Almanac

Hyman Korman was born in Eastern Europe in 1882. While he spent his boyhood years with his parents Rabbi Benjamin (Korinman) Korman and Hudel Marzovitz in their home in Grodno (modern-day Belarus), Hyman traveled across Russia during his late teen years and early 20s with his uncles Yoyl and Velvyl Korman, who were successful railway builders. This is where he got his first exposure to home building. To expedite the construction of the railway across Russia, Hyman’s uncles provided temporary housing for their workers, essentially log cabins that were easily disassembled and reassembled as they progressed across the country. In 1903, while working in Svisloch, Hyman, then 22, met his future wife Yetta Yesersky.

With the support of his family, 23-year-old Hyman left a war-torn Russia and emigrated to New York in 1904. He planned to establish himself in business in America and have Yetta join him later to be married. He immediately found work as a tailor in the garment industry.

A year later, Yetta emigrated to Philadelphia. She and Hyman married the same year and rented an apartment on Tasker Street in Philadelphia.

Hyman worked in a clothing factory, advancing in position over the years from a pattern cutter, to factory foreman and eventually to plant manager, supervising the entire clothing production line.

In 1906, right before the birth of their first son, Max, Hyman and Yetta moved from their Tasker Street apartment to Hamilton Farm, which they rented from Yetta’s parents, at Castor Avenue and Devereaux Street (Oxford Circle). Their second son, Sam, was born in 1909, and their daughter, Sarah, in 1916. Census records show Hyman still resided at the Tasker Street apartment in 1910. Given transportation conditions at the time, Hyman likely lived like a modern-day supercommuter, residing at his apartment in the city during the working week, and then joining his family at the farm on weekends.

Hyman, in the early 1900s, was what a Korman client would be today. While her husband worked in the factory, Yetta worked on the farm and took boarders to supplement the family income. In fact, Yetta probably learned the practice of taking boarders from her parents, who owned an inn at that time, which was a destination for summer farm holidays, called the Sandy Run Inn, later known as Clifton House. Fifty years later, providing temporary housing became the core Korman family business.

In 1914, the initial leg of Roosevelt Boulevard from Broad Street opened to traffic right through the Korman’s Hamilton Farm. This road development would forever change Northeast Philadelphia and the Korman family business. By 1916, the boulevard from Broad Street extended all the way to Pennypack Circle, a 7.5-mile stretch from Center City.

Hyman, who always dreamt of being a businessman like his uncles, foresaw the continued expansion and development of Philadelphia in the Northeast along Roosevelt Boulevard and, in 1917, purchased Hamilton Farm from his in-laws, which became the first Korman land acquisition.

In 1919, Hyman started the Korman home-building business, completing his first single-family homes, building one or two at a time, gradually developing the land he owned near Lawndale. A year later, he left his job at the clothing factory to pursue his dream full-time. Later in 1921 and in 1922, Hyman built his first Northeast twin homes. 

Max joined his father’s business in 1924. From 1924-1925, in the vicinity of Martin’s Mill Road and Oakley Street, the father-and-son team built their first community development that included homes, apartment and stores.

When the younger son, Sam, joined the business in 1928, there was even more development with larger twin-style homes and singlefamily homes for a new middle class of shopkeepers, factory workers, teachers, city workers and professionals, who were buying their homes in an expanding Philadelphia.

In 1933, Hyman incorporated his business with his sons into Hyman Korman Inc. Between 1929 and 1934, the company built more than 500 homes. At that time, this was a very sizeable percentage of the total homes built in all of Philadelphia.

Prior to 1935, Hyman Korman Inc. specialized in single or twin homes, but in the decade that followed, Hyman and his sons branched out. They made their first attempt at a new form of housing – the row home. More than 6,000 row homes were built in the Castor Avenue district alone. The Castor Avenue development was a major expansion of the Korman’s innovation of the planned community, which included homes, apartments, stores and dedicated space for banks, a post office and libraries.

HKI also built its first apartment development, Leiper Street Apartments in 1938. Others soon followed at Oxford Court and Jefferson Court. This type of development became a prototype of what is now known as the garden-court apartments in Philadelphia. We also see in 1940, the start of the company’s first apartment complex, Apartment Center, which was fully completed in 1955.

