The firm was founded by Briana Gowen, CFA, who holds an MBA from IESE Business School, an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia, and a Master’s in Real Estate program from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Prior to founding Zilla Companies in 2015, she worked in real estate private equity as a portfolio manager. That background helps clients evaluate not just what the code says, but what is likely to create real value. Unlike broader consulting firms, Zilla Companies is highly specialized in Miami-Dade multifamily and mixed-use zoning, feasibility, site plan approval, and permitting. The firm also works regularly within local planning environments and can support projects from early due diligence through approvals and permitting.

Zoning due diligence matters because many properties are evaluated based on incomplete assumptions. Base zoning alone does not always tell the full story. Overlays, incentives, parking requirements, setbacks, access, utilities, assemblage opportunities, and municipal process can all materially affect value and feasibility. Early zoning due diligence helps investors and owners avoid underwriting the wrong deal, overpaying for a site, or spending money on design work before the underlying development potential has been properly vetted.

Yes. A zoning and feasibility review can help determine what may be supportable on a site based on current zoning, future land use, overlays, lot configuration, access, parking, and other development constraints. The answer is not always just a simple unit count or use category. In many cases, what can realistically be built depends on how the code applies to the site, whether incentives or overlays are available, and whether certain site conditions limit what looks possible on paper.

A feasibility study is an early-stage analysis of what a site may support and what risks or constraints should be considered before moving further. Depending on scope, it may include zoning and land use review, likely density or unit potential, highest and best use analysis, concept viability, overlays and incentives, early red flags, and a preliminary view of the entitlement or approval path. The purpose is to help clients decide whether a site is worth pursuing and what further work may make sense.

We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.

Highest and best use analysis looks at more than what is technically allowed under code. It evaluates what is likely to be the most valuable, realistic, and marketable use of a property. In some cases, that may mean redevelopment. In others, the current use may already be close to optimal. This type of analysis is useful for owners deciding whether to hold or sell, investors evaluating acquisitions, and brokers trying to understand how a site should be positioned in the market.

Assemblage analysis looks at whether combining adjacent parcels materially changes development potential or land value. In some cases, adding a neighboring parcel can unlock more density, improve layout efficiency, solve parking or access issues, or support a more valuable development program. In other cases, the additional land adds cost without changing the outcome enough to justify the investment. Assemblage analysis helps owners and investors compare what a site supports with and without the additional parcels and determine whether the added value is meaningful.

Yes. Zilla Companies can assist at the early-stage diligence and feasibility level, through pre-construction planning and site plan approval, and into permitting support. Depending on the project, services can be provided with the client’s existing design team or with a coordinated team assembled for the project. This allows clients to start with the level of support they need and expand scope as the project progresses, rather than committing to a full process from day one.