Five Generations. One Discipline
Since 1910, five generations of family leadership have shaped a company built on integrity, quality, and a commitment to lasting value.
The story isn’t that we’ve been here for more than a century.
The story is why.
For five generations, The Justus Companies has grown by making thoughtful decisions that stand the test of time. Every generation faced changing markets, economic uncertainty, and new opportunities—but the principles never changed.
We chose long-term value over short-term gains. We invested in quality when it mattered most. We adapted to meet tomorrow’s needs while remaining true to the commitments that built our reputation.
That’s the real story.
A Contractor in Indianapolis
Walter G. Justus founded The Justus Contracting Company in 1910 with a simple belief: build quality homes, earn the trust of every family, and stand behind every project personally.
He stayed close to the work, remained accountable to the people he served, and believed a company’s reputation was earned one project at a time. That commitment to quality, integrity, and responsibility became more than a business philosophy. It became the foundation of our culture. More than a century later, those same principles continue to guide every community we create.
The Post-War Pivot
As returning veterans fueled unprecedented demand for housing after World War II, many builders focused on building more. Justus focused on building better.
The company thoughtfully expanded into neighborhood development, creating communities that reflected careful planning and long-term value rather than rapid growth alone. That approach established a pattern that would define future generations: anticipate what communities need, invest with purpose, and build for lasting success.
The Move into Senior Living
In the 1960s, long before senior living became a major segment of the housing industry, Justus recognized an emerging demographic shift. The company expanded into independent senior living, later adding assisted living and continuing care communities designed around dignity, connection, and quality of life. Many of those communities served residents for more than sixty years.
As the needs and preferences of older adults have evolved, so has our approach. Today, we continue that legacy by developing active adult (55+) communities that emphasize independence, wellness, and meaningful connection.
INTEGRATION BECOMES OUR ADVANTAGE
Over time, one lesson became increasingly clear: communities perform better when development, construction, and operations work together from the very beginning.
Rather than operating as separate businesses, Justus intentionally integrated these disciplines into a single team. Property managers help shape design decisions. Construction professionals contribute practical insights. Operational experience influences future development. If you’re going to own and operate what you build for decades, you design and construct it differently. That integrated approach remains one of the defining strengths of The Justus Companies today.
Designed for Tomorrow
Every generation of Justus leadership has inherited more than a company. They have inherited a responsibility to leave it stronger than they found it. Today, that same long-term mindset guides everything we do, from active adult communities and multifamily housing to commercial developments and strategic partnerships. While our projects have evolved, our purpose has remained remarkably consistent: create places where people can live, work, and connect for generations to come.
For more than 115 years, we’ve been building communities with tomorrow in mind—and we’re just getting started.
Five generations. One purpose.
We’ve always believed that the best communities are thoughtfully developed, carefully constructed, responsibly operated, and designed to endure.
Today, that philosophy continues under the leadership of Walt Justus, our fourth-generation President, while his daughter, Jillian Justus-Foran, and her husband represent the family’s fifth generation. Together, they carry forward a legacy built on quality, integrity, and long-term stewardship, ensuring the values established in 1910 continue to shape the company’s future.
Where we are today
Today, The Justus Companies operates across central Indiana and Kansas City, with more than 32,000 homes and apartments built and roughly 3,000 residents currently calling a Justus community home.
Development, construction, and property management still sit at the same table, the way they have for five generations. That structure lets us keep investing in the things that matter after a ribbon-cutting: updated technology, hospitality standards, and the day-to-day service that keeps a community strong for decades.
The Generation Leading Today
Meet the people carrying Walter Justus’s standards forward, and see what they’re building next.