In 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake didn't just shake Northern California; it redirected the trajectory of Meghan Elliott’s life. While most saw a catastrophe of crumbling mortar and twisted steel, a young Meghan saw the anatomy of failure. She witnessed how buildings "fall forward": a concept that would eventually define her career as a structural engineer, developer, and visionary.
At Breaking Ceilings Breaking Ground, we don't just talk about "leaning in." We talk about standing up, buying in, and breaking ground. Meghan Elliott, the founder of New History and Jillpine, is the living embodiment of that mission. She isn’t just preserving the past; she’s engineering its future.
Meghan isn’t your average developer. She’s a licensed structural engineer who spent years diagnosing why old buildings fail. In 2011, she founded New History, a consulting firm dedicated to historic building reuse. But after years of advising others on how to navigate the complex web of historic tax credits and structural stabilization, Meghan decided it was time to put her own capital where her expertise was.
In 2020, she launched Jillpine. The name itself is a manifesto. The Jack Pine is the first tree to return after a forest fire: a symbol of resilience and rebirth. Jillpine is its fictitious female counterpart, representing the women-led force required to reclaim the "rubble" of our urban environments.
The Bookmatch: A 45-Year Marathon in Sandstone
If you want to understand the grit required for commercial real estate development, look no further than The Bookmatch in Sandstone, Minnesota. This project wasn't just a renovation; it was an act of civic defiance.
For 45 years, the community of Sandstone struggled to find a future for their century-old sandstone schoolhouse. It was a project that most developers wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. It was too old, too remote, and too complicated.
Meghan saw it differently. She saw a Triple Bottom Line opportunity.
To bring The Book Match to life, Meghan didn't just find a bank; she orchestrated a symphony of 17 different capital sources. We're talking historic tax credits, state grants, workforce housing incentives, and traditional financing. The Book Match is now fully leased—a strong sign of the community demand for this carefully restored landmark. It proves that with enough technical savvy and sheer persistence, you can turn a derelict landmark into a vibrant hub of modern living.
Leijona: Living with the Bars in Duluth
Meghan’s first major project in Duluth, Leijona, is perhaps her most daring. Transforming the former St. Louis County Jail into a luxury apartment building required a unique negotiation with the past.
To qualify for the historic tax credits that made the financing stack work, Meghan had to preserve the original jail cell bars. Instead of seeing this as a design constraint, she leaned into the narrative. Today, Leijona is a testament to high-end urban redevelopment, where history isn't hidden behind drywall: it’s celebrated as a core design feature.
It’s this ability to navigate the mechanics of development: the financing, the modular construction possibilities, and the rigid requirements of preservation: that sets Meghan apart as a sustainable development leader.
The Jillpine Ethos: Rebirth and Resilience
Meghan Elliott doesn't operate in a vacuum. She’s built an informal advisory board of "people who have skills I don't have." This is a core tenant of the Breaking Ceilings Breaking Ground community: we don’t have to do it all, but we do have to lead the way.
Meghan’s journey hasn't been without its bruises. She’s the first to admit she learned real estate finance by "making big mistakes." But those mistakes are the foundation of her current success.
She isn't just building apartments; she’s building a legacy. Her daughter, now 21 and studying structural engineering, has been on the Jillpine payroll since she was seven years old.
Stand Up, Buy In, Break Ground
The stories of women like Meghan Elliott are the heartbeat of our upcoming book and the driving force behind our podcast series. She is helping move the industry toward a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive future.
Are you ready to join the movement? Whether you’re an aspiring developer or a seasoned pro, there is room for you at the table.
Stay Connected:
- Listen: Catch the full conversation with Meghan Elliott on our podcast here.
- Read: Stay tuned for our upcoming book, where we dive deeper into the mechanics of building a career in commercial real estate.
- Join: Follow us on LinkedIn to connect with other women in commercial real estate development.