Hyman passed away in 1970 at age 88. He is not only celebrated for being instrumental to the development of Northeastern Philadelphia, but for his philanthropic endeavors.

He was the founder of Temple Sholom Synagogue, where he built the Rabbi Benjamin Korman Memorial Chapel, on the site of the original Korman Farm. He sat on numerous boards, including the Federation of Jewish Agencies and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The Korman Research Building is part of the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. The Jewish Theological Seminary of America honored him with the Louis B. Marshall Award, which is presented to individuals who demonstrate the exemplary ethics and philanthropic commitment embodied by Marshall, an esteemed constitutional lawyer and former board chair of JTS.

Hyman was a trustee of Frankford Hospital, and from its inception in 1937, treasurer of the Home Builders Association of Philadelphia for 27 consecutive terms. Hyman Korman was a dedicated supporter of Jewish education. The Hyman Korman High School, which the Yeshiva named in his memory at the time of his death, is attended by the students of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia. While he had a special interest in Jewish education, he was truly ecumenical. He was a trustee of Nazareth Hospital, a Catholic institution, and he became one of the first Jewish bankers in Philadelphia as a trustee of Frankford Trust Company, a bank with Quaker roots.

HKI continued to grow as a major developer of planned communities in Philadelphia and the suburbs, constructing single and twin homes, apartments, stores and shopping centers. 1960 and 1961 were two of the most active years in the company’s history.

In 1960, they completed Green Ridge Farms, luxury single homes at Pine and County Line roads. It was recognized as a model suburban community. They also completed Brentwood Park in Bustleton. More than 600 homes in both developments took place. They also completed final plans for Parkwood Manor, the largest development ever started in Philadelphia by a single homebuilder. The following year, HKI astounded real estate brokers, builders, planners, bankers and the public, with more than 800 homes started in the ambitious new development. In 1962, Sam’s son, Steve, joined the family business and the third generation was welcomed with the formation of The Korman Company. That same year, the Korman Company developed the largest single-story, indoor-enclosed mall in the Northeast – Neshaminy Mall. By 1962, Korman Company was building 600 homes a year, and had completed 20,000 homes, including single or twin houses, row homes and apartments.

Between 1964 and 1966, Sam Korman developed The Plaza, a building unlike anything he had ever done at that point in time. It was a white marble, circular high-rise in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia. The building was beautiful and had a prime location, but the contemporary apartment design with pie-shaped floor plans was a challenge to lease.

Steve Korman commissioned several Philadelphia designers to each furnish one apartment on a floor in a unique way. After a man touring the property expressed interest in renting the apartment fully furnished, Steve realized there was a whole segment of people that weren’t being served, the people who needed accommodations for more than a week, but didn’t need a year’s lease. In 1966, Steve Korman launched the first furnished suite business in Philadelphia. Over the next 10 years, Korman Company expanded and enhanced this concept to a fully serviced furnished apartment with amenities, packages and housekeeping. Soon after the first 1966 furnished apartment rental, Steve began furnishing apartments in all the Korman properties, as well as renting for shorter terms of three months, and eventually a month at a time. The Kormans broke a barrier with this concept. Korman Company became the first company to own and operate fully furnished suites with flexible- stay leases and fully furnished apartments in the United States. Features that are considered apartment standards today, such as washer and dryers and wall-to-wall carpeting were innovations championed by Steve Korman in the 1970s. By the early 1980s, after building more than 40,000 homes, single family, duplex, row houses and apartments, Steve led the company’s residential division out of home building, and exclusively into the apartment and furnished suite business.

When Sam Korman passed away in 1996 at age 87, he was celebrated as a developer, community leader, philanthropist and talented golfer. A graduate of Drexel University’s architecture program, he was later bestowed an honorary doctorate. The university library also was renamed the Korman Center to honor him and his late brother, Max. Sam was a former member of the board of directors of Philadelphia National Bank, and was co-founder and former director of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. Sam served as a board member of various organizations, including Drexel Univer sity, United Way, Police Athletic League and Albert Einstein Medical Center. Like his father, Hyman, he was active in Jewish affairs, serving as a director of the Federation of Jewish Agencies, Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, American Friends of Hebrew University, American Technion Society and Jewish Theological Seminary of America. A golf enthusiast, Sam once considered making the sport his career. In the 1960s, he won the club championship at Ashbourne Country Club.

