Artisan Built Communities is proud to have an outstanding team of individuals focused on making client's dream homes into reality. From sales and construction teams that work tirelessly in the field to office staff that bring light to the workplace and company principals, the Artisan Built team is close-knit. Today we are excited to introduce another face on the Artisan Built team.
Meet Cal McShan, our Director of Land Development and resident expert on all things land. His diverse background in development and urban planning makes him an incredible asset to the team.
McShan was born and raised in California, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Southern California.
He made the move to Georgia in 1994, beginning his career here as the planning and zoning director for Henry County. His team oversaw the county's rapid 8% growth throughout the 90s. He then moved to Hayes Development during the early 2000s building heyday, where he continued his development work on the southside of Atlanta. During the downtown, he switched his focus and became a VP with Sentry Management, managing over 100 communities and 14,000 homeowners in the Atlanta North division. McShan was then able to return to what he loved most, real estate and land development, first with Crawford Creek Communities and now Artisan Built Communities.
"My family had a land development company for a long time, so I was exposed to the industry from a young age," said McShan. "I was most influenced by my grandfather, a scientist with a passion for real estate in his free time. After meeting Jimmy Carter in the 1980s, he was inspired by Carter's Habitat for Humanity project. He went on to start the Habitat chapter in San Bernardino County and built over 500 homes before his passing."
When it comes to horizontal development, McShan is the man. At Artisan Built Communities, he analyzes and evaluates properties before giving the green light for vertical construction. Some of his other tasks include engineering, bidding out projects, handling budgets and vendor schedules, sitework and even planning the locations of amenities and mailboxes. He oversees every step required to secure a building permit and ensure construction begins in a timely manner.
"I love watching things progress - you've got nothing and then all of the sudden 10 months later, you have something to show for it," said McShan. "You've got a vision and then to see it come to life and see people then call this place home - people who see the vision too - is cool."
Zoning conditions can be challenging for land development, but McShan is a pro at identifying solutions. Whether it's creeks and buffers or adjacent property zoning, his knowledge of urban planning provides a much-needed edge to get the job done.
Artisan Built attracted McShan because of its smaller team and dedication to its clients. He also notes that his role has expanded his knowledge of the housing market.
"Artisan Built has some amazing developments and amenity designs, some of the nicest packages I've seen," said McShan. "I enjoy working alongside this team and appreciate the voice I have been given."
The most challenging aspect of his job is the unpredictability of land. There is always something that comes up during the development process, but he enjoys finding answers for his team.
McShan said, "You make your toolbelt and knowledge base stronger every time you solve a problem."
A Buckhead resident, McShan can be found exploring Atlanta with his fiancé Cheryl and boating on Lake Lanier in his free time. He is also a proud dog owner and loves taking his golden retriever Iggy to the dog park. McShan also obtained his pilot's license and enjoys flying around the country.
