About
A development company built around judgment.
Aurelian Development Company acquires, entitles, develops, and repositions real estate across Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, and select Northeast Corridor markets.
Philosophy
Restore overlooked places. Build what's next.
Aurelian works in the early, complicated part of development, where information is incomplete, approvals are uncertain, and most buyers walk away.
That stage is where basis is set, risk is understood, and most of the value in a project is created or lost. We would rather spend nine months understanding a parcel than nine weeks guessing about it.
Our work is grounded in four principles: understand the downside first, structure capital conservatively, communicate plainly with every stakeholder, and improve the place we are building in.
We are equally comfortable entitling land and selling it to a builder, forming a joint venture, or developing and holding a project ourselves. The right answer depends on the asset, the market, and the partners, not on a mandate.
Capabilities
What we do, in practice.
Acquisition & Underwriting
We evaluate basis, zoning, infrastructure, demand, and downside before committing, and we pass on more than we pursue.
Entitlements
We work through zoning, planning, engineering, and municipal coordination to move properties toward development-ready status.
Development & Construction
We manage product, density, infrastructure, budgets, and construction from approvals through delivery.
Capital & Investment
We structure debt and equity conservatively, and we invest alongside our partners in the projects we sponsor.
Leadership
Experienced operators. Complementary strengths.
Momin Sheikh
Developer · Entrepreneur · Investor
Momin Sheikh is a Philadelphia-based real estate developer and entrepreneur focused on development, entitlement strategy, capital formation, and investment.
His career began in finance, spanning investment banking, private equity, and commercial lending, including roles at JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo. He later built and sold a business before moving into real estate development. His experience spans residential, industrial, self-storage, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use projects.
- Philadelphia Business Journal 40 Under 40
- Philadelphia Business Journal Real Estate Deal Maker
- Co-Founder, Friends For Good, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
Sean Frankel
Developer · Operator · Investor
Sean Frankel has more than 20 years of experience acquiring, developing, repositioning, and operating real estate across the Philadelphia region, including the development and ownership of hundreds of residential units alongside a portfolio of commercial and residential assets.
He works across acquisitions, construction, asset operations, capitalization, and execution, and brings an owner's perspective to how projects are built and how they perform once they are open.
- 20+ Years Real Estate Experience
- Hundreds of Residential Units
- Acquisition & Development
- Operations & Repositioning
- Supporter of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and local stuttering programs
- Built a neighborhood playground in memory of his brother
Community
Development is ultimately about people and places.
Aurelian believes good development should create value beyond a spreadsheet.
That does not mean every project needs a grand social mission. It means listening carefully, understanding context, treating partners fairly, respecting municipalities, and recognizing that real estate becomes part of a community long after the transaction closes.
Momin co-founded Friends for Good and supports organizations focused on youth development, behavioral health, education, housing, and access to opportunity. He mentors students and young professionals entering real estate and finance.