See Y. Wong began his career in real estate in 1987, founding Richland Realty in 1988 as its President and Managing Broker. Under his direction, Richland Realty has grown to become the premier real estate brokerage serving Chicago’s Chinatown, South Loop, Bridgeport and McKinley Park neighborhoods.

In 1997 Mr. Wong took on his greatest challenge, acquiring Chinatown’s troubled 500-unit residential development, Sante Fe Gardens. With his strong vision and exceptional marketing skills, he turned it into the most successful Asian-led community development venture in the United States. Mr. Wong overcame a staggering array of obstacles to accomplish this feat, including a struggling housing market, soil contamination, the neighborhood’s economic uncertainties, and even rumors about bad “Feng Shui.”

Since 2006 Mr. Wong’s focus has turned to commercial and mixed-use developments. He founded Wabash Properties and Emerald homes and is president and C.E.O of both companies.
His recent projects include:

• Archer Court (30 Town home Units) as developer
• Canal Crossing (60 units retail + residential condos) as developer
• Emerald Crossing (25 residential condominiums) as developer
• 1349 South Wabash (80 units retail + residential condos) as developer
• Hotel De Supreme in Dongguan, China (300 rooms + 500,000 sq. ft. retail, office, and entertainment complex) as developer

Mr. Wong also plans to develop Millennium East Plaza, a 200,000 sq. ft. retail, wholesale, and office development at 18th and Canal, and Grand Imperial Hotel Plaza, the very first hotel condominium in Chinatown, with 15 stories and 175 rooms.

Mr. Wong is a recipient of the Illinois Governor George Ryan Award for Leadership in Business and Economic Development for his work in connecting the Illinois and Hong Kong communities. In addition, Mr. Wong co-founded American Metro Bank, serving as Chairman from 1997 to 1999, and actively serving on the Executive Board today. Despite his busy schedule, Mr. Wong makes time to enjoy the game of golf, and is founder of Chicago Chinese Golf Association. He is motivated by his love for the game, and sees golf as a means of social and business networking. More important, he says, is that “playing golf is a good way to have a better quality of life in a healthy environment.”