Michael Ellch is Senior Vice President of Development at Related Midwest, managing site acquisition and development for the firm's multibillion-dollar pipeline of real estate projects. During his first stint with the firm beginning in 2011, Ellch played a key role in a number of high-profile developments, including The 78, Landmark West Loop, 500 Lake Shore Drive, One Bennett Park, 900 Randolph and 725 West Randolph Street.
At The 78, Ellch led acquisition and entitlement efforts to pave the way for Related Midwest's transformative 62-acre development, future home of the Discovery Partners Institute and Chicago’s first Innovation District. As one of the largest real estate projects in Chicago history, The 78 will include a mix of residential, commercial, academic, cultural and recreational experiences, with abundant green space and riverfront activation.
Ellch was also a key driver of Box Shops, a pop-up container market that showcases lifestyle brands and local businesses in an innovative approach to activating pre-construction sites with immersive retail, art and recreational experiences.
Ellch is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and participates in the MIT Center for Real Estate student mentoring program. Ellch lives in the West Loop with his wife and two children. He earned his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and holds a Master's in Real Estate Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
