes up during the process. Having a second professional opinion is always valuable”.
Growth remains the goal, but both brothers also now spend more time handling outside factors, as larger developments can face some resistance from local communities.“ We’ re seeing more organized opposition to development on online platforms and social media. More people can make their voices heard, whether for or against a project, and that tends to carry influence,” Brandon observes.
Regulation and continual legislation updates also test the ZappiCo team. Approvals feel the pressure first. Slower reviews and permitting delays are common.“ Every few years, towns increase their code requirements, and energy regulations become more restrictive. Building departments are also taking more time to review permit applications. In many cases, it now takes longer to get a building permit than to construct the house itself,” Brandon notes. modernhb. com 59