About Us

Family owned and operated for over 60 years, Larken Associates is one of the region's leading full-service commercial and residential real estate firms.

Core Purpose

We are dedicated to bringing great spaces to live and work to life, seizing on opportunities that inspire us and making that vision a reality.

Core Mission

Our business runs on connection, trust and the continual building of long-lasting relationships with our customers.

Core Values

We are driven by a deep commitment to outstanding customer service. We provide the highest level of personal attention to all of our residents and commercial tenants.

An Industry Reputation of Excellence, Integrity, and Experience

For more than six decades, Larken Associates has built a reputation for expertise, integrity, and meaningful impact. Driven by pride in our workmanship, a commitment to enhancing long-term property value, and an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction, we approach every project with a hands-on mindset and long-term perspective, regardless of property type or scope.

Our Philosophy

Our business philosophy is rooted in relationships, trust, and a commitment to excellence. As a multi-generational, family-owned company, our reputation is reflected in everything we do. For generations, we have built an unparalleled level of trust and satisfaction among our residents, tenants, partners, and communities by treating every relationship as an important part of our success.

We take pride in every home, commercial property, and community we develop, own, and manage, holding each to the high standards of quality that have defined Larken for generations. This commitment to excellence shapes how we work, how we build relationships, and how we create lasting value

Our residents and tenants are at the heart of our success, and we work tirelessly to provide the level of service they deserve. Relationships matter, and throughout our history, we have kept that focus at the forefront of every interaction. This philosophy drives creative planning and innovative thinking, rewards fine workmanship, and challenges us to continually improve rather than become complacent.

It is this enduring commitment to people, quality, and excellence that has made Larken Associates one of the region’s most respected commercial and residential real estate firms—and the foundation we carry forward with every project, partnership, and community we serve.

History

Larken Associates began with founder Lawrence W. Gardner's simple vision:

Build exceptional properties in prime locations while fostering lasting relationships built on integrity.

Guided by this vision, Lawrence Gardner founded Larken Associates in 1965 to pursue his passion for building after a successful Wall Street career. He initially focused on constructing single-family homes but soon recognized New Jersey’s tremendous population growth presented significant opportunities to expand into more ambitious residential and commercial development projects.

As the company grew, its diversification was powered by the addition of Lawrence’s son, David, the current President and CEO of Larken Associates, in 1985. Working together, Lawrence and David expanded the business into new asset classes including multifamily, self-storage, flex and industrial, retail, medical and professional office space. After over five successful decades at the firm’s helm, Lawrence retired in 2024 and serves as Chairman Emeritus.

1960s

The Beginning

In 1965, Larry Gardner left New York and a successful career on Wall Street to join his father-in-law in New Jersey real estate development, where the company focused on building single-family homes. That same year, Larry established what would become Larken Associates and partnered with New Jersey-based developers on a residential project. Those developers would later go on to become known as Garden Homes and Atlantic Realty. (Not sure that you want to mention other builders).

With a focus on quality construction, thoughtful development and long-term value, Larry began laying the foundation for a company that would evolve significantly over the decades to come.

1970s

Building a Foundation

Throughout the 1970s, Larry Gardner continued to build on the company's success in single-family residential development. Larken strengthened its presence throughout central New Jersey, developing residential communities in West Caldwell, Hillsborough and Montgomery Township.

As the decade came to a close, Larken broadened its focus beyond single-family construction, entering the multifamily market with its first projects in Hillsborough, Montgomery and Lawrenceville, New Jersey. This transition marked an important step in diversifying the company's portfolio and laying the foundation for future growth.

1980s

Expanding Beyond Residential

The 1980s marked a significant period of diversification for Larken. In 1980, the company broke ground on its first commercial project, Hillsborough Mini Storage, beginning its expansion into commercial real estate.

In 1985, Larry's son, David Gardner, joined the firm, bringing the next generation of family leadership into the business. Shortly thereafter, Larken entered into a partnership to develop its first retail shopping center, Nelson's Corner Shopping Center. Did we build this or just help finance, should we mention it?

Building on the success of these early commercial ventures, Larken broke ground in 1986 on Hillsborough Business Center, a more than 500,000-square-foot industrial warehouse complex. Over the following two decades, the company continued to expand the business center by developing additional buildings and expanding the campus.

During this period, Larken also deepened its presence in Hillsborough through the development of additional residential subdivisions. The community became an important hub for the company and would ultimately serve as Larken's headquarters for the next 20 years.

