Frank Taylor
Co-Founder & CEO
Frank Taylor is a retired law enforcement officer, former union representative for the City of New York, and a decorated 9/11 first responder. As Co-Founder of TAGA, Frank brings his unwavering passion and dedication to advancing the company’s mission of building new housing projects across the United States and internationally. His diverse background in construction management, real estate investing, government affairs, and law enforcement gives him a distinctive perspective, driving TAGA’s strategic initiatives and fostering innovative approaches to development.
Marie Gayle
Co-Founder & CFO
Marie Gayle is a distinguished former senior-level administrator at New York University, where she served as Associate Vice President overseeing IT enterprise-wide administrative systems for local and global campuses. Transitioning from a successful career in management consulting, Marie is now a licensed Realtor, seamlessly integrating her deep knowledge of accounting, finance technology, and property management into the real estate sector. Her diverse expertise and strategic leadership bring a unique advantage to TAGA, driving impactful real estate initiatives.
Primary Mission
To invest in underserved neighborhoods by renovating, building, and transforming economically disadvantaged and underprivileged areas. The goal is to create a path of success and opportunities for the community.
Community Focus
To empower local people by investing in the community, encouraging their interest in jobs through apprenticeships, mentoring, and guiding various minority groups.
Investment Strategy
As deep-value investors, TAGA Associates LLC specializes in researching, identifying, and purchasing structurally sound, distressed properties that have been neglected over time and abandoned by their owners. By thoroughly renovating these properties, they ensure they are brought up to code, creating habitable and aesthetically desirable spaces for future rentals or sale.
Core Objectives
-
Buy below-market, underperforming assets.
-
Reposition assets within eight months through redesigns and renovation.
-
Leverage expertise as experienced realtors to attract valuable tenants.
-
Apply institutional-style property management to cater to tenants.
-
Consider profitable exit investment opportunities.
RESTORATION OF ALBANY'S 10 HALL PLACE DECADES IN THE MAKING
From left, architect Keith Cramer, electrician Al Houghtaling, Marie Gayle, Frank Taylor and Adam Zaranko, executive director of Albany County Land Bank, stand on the steps of 10 Hall Place on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 in Albany, N.Y. Marie Gayle and Frank Taylor, with TAGA Associates, spent up to $400K restoring and converting it into a quad multi-family the last couple of years. They bought the building for about $29K from the Albany Land Bank.
Our
Vision
Frank Taylor and Marie Gayle shared a vision: to provide safe and affordable housing for the disadvantaged. Their passion, innovative entrepreneurship aspirations, and tenacity to improve communities were very clear from the onset. They co-founded TAGA with their mission in mind. Frank and Marie have over 30 years of experience in investment real estate ventures and have developed acute business skills. Their expertise and knowledge of multifamily buildings in New York City was a positive way to drive their mission to success. During 2018 and 2019, Frank and Marie conducted extensive surveys of various communities around New York State, acquiring and renovating properties in Albany as they laid the groundwork for their financial and organizational plans. Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic in 2020, TAGA made significant strides in acquiring and renovating affordable rental housing units. Currently, they are providing almost 20 units of affordable housing. Their success was further amplified by the formation of strategic partnerships with catalytic mission-aligned organizations in the community, including: Albany Housing Coalition, Albany Housing Authority, YWCA (Rapid Rehousing Program), Unity House, Albany Damian Center and United Tenants. Frank and Marie have a strong vision and are committed to investing in underserved communities. They want to provide a safe place for people to live and achieve their goals. TAGA is dedicated to revitalizing the historic landscape of Albany and similar communities. They aim to achieve this through renovating, remodeling, revitalizing, and new construction, which are all at the forefront of TAGA's commitment.