Steven’s oldest son, Larry, joined the company in operations in 1986, and his second son, Brad, in finance in 1987. His youngest son, Mark, joined later in 1994 as head of the commercial division. Larry made his first mark on The Korman Company by introducing the idea of synergy, the whole being more valuable and effective than the individual parts. Until then, all 23 Korman apartment communities operated independently of each other, each with their own operation standards and marketing identity. In 1987, all 23 properties became one brand, Korman Suites.

Steve Korman and his sons, Larry and Brad, formed Korman Communities in 1995. KCI was founded with the goal to expand and grow outside the local Philadelphia market, to encourage nonfamily members to take on leadership roles within the company, and to seek outside investors interested in innovation in the residential marketplace.

The new company started creating a new concept beginning in the mid to late 90s with properties like Malvern, Blue Bell and a property in Delaware called Brandywine Woods. They were spacious, modern, had great amenities and were located in suburban areas where people had business travel needs. KCI also bought a few similar properties in the south in Atlanta and Raleigh-Durham. Over the next few years, Korman Communities expanded in New Jersey and Pennsylvania with new styles of suburban apartment buildings, a mix of garden-style and mid-rise properties near corporate centers, with a central courtyard and pool and resort- like amenities. These buildings were operated 50% traditional apartments and 50% furnished suites. With these newer acquisitions located in strategic corporate centers, the furnished suite concept was expanded even more. In 1997, a historic building at 222 W. Rittenhouse Square was purchased in downtown Philadelphia. Once renovated and named Rittenhouse 222, a new concept was born, the first building that KCI operates as 100% furnished suites. This building would be the birth of the company’s next brand, later to be named AKA.

In 2004, Korman Communities expanded to New York City and started a luxury extended-stay residence with 95 fully furnished one-bedroom suites, ideally located in Midtown Manhattan near the United Nations. KCI engaged upcoming architect/designer Joan Pierpoline, whose flair for sophistication and insight into how design influences lifestyle, to create a new and refreshing contemporary space. United Nations represented a new approach to design, and a whole new look for Korman Communities. Soon thereafter Korman Communities acquired similar properties in prestigious locations: Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia; Sutton Place, Times Square and Central Park in New York; and the White House district in Washington, DC. With an emphasis on creating tranquil public spaces, like the Zen garden and café at the United Nations, and elegantly appointed living spaces with exquisite contemporary furnishings, Korman Communities began to attract discerning international travelers and a celebrity clientele that appreciated privacy, unobtrusive service, and quality of the urban oasis.
 

Larry Korman, now co-CEO with his brother Brad, invited Korman Communities leadership to his home for a big announcement.

It was a total surprise when he named three women to oversee the company’s three exciting new brands and the future of Korman Communities.

AKA, a portfolio of luxury serviced residences offering exceptional business, wellness, and lifestyle amenities in iconic, metro locations.

AVE, a collection of sophisticated garden-style and mid-rise apartment communities offering flexible-stay furnished apartments, luxury unfurnished apartments, and unparalleled amenity spaces in dynamic suburban cities.

ARK, the original portfolio of garden-style apartment communities nestled in key Philadelphia suburbs.

The challenging economy did not stop the Korman pioneering spirit. Instead, the innovators focused their attention to enhancing their amenities programs, raising a bar they already set so high. KCI partnered with well-respected architects and designers like Joan Pierpoline, Meyer Davis Studio and Edward Asfour and created four special spaces for its residents: a.lounge, a.cafe, a.fitness and a.kitchen. These unparalleled amenities to enhance the resident experience were a direct result of the Korman family tradition of listening to its residents’ needs and wants; and Larry Korman’s passion for design.

a.lounge at Sutton Place, designed by Meyer Davis Studio, artfully complements the property’s traditional warmth with numerous cozy seating areas, an open fireplace and a marble bar serving coffee in the morning and a curated selection of wine and cocktails in the evening.

