9 New Townhomes Break Ground in Tacoma’s Eastside Led by 1DROP member Jeremy Rubin
Photo Credit: Adrian Sims.
On September 16, 2026, community leaders, family, mentors, and development partners gathered in Tacoma’s Eastside neighborhood to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Bridgett Marie. Developed by TNGG Developers and led by 1DROP member Jeremy Rubin, this 9-unit townhome community marks a major milestone for attainable, workforce homeownership in Tacoma.
Named in honor of Jeremy’s mother, Bridgett Marie, the development represents both a deeply personal legacy and a practical solution to the region's housing needs. After transitioning from a successful corporate career in the automotive industry, Jeremy founded TNGG Developers around a core philosophy: "Take No Gift to the Grave." The Bridgett Marie stands as the physical realization of that mission — leaving behind a tangible impact for his family, future homeowners, and the broader community.
A Model for "Missing Middle" Attainable Housing
Key highlights of the development include:
Workforce Homeownership: Delivering 9 new, high-quality townhomes specifically priced for workforce buyers earning up to 120% Area Median Income (AMI).
Missing Middle Density: Serving as a proof of concept for infill density on Tacoma’s East 31st Street corridor, creating pathways to entry-level homeownership and generational wealth.
Replicable Blueprint: Demonstrating how local, diverse developers can navigate municipal permitting and site development to drive neighborhood revitalization.
Celebrating Purpose, Leadership, and Collective Effort
The groundbreaking ceremony reflected the deep network of support required to bring a real estate development from vision to site execution. The program featured words of inspiration, community blessings, and remarks from project mentors, preferred lending partners, guest civic speakers, and family members.
Central to the milestone was the shared acknowledgment that real estate development is never a solo pursuit. Reflecting on the impact of the day and the journey that brought him here, Jeremy shared a powerful sentiment about the strength of community support:
“What an incredible day celebrating my first development... My mom taught me to dream bigger than what I could see. But she wasn’t the only one who handed me a shovel along the way. Family, friends, mentors, partners, my community—every time I needed help digging, somebody lent me their shovel. I did not get here by myself. That’s why this wasn’t my groundbreaking. It was our groundbreaking. Built for us. Built by us.”
Photo Credit: Adrian Sims.
Building Homes for Good
The Bridgett Marie provides an essential entry point for families to purchase homes, build equity, and anchor themselves in Tacoma. For 1DROP, Jeremy’s journey from policy and corporate leadership to hands-on development embodies the mission of empowering leaders of color to transform communities through ownership.
We are proud to celebrate Jeremy Rubin, TNGG Developers, and the entire network of partners involved. We look forward to following the progress as site work moves forward and welcoming 9 new families to Tacoma’s Eastside.
Photos Credit: Adrian Sims.
About 1DROP
1DROP is a collective of underrepresented real estate developers addressing the Puget Sound housing crisis. We are committed to empowering underrepresented developers to build housing for all wages, all stages, and all ages while growing access to generational wealth.
1DROP achieves its mission by internally providing:
Apprenticeships for aspiring underrepresented developers.
Co-development frameworks for emerging underrepresented developers to navigate partnership models.
Mentorship, networking, resources and supports for all underrepresented developers.
and externally:
Advocating for funding for underrepresented developers and their projects.
Educating on and advancing policy solutions that enable more housing.
For those inspired to learn more or get involved in supporting equitable housing, visit 1DROP's website to explore our initiatives and join us in making an impact.
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