Johnny Wahba is a real estate investor living in Los Angeles, California. He is the founder of Amethyst Projects a real estate investment company, and ORAPHAE a regenerative hotel group.
About
Johnny is a seasoned real estate and hospitality investor and operator with 25 years of experience in the field.
Strengths
I am both a dreamer and a doer. I take big concepts and make them happen.
I am not afraid to get in there and do the hard work if that’s what is needed to get the task done.
I can slay a spreadsheet, analyze regulations, and creatively problem-solve.
I deeply understand design, architecture, engineering, and construction techniques.
I am an eternal optimist and strive to always be in a growth mindset. I am quick to identify strengths in people and cheerlead on their behalf.
I am endlessly curious, with a passion for learning. By using a creative and analytical decision-making approach, I know how to mitigate risk.
I have varied interests and a deep well of lived experiences and I have turned them into wisdom.
I am a dedicated husband and loving father of two.
Side interests
I am continually working on projects that challenge my intellect. These projects range from learning Spanish, to becoming a licensed private pilot, to my certification as a sailing captain and a scuba diver.
Things I love
I love to fish, surf, sail, fly, camp, travel, learn, read, garden, cook, and host. I am a follower of science, music, art, and design. I care deeply about the environment.
Accomplishments
September 1999 Parsons School of Design
Design Marketing
April 2000Champion Development
I cofounded a real estate development company Champion Development at the age of 20.
September 2002Skidmore College
BA Business/Marketing
August 2002 Greenwich Landing
In 2007 I developed 20 unit townhouse and marina project in Greenwich, Connecticut. I took a 2-acre property from polluted raw industrial zoned land worth $200k to an appraised value of $20mm after rezoning and entitling the land. Permitted a marina with local and state agencies. Environmental remediation of the land and built townhouses and marina on time and under budget.
May 2004Mariners Watch
2006 rezoned and entitled a 26-acre industrial waterfront property to a 234 unit mixed-use community in Newport News, Virginia.
June 2004 Skidmore College
I graduated from Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Marketing.
February 2008Private Real Estate Investing
I started investing my own money into private real estate projects.
February 2008Clinton Avenue Investment
Coop renovation
May 2009Hospitality Investing
I started investing in restaurants and hospitality.
May 2009Vinegar Hill House Investment
Chef Jean Adamson - Brooklyn, NY
August 2010Marriage
Married my high school sweetheart Roanne Adams.
February 2011Projective Space
I cofounded Projective Space, a co-working provider with over a thousand members and 3 locations in NYC. Notable teams include Uber, Instacart, SeatGeek, Eventbrite, Indiegogo, and Skillshare all started or grew their NYC presence at Projective Space.
May 2011ISA Investment
Chef Ignacio Mattos - Brooklyn, NY
October 2012 Phaedra Mai Wahba
My daughter was born.
February 2014Cambridge Place Investment
May 2016VHH Foods Investment
VHH Foods - Chef Jean Adamson - Brooklyn, NY
January 2017Landa Street Investment
May 2018Orion James Wahba
My son was born.
January 2019Founded Amethyst Projects
2019 Founded Amethyst Projects a real estate investment syndicate. To identify and co-invest in larger real estate investment and hospitality projects.
January 2021Mesquite Avenue Investment
November 2023ORAPHAE
2023 Founded Oraphae, a regenerative hospitality management company and hotel brand. Named after my children Orion and Phaedra.
October 2022Amethyst Properties
I founded Amethyst Properties a short-term rental property management company. Took all management in-house to offer superior quality of service and significantly reduced operating expenses.
November 2023 Casa Piedra Investment
Amethyst Projects purchased Casa Piedra in Todos Santos, Mexico. Future sight of Oraphae - Todos Santos a regenerative boutique hotel.