a.fitness at AKA Central Park is the largest hotel workout facility per suite in New York City. It features state-ofthe-art Precor elliptical cross trainers, treadmills, cycles and climbers with Cardio Theater, as well as weighttraining equipment and a vertical Pilates machine. A panoramic video installation of flowing water and nature scenes by artist Monika Bravo, is projected across a 60-foot wall.

a.kitchen is a 48-seat restaurant designed by the award-winning NYC architect Edward Asfour at AKA Rittenhouse Square, serving European-style cuisine focusing on boldflavored, medium-sized plates designed for sharing.

a.café at AKA Central Park, designed by Joan Pierpoline and developed by David Fields in the fall of 2009, is a sophisticated and modernized take on a European-style café. The design is conceived around the idea of sculpted light – a changing program of colored light marks the different times of day and the shifting moods associated with time.

a.lounge at Central Park was also designed by Joan Pierpoline. The warmly lit and intimate space features relaxed seating areas, quiet nooks and two fireplaces. Experienced mixologists serve contemporary cocktails, and a carefully curated selection of natural wines, mico-brews and artisan spirits.

a.lounge at White House, also designed by Meyer Davis Studio, is inspired by a residential living room and is the ideal spot for coffee in the morning or a cocktail at the end of the day. 

Live Like a Local at AKA In 2009, AKA launches its “Live It!” program so residents can experience iconic destinations like a local. The brainchild of co-CEO Larry Korman, “Live It! by AKA” was designed to offer residents an opportunity to pursue their ambitions and dreams through curated experiences including aerial arts instruction at the Trapeze School of New York, private surfing lessons on the shores of Santa Monica, and dance workshops with world-class instructors at the Philadelphia Argentine Tango School.

In 2011, Korman Communities acquired and restored The Ben Franklin House, one of Philadelphia’s most historically significant buildings. It sits on the footprint of what was once the world’s most sensational hotel – The Continental Hotel. Opened in 1860, it was then the largest hotel in the United States, attracting prominent guests like Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Charles Dickens, King Edward VII, and most notable, president-elect Abraham Lincoln, who shouted his pre-inaugural speech from the balcony overlooking Chestnut Street in 1861. Towering over Washington Square, the six-story, 700-room hotel was designed by architect John McArthur Jr. (known for Philadelphia City Hall) and featured one of the nation’s first elevators and a grand stairway crafted of polished Italian marble. It was known to accommodate 1,200 guests on a busy evening. In the 1920s, it was demolished and replaced with The Ben Franklin Hotel, an 18-story, high-rise designed by Horace Trumbauer, architect of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “The Ben,” as Philadelphians affectionately call it, was the last great hotel built in Philadelphia before the Great Depression and the go-to choice for visiting dignitaries and upperclassmen. The Benjamin Franklin House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Today, The Franklin Residences boasts 412 luxury apartments and penthouses, state-of-the-art business and fitness spaces for its residents, a dramatic lobby and terrace, and Philly institutions The Ballroom at The Ben, Di Bruno Bros., Passero’s Coffee Roasters, and more.

In 2012, AKA became both a national and international brand with the opening of AKA Beverly Hills and AKA Marylebone in London. Only a few blocks from Rodeo Drive, AKA Beverly Hills caters to celebrities and affluent international travelers who desire a contemporary pied-à-terre in the Golden Triangle. Korman Communities partnered with LA-based Koning Eizenberg alongside Asfour Guzy Architects, to transform the former rental building into 88 stylish and fully furnished one- and two-bedroom suites and townhouses, a first for AKA.

Nestled between Hyde Park and Regents Park within London's vibrant West End, AKA Marylebone is ideal for astute business travelers, affluent international travelers, and entertainment industry insiders who are traveling for extended periods. Korman Communities transformed the historic 1920s property into nine contemporary AKA residences that embrace the integrity of the original architecture and the spirit of the neighborhood.

Steven Korman, founder of Korman Communities, has empowered his three sons to drive the family business into the next century. He is still very engaged with the business and serves as a constant inspiration to all who work at Korman Communities.
 
