Kaye of Gotham Org. is leading development of Manhattan's most anticipated new rental building

Gotham Organization's Jeffrey Kaye has nearly 20 years of real estate experience. Although an architect by training, Kaye's expertise encompasses virtually every aspect of real estate, from land acquisition, finance, and construction to development, project management, and marketing. Kaye began his career in the mid-1990s at Perkins Eastman Architects, one of New York City's largest architectural firms. He started as a project manager and quickly worked his way up to senior associate, managing multiple projects valued in excess of 500 million dollars. In 2004, he moved to Anbau Enterprises, Inc., a boutique development company known for its high-end residential projects, where he managed all aspects of the development process, from acquiring land, overseeing designs, selecting contractors and sourcing financing, to marketing and delivering the apartments. In under a year he was promoted from manager to managing director thanks to his success with Harsen House and 110 Central Park South, two high-profile projects which sold out prior to completing construction. In 2008, Kaye left Anbau to found Sterling Kaye Development, Inc., a real estate company with a focus on situational development as well as distressed investment opportunities throughout Manhattan. Today, in his position as vice president of development for Gotham, a fourth-generation New York City real estate and construction firm, with portfolio operations of over 1.7 million s/f of residential and retail properties, Kaye manages existing projects and cultivates new development opportunities. "He is extraordinarily well-rounded and has used his extensive background to prove himself as a leader," said David Picket, president, Gotham Organization, Inc. He is currently leading the development of Manhattan's most anticipated new luxury rental building known as The Corner at 200 West. Gotham's most high-profile project to date, The Corner at 200 West is a 20-story rental tower at the intersection of 72nd St. and Broadway that is slated to open in early 2010. He is managing all aspects of the development process for The Corner and spearheading design and marketing. The building, which is situated in the heart of the Upper West Side, has 50,000 s/f of prime retail space, 196 sophisticated apartments and a fully-loaded amenity package that includes a 10,000 s/f roof deck with barbeque area, bar, sundeck, movie theatre screen, fireplace with seating for 15 people and a 12-foot-long mist wall. "The Corner at 200 West is a rental product like no other in this city," said Kaye. "The property is far more comparable to a very high-end condominium, from the distinctly crafted bathrooms to the high-end appliance package in the custom-designed open kitchens." All apartments come replete with their own Bosch washer and dryer, while the three bedroom residences boast recessed personal safes and powder rooms. The project - which costs in excess of $200 million - is designed to meet Silver LEED standards as set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Low E insulated glass that was used to construct the exterior envelope of the building has extremely low reflectivity and limits the loss of energy. Each home is completely isolated and pressure sealed from adjacent units and public corridors to prevent drafts and energy leaks in the apartments. Also, Energy Star appliances and plumbing fixtures were installed in the apartments that provide water savings at 20% below the EP Act of 1992 baseline. These are just a few of the green features. In a development environment that is seeing countless projects left half completed or unable to even break ground, Gotham was able to secure attractive financing to develop a new rental building that will set the bar for excellence in multifamily living on the Upper West Side. Gotham plans to open its leasing office for The Corner at 200 West early next year. In these most challenging times, two-thirds of the retail space is pre-leased, with only one remaining space that will offer fantastic visibility to a potential retailer. "While the residential component of The Corner at 200 West could have been a condominium," said Kaye, "we elected to make it a defining rental environment instead." At the time, this was a fairly radical idea, but prescient in retrospect. "The rotational turn of the real estate climate from 2006 to 2009 has seen increased condo inventory with outsized unit square footages struggling to convert to successful rentals," said Kaye. "With The Corner at 200 West being originally conceived and designed as a rental building, Gotham will be in a far better market position than those who now have to convert, re-configure, and re-identify themselves as rental development." Kaye has leveraged his experience sourcing deals and executing development plans to help position Gotham to continue to enjoy its status as one of New York City's premier real estate developers. His breadth of experience combined with Gotham's unique triple platform - real estate construction, development, and management - has given him the ability to help Gotham prosper in this down market. As he has demonstrated with Gotham's newest project, The Corner at 200 West, Kaye has the ability to find high-quality projects, secure financing, and execute successful marketing strategies despite a punishing real estate environment. "In a time where there is zero room for error, Kaye has proven himself proficient and efficient with his access to capital and ability to execute on a large scale," said Picket. Further setting Kaye apart is his specialized knowledge of distressed properties and his expertise in solving difficult situations that lenders and other developers are finding themselves in. To that end, he helped to launch a distressed property business arm for Gotham and has many residential and commercial development deals that are under consideration, ranging from 100,000 s/f to in excess of 1 million s/f. Outside of work, Kaye and his wife Jennifer are supporters and members of various charities including Tomorrow's Children Institute, which is dedicated to the treatment and care of children with cancer, the American Cancer Society, and the Make a Wish Foundation. Kaye graduated from Lehigh University with a degree in Architecture in 1995. An active member of REBNY and ULI, he currently resides in Deal, N.J. with his wife and daughter Charlotte.