Membership Spotlight: Alex Cemaj, PTM Partners

Alex Cemaj brings a strong, market-driven perspective to his role at PTM Partners, where he focuses on acquisitions and financial strategy across a wide variety of real estate investments. Since joining the firm over two years ago, Alex has played a key role in identifying opportunities in workforce housing and Opportunity Zone developments, while helping guide PTM’s expansion into fast growing markets like St. Petersburg.

Before joining PTM, Alex built his foundation working in institutional markets such as New York City and Miami, gaining experience in complex acquisitions and office investments. That background shaped how he evaluates real estate deals today, giving him a deep understanding of how markets evolve and how to navigate more sophisticated transactions.

Over the course of his career, Alex has been involved in nearly $1 billion in transactions. One of the most important lessons he emphasizes is the balance between quantitative and qualitative analysis. While financial metrics are essential, he believes that understanding the less tangible aspects of a deal, such as market dynamics, location context, and long-term viability, is just as critical when determining success.

Although Alex had not previously worked in St. Petersburg prior to joining PTM, his perspective on the city has quickly evolved. What he initially viewed as a smaller market adjacent to Tampa has proven to be a distinct and highly desirable place in its own right. He now sees St. Pete as a unique and independent market with strong identity and long-term growth potential.

PTM Partners has been actively involved in downtown St. Pete’s growth, including projects like 1246 Central, where the Downtown Partnership partnered with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Tampa Bay to host our 2025 Downtown Development Summit to highlight demographic data points and updates in current trends in residential and commercial development in downtown St. Pete. Alex values the organization for its ability to provide meaningful insight into the local market while connecting developers, stakeholders, and community leaders. As a member for the past year and a half, he and the PTM team are looking to become even more engaged moving forward.

Looking ahead, Alex sees mixed-use development as the new standard for the future of real estate. He notes that standalone product types are becoming less common, with mixed-use environments emerging as the dominant model. He also points to evolving trends in the multifamily space, where tenants are placing greater emphasis on quality, amenities, and wellness-oriented features such as fitness gyms and yoga spaces.

Partnerships play a critical role in the success of these projects. Alex emphasizes the importance of alignment between developers, municipalities, and community groups, noting that early engagement and collaboration are key to executing successful developments and ensuring projects are well received.

In St. Petersburg specifically, Alex sees major opportunities for growth in areas such as Central Avenue, the EDGE District, and the Historic Gas Plant district. He believes that the city’s walkability will be a defining factor in its continued growth and success in Florida, supporting a live-work-play environment that attracts both residents and businesses.

PTM Partners is already contributing to that vision through several key projects. The firm is currently advancing a $170 million plus project, dubbed EDGE Collective II, which is the second phase of the EDGE Collective development. This phase will bring 330 multifamily units and 18,000 square feet of retail to the area, helping to further activate the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, the Moxy Hotel project is continuing to mature and establish itself as a key part of downtown’s hospitality landscape.

As St. Pete continues to grow, Alex is excited about PTM’s role in shaping its future. He sees strong momentum across mixed-use and multifamily development, and believes the city is well positioned to emerge as one of Florida’s leading urban markets in the years ahead.

‍