Alumni Story: Ave Mondie and Aric Hotchkiss
Ave Mondie and Aric Hotchkiss, who together lead Hopscotch Construction in Memphis, TN, approach development with a shared interest in bringing neglected properties back to life—and finding ways to make that work both healthier and more replicable.
Aric came to development through construction, having worked alongside another builder and carpenter with an emphasis on fine details and custom builds. His work increasingly focused on acquiring derelict buildings and reactivating them using healthy materials such as mineral-based paint, hardwood floors, tile, wood windows, and hemp-insulated walls.
Ave brought another piece of the development puzzle. After Aric acquired potential investment properties, Ave worked with local banks to finance the construction. But he was interested in finding alternative approaches to financing, which led him to begin attending IncDev webinars. He also became interested in how they might move into larger-scale efforts involving community land trusts or limited-equity cooperatives.
Through IncDev, Ave and Aric encountered examples of experienced developers who began with their missions and goals, then reverse-engineered projects around them. That approach influenced how they thought about their own work: rather than simply completing one project at a time, they could use each project as research and development for a model that could eventually be replicated. Part of this was accepting that mistakes are an inevitable part of getting better.
Their development, 3607 Baine, in progress
Their development work has included building with the United Housing Land Trust, while Aric also became a construction manager for the Hi-Fi District, an adaptive reuse project downtown.
At 3607 Baine in Memphis, they had an opportunity to put their approach into practice. [Check out this video created by Hope Henchey, featuring their work in partnership with IncDev.] A tree had destroyed the existing house, requiring it to be taken down to the slab. Rebuilding on the existing foundation introduced challenges, but it also led to meaningful partnerships, including a connection with Healthy Materials Lab. Because the house had a small footprint, Aric focused on using the available space efficiently and creating more functionality, incorporating features such as vaulted ceilings and a skylight.
Building in Memphis's urban core brought additional challenges. Break-ins required them to board up open doors and install security cameras; at times, Aric stayed at the development on an air mattress to protect construction equipment. Delays also meant filing for construction loan extensions. Through the experience, Aric came to better understand why relatively few developers concentrate on the urban core: the work can involve a wide range of challenges beyond construction itself.
A rendering of 3607 Baine
Those challenges have reinforced the larger purpose behind the work. Aric wants to see the place where he lives do better and reach its potential. He has seen builders divide between high-end construction and affordable homes built as cheaply as possible while barely meeting code. His work seeks another path.
The Baine project has also generated curiosity from neighbors. In neighborhoods where residents are passionate about native landscaping rather than monoculture lawns, infill development can create opportunities for neighbors to participate by sharing their knowledge and helping shape what their community looks like.
Ave and Aric are now thinking about how to scale their development work using strategies they have encountered through IncDev. Learning from the experiences—and mistakes—of other developers has empowered them to make bolder plans, including an interest in developing a cottage court in Binghampton, where they see potential because of the neighborhood's high volume of foot traffic.
For others considering incremental development, their takeaway is the value of learning from peers who are confronting similar problems. IncDev, they believe, provides access to systems and thought processes developed through experience, allowing new developers to build on what others have already learned rather than figuring everything out from scratch.
