About

SouthGate Companies traces its humble beginnings to Polish immigrant David Braverman, who started a business selling melons out of the back of a horse-drawn wagon. That business grew into a grocery store and ultimately Hawkeye Foods.

As Braverman’s business grew, he began to invest in real estate in Iowa City. In 1962 SouthGate was officially born. Since then, it has been owned and led by the Braverman family and continues to be a family-run business to this day.

SouthGate Companies has developed more than 600,000 square feet of commercial real estate including build-to-suit properties, turnkey sales, and multi-tenant facilities. Currently, SouthGate manages about 300,000 square feet of office, retail, and industrial space.

SouthGate’s residential construction accomplishments include the development of more than a dozen residential subdivisions and 1,000 apartments, condominiums, townhomes, duplexes, and single-family residences. Currently, SouthGate manages over 500 residential units including condos, apartments, and townhomes in the Iowa City and Coralville, Iowa area.

In 2017, SouthGate rebranded its home building company, Navigate Homes, which builds approximately 30 new homes per year in the Iowa City area.

In 2019, SouthGate Companies was acquired by Hillcrest Holdings. Hillcrest Holdings is a Midwest-based, family-owned holding company, that invests in privately held middle market businesses in the United States. Its businesses operate in the transportation, insurance, real estate and IT services industries. Hillcrest’s mission is to support the continued growth and success of its existing portfolio businesses, while diversifying into new industries through long-term equity investments in growing businesses that share its values of stewardship, hard work, empowering employees and giving back to the community.