Steven’s philanthropic endeavors are many, but the cause he is most passionate about is feeding the hungry. He is an advisory board member for MANNA, a leader in evidence-based nutrition services, bringing together dietitians, chefs, drivers, and thousands of volunteers to cook and deliver nutritious, medically appropriate meals and provide nutrition counseling to neighbors who are battling life-threatening illnesses. In June 2008, following a $1.5 Million renovation, MANNA dedicated the Steven Korman Nutrition Center in honor of Steven. For the past 12 years, Steven’s closest family, friends, and Korman Communities team members join him by volunteering in the MANNA kitchen, known as the SHK Day of Caring, to honor his leadership and dedication to the organization.
 
Steven has always been an active member of the Philadelphia community, lending his time and leadership to numerous organizations. He has served on the Board of Trustees of Drexel University, the Bannett Transplant Institute, and the Multi-family Housing Council. He was President of The Technion Institute, and former Vice President of the Board of Directors for JYC. He has served as co-Chairman of the American Poetry Review, Chairman of the Duke University Library Advisory Board for 8 years, Chairman of PhilaPride, and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University for the past 20 years. Steven recently founded the Steven H. Korman Center for Community Engagement at the Institute of Emerging Health Professions at Jefferson University. 
 
In 2012, Temple University’s Fox School of Business honored Steven with its prestigious Musser Award. It is the school’s highest honor for outstanding achievement, leadership and commitment to the community by a distinguished member of business. On the evening he was honored, he surprised 20 Temple University sophomore students each with a scholarship.

AKA Enters NYC's Financial District

When Korman Communities opened their first downtown Manhattan property, AKA Wall Street, in 2015, they introduced the first luxury, all-residential hotel to New York City’s Financial District. AKA Wall Street’s 132 spacious suites and penthouses met the needs of a niche – NYC travelers in search of space and home conveniences, regardless of length of stay. Korman Communities commissioned Edward Asfour of Asfour Guzy Architects to create an urban oasis of modern design and efficiency within the Classic, English Baroque architecture of the 17-story, pre-existing building. Asfour preserved Howells & Stokes’ sculptured, 1907 façade of rusticated white marble, terra cotta, and brick while reconfiguring the interiors to accommodate expansive suites. Amenities include a spectacular rooftop with gracious outdoor space and terrace, a chic, glass-enclosed, four-season lounge, an outdoor cinema with magical views of 1 World Trade Center and the city as a backdrop, Technogym-equipped fitness center, and high-tech conference room.

AKA Grows Vertically in Philadelphia 

AKA celebrates the Grand Opening of AKA University City in 2016 – 268 brand new luxury hotel and apartment residences located on the top 18 floors of Brandywine Realty Trusts’ groundbreaking FMC Tower at Cira Centre South – Philadelphia’s First Vertical Neighborhood.

AKA’s signature sleek, contemporary design and robust lifestyle offerings are elevated to new heights – 730 feet to be exact, introducing unparalleled luxury accommodations to the city of Philadelphia. The hotel and furnished residences feature design elements imagined and executed by internationally renowned Italian architecture and design firm Lissoni Associati, evoking a streamlined sensibility of timeless elegance and sophistication united by the finest materials in the world.

In another first for Philadelphia, AKA University City boasts a 25,000 square-foot luxury lifestyle club also designed by Lissoni Associati and lead designer Nicoletta Canesi. Level 28 provides residents with exclusive, complimentary access to a mix of high-tech, high-touch offerings including a 72-foot, stainless steel aerial “pool in the sky,” a private lounge that opens onto a 5,000-square-foot terrace, a Technogym fitness center with yoga studio designed by Antonio Citterio, a 3-D, indoor golf simulator featuring some of the world’s most renowned courses, and private dining and conference spaces.

AVE Becomes Bicoastal

In 2017, the AVE brand enters the East Bay Area of San Francisco, taking over management of two vibrant rental communities in Emeryville and Walnut Creek, California. This is exciting growth for AVE, as it is now able to provide its furnished apartment offering to clients on the West Coast, who are craving the flexibility and inventory. Both locations are in dynamic downtown locations, within walking distance to restaurants, retail, and transit to San Francisco.

