SDR Properties builds portfolio of innovative residential redevelopment projects with artisanal features
Rather than new construction or light renovations, Thinakaran was drawn to the more sustainable approach of redeveloping older, obsolete properties. Six years later, she has built Bethesda-based SDR Properties into a boutique business focused on just that, repositioning those properties as modern residential assets.
'There's a lot of cost, damage and waste when you tear something down,' said Thinakaran, the company's founder. 'Tearing down brick and just throwing it away is not sensible.'
The company has completed more than five projects across the Bethesda, Northwest D.C. and Chevy Chase area. Each one includes a custom architectural design and extensive work that always involves tearing down structural components to update everything, from the mechanical systems to the home's layout, to create a space that works for modern family living.
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'There is no template,' Thinakaran said. 'The process of even drawing the design takes longer. It takes a lot more creativity to do a redevelopment and reposition an asset than it does to just build a new house that may not even fit the neighborhood.'
New life for a sprawling Bethesda home built in1938
SDR Properties' newest project — a 7,500-square-foot lot with a 3,000-plus-square-foot, four-bedroom home at 5522 Lincoln St. in Bethesda — is coming to market soon. One of the company's largest projects to date, the home includes a separate, two-level studio apartment that can function as an in-law suite or a rental space.
'You're looking at a house that a family can hopefully grow and age in,' Thinakaran said. 'It's not a place where they live for a couple of years and then outgrow.'
The home was originally constructed in 1938. SDR Properties' redevelopment included a gourmet eat-in kitchen, upstairs laundry, built-in mudroom storage and plenty of space to entertain. The work increased the property's energy efficiency by using foam insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, tightly insulated roof construction and an HVAC system that is designed for more of an environmental impact and cost savings.
For this project, Thinakaran focused on selecting artisan fixtures, many of which are designed and manufactured in the U.S.
'I like it when people treat their work as art,' she said. 'If you put that in a home, people appreciate it.'
Thinakaran chose 5522 Lincoln St. based on its location. The home sits on a quiet street a few blocks from Bradley and Greenwich neighborhood parks and the Bethesda Trolley. It also has easy Metro access. Additionally, it's close to her home, which gave her deep insight into the neighborhood and made it easy to be on site frequently during the redevelopment process.
'There's one rule my mentor told me,' she said. 'When you find a location, become an expert in it. Know where they go to the store, which park is available to their kids, where they can take a walk. I know this area and what people love about it.'
The longstanding drive to nurture sustainable communities
Prior to founding SDR Properties, Thinakaran worked in multimedia, earning recognition as a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and TED Global Fellow. Her projects included Women at the Forefront, which examined the lives of women in conflict and post-conflict zones such as Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
This work fueled her interest in the importance of nurturing communities where people can thrive. She plans to continue to lean into these values as she grows the business with a focus on sustainable design.
'It influences you,' she said of her time connecting with other change makers through National Geographic and TED. 'You're surrounded by people who are always talking about making the world better, more sustainable and with less waste. It makes you want to do more.'
Making the shift from multimedia to real estate came naturally, Thinakaran said. Early in her career, she had experience working on real estate projects with her father, and she later earned her master's degree in real estate, finance track, at American University.
If market conditions are right, SDR Properties will accelerate the number of projects it takes on. In addition, Thinakaran plans to give a portion of the profit from the Lincoln Street project to a local family shelter.
'We want to help support communities,' she said.
Beyond real estate, Thinakaran is exploring a potential tech venture. She is considering developing an app where people rate and review products used in home construction, redevelopment and renovations. This project would draw on her multimedia expertise and her mission to improve quality and sustainability in the industry.
'There are a lot of people who have questions,' she said. 'I'm constantly learning and sharing information that could help others.'
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