Layline operates, renovates and redevelops industrial properties in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Our mission is to revitalize obsolete buildings, yards and contaminated sites transforming them into functional and attractive spaces for the next generation of manufacturers, innovators, and logistics partners. We pride ourselves in our ability to reimagine and reposition properties breathing new life into underutilized sites. As a locally based team, we are focused on fostering sustainable growth and creating opportunities in the communities where we live and work.

Local Focus

We are singularly focused on urban, infill investments around the San Francisco Bay. Living and working locally for our professional careers, we understand how to effectively source opportunities and partner with our local cities, agencies and communities to improve existing properties and create new high-quality buildings.

Diligent

We combine our effectiveness and technical expertise to execute in complicated situations. From intricate entitlement work to heavy environmental remediation or difficult soil conditions to unstable capital markets, we work closely with our partners as well as passionate communities to bring about the best outcome for all involved. We strive for open and transparent communication with our internal project teams and external stakeholders because every successful project has an extensive group of people collaborating together.

Revitalize

Layline believes creating appealing, functional and flexible buildings for the evolving needs of industrial tenants will lead to great outcomes for our partners and growth and improvement in the community. To do this, we design in a large power supply, extra clear height and flexible yard space to attract quality companies to use them. Our goal is to make a lasting impact in the community by building attractive properties that create both construction jobs in the short term and permanent jobs in the long term.

Welcome to Lay Line

The game-changer in the real estate consulting and investment industry. Established in 2023, our company may be new, but our team has years of experience and a profound passion for what we do. We approach every project with the expertise and confidence of seasoned professionals, making us more than capable of handling any challenge that comes our way. Since our launch, we have earned the trust of numerous clients, and our dedicated team is tirelessly working to help them achieve their goals.
Metal empty building

Industrial Outdoor Storage

We have been buying or building Industrial Outdoor Storage investments across cycles, but they have attracted enough current attention to garner new investors and catchy IOS abbreviation. Historically we called them trailer, truck or container yards, equipment storage or truck terminals. They are typically lit, paved, and fenced and are a terrific way to carry land or land bank it for future development. However, they are so valuable it typically doesn’t pencil to take them offline and they usually trade above land value. Why do we like low-density industrial? We like the limited supply of existing infill yards, we like the supply constraints to building more and we like the overlapping demand from multiple users and industries. Drop a yard into a good location proximate to freeway, bridge, or port infrastructure and you have a recipe for outsized rent growth and appreciation.

Layline Team

Drew Hess

Drew Hess

Principal
Drew founded Layline after spending his career focused on commercial real estate investments in western U.S. markets.
Learn More
Mark English

Mark English

Principal
Mark founded Layline after being a developer and entrepreneur for more than 20 years.
Learn More
Mark English

Mark English

Principal
Mark founded Layline after being a developer and entrepreneur for more than 20 years. His professional career began with Bechtel Enterprises developing and financing private infrastructure in Latin America. Mark worked for Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management (fka RREEF) specializing in asset management and deal structuring for the company’s West Coast Value-Add and Development portfolio.

In 2014 he left RREEF to start Seven Bridges Properties, focusing on development of industrial and office projects for clients that included NY Life, Columbia Property Trust, Black Creek Group, Ares, Prologis, W.P. Carey and 9th Street Partners. During this period Mark also helped form Paceline Investors, making several investments in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Mark earned both an undergraduate degree from Boston College and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. Outside of work he has been active philanthropically, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for Fort Mason and as a member of the Guardsmen. He is also an accomplished sailor winning the Pacific Cup regatta from San Francisco to Hawaii in 2016.
Drew Hess

Drew Hess

Principal
Drew founded Layline as one of the most active infill industrial investors in California and Seattle over the last 20 years. Most recently he was Regional SVP for Duke Realty, responsible for forming and leading a team and expanding the public REIT’s portfolio in Northern California and Seattle. Responsible for all capital deployment and portfolio management, he grew the team to 12 staff and expanded the portfolio by 7 million square feet totaling $1.7 billion of total investment over 22 transactions.  His experience also includes working for American Realty Advisors as Senior Director of their investment group, serving as VP, Investments for Prudential Real Estate Investors and VP Acquisitions with Prologis predecessor, AMP Property. Drew started his career in the real estate audit and advisory team at Arthur Anderson LLP.
A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Drew has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Accounting specialization.  In addition, he is a Certified Public Accountant in California and is a LEED® Accredited Professional.  He is a former president and board member of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of NAIOP and currently on the real estate executive council for the Bay Area chapter of Make-A-Wish.
Building Icon

Revitalize

Layline believes creating appealing, functional and flexible buildings for the evolving needs of industrial tenants will lead to great outcomes for our partners and growth and improvement in the community.  To do this, we design in a large power supply, extra clear height and flexible yard space to attract quality companies to use them.   Our goal is to make a lasting impact in the community by building attractive properties that create both construction jobs in the short term and permanent jobs in the long term.
Expert Icon

Diligent

We combine our effectiveness and technical expertise to execute in complicated situations.  From intricate entitlement work to heavy environmental remediation or difficult soil conditions to unstable capital markets, we work closely with our partners as well as passionate communities to bring about the best outcome for all involved.  We strive for open and transparent communication with our internal project teams and external stakeholders because every successful project has an extensive group of people collaborating together.
focus icon

Local Focus

We are singularly focused on urban, infill investments around the San Francisco Bay.  Living and working locally for our professional careers, we understand how to effectively source opportunities and partner with our local cities, agencies and communities to improve existing properties and create new high-quality buildings.