Larken simultaneously expanded its presence in Lawrenceville with the development of Manors Corner Shopping Center and a residential subdivision known as The Manors. By the end of the decade, the company had established itself as a diversified developer with expertise across residential, retail, and industrial real estate.

1990s

Diversification & Geographic Expansion

During the 1990s, Larken continued to broaden its commercial portfolio with the development of Montgomery Commons, the company's first major commercial office complex.

The company also expanded into Warren County, New Jersey, with a particular focus on the Lopatcong area. Larken developed approximately 400 single-family homes across two communities, The Classics and The Meadows, establishing a significant residential presence in the region.

The decade reinforced Larken's strategy of balancing residential and commercial development while expanding into new markets throughout New Jersey.

2000s

Entering Pennsylvania

The 2000s marked a period of substantial growth and geographic expansion for Larken. The company strengthened its commitment to the Lopatcong market through the development of 18 additional single-family residences at Belview Estates, the 414-unit Warren Heights multifamily community, and several office and retail properties, including Greenwich Commons and Strykers Plaza.

In 2005, Larken expanded beyond New Jersey and entered the Pennsylvania residential market with the development of The Village at Maidencreek, its first active adult community, and Maidencreek Town Center, a small neighborhood shopping center in Berks County.

The success of The Village at Maidencreek led to the development of two additional active adult communities: The Village at Whitehall in the Lehigh Valley, PA, and Delaware Crossing in Lopatcong, New Jersey. These communities further established Larken's expertise in designing residential environments centered around lifestyle, amenities, and community.

In 2007, the company acquired and repositioned Tilghman Square Shopping Center in Pennsylvania, its largest retail power center. The acquisition demonstrated Larken's ability not only to develop new properties, but also to identify existing assets with potential for repositioning, improvement, and long term value creation.

2010s

Building a Residential Rental Portfolio

The 2010s ushered in another significant evolution for Larken as the company expanded into the residential rental market through the acquisition of a portfolio of approximately 600 apartments in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

This acquisition established a new platform for Larken's multifamily residential business and expanded the company's role from primarily developing and selling residential communities to owning and managing rental housing for the long term.

Throughout the decade, Larken continued to grow its residential rental portfolio and strengthen its presence across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 2018, the company further expanded its multifamily holdings with the acquisition of the York Portfolio, adding approximately 400 units to its growing residential rental platform and reinforcing Larken's commitment to long-term ownership and management of multifamily communities.

By the end of the decade, Larken had established a substantial residential rental portfolio and created the foundation for the next phase of its multifamily growth.

2020s

Introducing Larken Living

The 2020s marked the next chapter in Larken's evolution with the introduction of Larken Living, a new residential brand focused on creating elevated rental communities that combine modern design, resort-style amenities, and a high level of resident service.

TLarken began developing a new generation of luxury, amenity-rich multifamily communities throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These communities were designed around the way people live today, incorporating thoughtfully designed apartments, modern amenities, engaging common spaces and convenient lifestyle features.

By 2024, more than 1,000 apartment homes had been completed across five Larken Living developments. Several of these communities received industry recognition and awards, establishing Larken Living as an emerging leader in the region's multifamily rental market.

Today

Continuing the Legacy

More than 60 years after Larry Gardner founded the company, Larken Associates continues to build on the principles that shaped its earliest years: entrepreneurial thinking, long-term ownership, quality development and a commitment to the communities it serves.

Today, Larken Associates is a regional leader in real estate building, development and management, bringing more than six decades of experience and expertise to creating great spaces to live and work.

Larken's diverse commercial portfolio encompasses nearly four million square feet and serves more than 1,000 tenants across office, industrial, retail and mixed-use properties. Its residential portfolio includes approximately 3,000 owned and managed apartment homes across 20 unique communities, with another 1,500 homes in the development pipeline.

From its beginnings as a single-family homebuilder in New Jersey to a diversified real estate organization spanning residential, multifamily, retail, office and industrial properties across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Larken's history reflects a consistent willingness to evolve with the market while remaining grounded in its family-owned heritage.

Through every stage of its growth, Larken has remained deeply committed to the communities in which it works and to the tenants and residents who call its properties home. As the company looks to the future, it continues to build upon Larry Gardner's original vision—creating places that deliver lasting value and stand the test of time.

Our Philosophy

History

Larken Associates began with founder Lawrence W. Gardner's simple vision:

Build exceptional properties in prime locations while fostering lasting relationships built on integrity.