AVE Redefines the Rental Industry 

AVE partners with the Rockefeller Group on a ground-up construction in Florham Park, New Jersey. In 2017, the duo opens the doors to a brand new, rental community that is unprecedented in the industry. The state-of-the-art, mid-rise property boasts 256 furnished and luxury apartments featuring premium finishes and fixtures, over 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor resort and business amenity space, and a dedicated service team on site 24/7. The delivery serves a market’s decades of pent-up demand for comfortable, flexible housing for area corporations and luxury apartments for local discerning renters and downsizers. A year later, AVE opens the doors to a mid-rise, ground-up construction in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania boasting 274 furnished and luxury apartments, nearly 50,000 square feet of innovative business and resort amenity space, and a 24/7 service team. Its spectacular elevation at the corner of South Goddard and North Gulph roads is within walking distance of Suburban Philadelphia’s, award-winning, lifestyle center King of Prussia Town Center and down the street from the largest mall in America, King of Prussia Mall. This prime location at the junction of the region’s four main highways, just 20 miles from Philadelphia, provides flexible housing options for the area’s professionals and extended-stay visitors.

Legendary Living  

AKA announces the opening of AKA West Hollywood in 2017, bringing its fully furnished and exquisitely designed suite living to the legendary Sunset Strip. The property offers 110 beautifully appointed, furnished serviced residences in the heart of West Hollywood’s vibrant culture scene, catering to entertainment industry insiders and a discerning clientele. The eight-story tower was co-designed by the Los Angeles-based studios of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects. The sophisticated accommodations are comprised of spacious one- and two-bedroom suites, in addition to luxurious penthouse residences on the 8^th floor featuring endless views from Downtown LA to the Pacific Ocean. Residents are immersed in quintessential California living through its open-air retail plaza featuring flagships from Segal and KITH. Tesse Restaurant, led by acclaimed chefs Raphael Francois and Sally Camacho, offers a European-inspired menu to residents via an exclusive in-suite dining menu. Residents can also order from Boutellier’s curated selection of hard-to-find wines through the wine shop’s exclusive, on-demand “Suite Sommelier.” Fitness enthusiasts can head to Rumble Boxing, the latest evolution of group-inspired boxing classes, where residents receive exclusive perks on classes.

Meet the Makers  

In 2019, AKA launches “The Makers” to highlight the people behind the products and experiences that set the legendary hospitality brand apart from the most luxurious accommodations around the world. Meet the compelling chefs and restaurateurs at the helm of AKA's authentic dining establishments, the artisans behind its made-to-order furniture, the award-winning, craft distillers behind a.vod vodka, the local, vintners who produce a.vin, and the widely acclaimed filmmakers who produce the stories of a.film.

AKA Acquires its First Hotel 

In 2019, AKA debuts its first pure hotel and sixth New York City property, AKA Tribeca. Korman Communities acquires the Smyth Hotel at 85 Broadway, transforming it from a traditional hotel into a luxurious, residential-inspired, daily-stay hotel boasting 100 spacious guest rooms, state-of-the-art fitness center, brand-new, street-level lobby, and bar lounge. To achieve the right balance of relaxed elegance and grace to embrace the spirit of Tribeca and AKA, the Kormans commissioned famed residential interior designer Jennifer Post.

As our company celebrates the start of its second century, we reflect on the enduring legacy that brought us here. Our offerings have evolved and expanded, but our dedication to excellence, integrity, and hospitality persists. Today my brothers Bradley and Mark, my father Steven, and I extend our appreciation to the more than 500 team members who bring the spirit of our family to our residents to create a memorable stay, every time. We also extend our gratitude to the many who have made AKA’s residences their home away from home.

Our pioneering furnished apartment concepts were born from the recognition of our residents’ need for flexible living arrangements without sacrificing luxury. These innovations have grown to incorporate the best in cuisine, design, wellness, and technology in coveted metropolitan locations around the globe. By offering our thoughtfully designed living spaces for weeks, months, or even years, AKA recognizes the desire for people to feel more fully at home while exploring a new city.

AKA has remained a catalyst for evolution within the industry by thinking beyond four walls. We look forward to bringing new experiences to our residents, and doing our part to bring this enormous world a little closer. More than ever before, AKA pursues the ideal of a home away from home with a passion that will continue to define us for the next 100 years.

Larry Korman, President, AKA Hotel Residences