Navigating New York's Complex Real Estate Landscape Requires Political Acumen and Community Engagement

Eldad Gothelf, Senior Vice President of Real Estate at Kasirer, emphasizes that successful real estate development in New York City requires navigating complex political and community dynamics. With a Master's in Urban Planning from Columbia University, Gothelf brings technical expertise in zoning and land use to his role, where he leads a team of 10 policy experts helping clients across the real estate industry.

Gothelf describes his work as balancing technical understanding with political acumen and emotional intelligence. Day-to-day activities include client conversations, internal strategy sessions, and on-the-ground site visits to understand how projects fit into neighborhood fabric. The physical aspect of visiting sites and walking surrounding blocks is crucial for developing effective strategies that align with community needs.

The Metro-North rezoning in the Bronx stands out as a particularly meaningful project for Gothelf. Working with client Himmel + Meringoff Properties, the team collaborated with the City, elected officials, and community stakeholders to advance priorities around housing, affordability, and equitable growth while ensuring project viability. This project demonstrated the importance of balancing public interest with private investment in New York's development landscape.

Gothelf addresses the often-negative perception of lobbyists, explaining that his role involves acting as a translator between developers who understand construction and elected officials and community members focused on neighborhood support and civic goals. This translation work helps align priorities so projects deliver value for multiple stakeholders rather than serving only developer interests.

The City of Yes initiative represents a significant development in New York's approach to housing. Gothelf notes that while zoning reform alone won't complete projects, the clearer framework for conversions and adaptive reuse provides developers and investors with more confidence to pursue opportunities that previously seemed too risky. The initiative modernizes zoning rules to make building new housing and converting underused buildings easier, though projects must still make financial sense and earn community support.

Looking ahead, Gothelf believes New York must embrace growth through more housing, better infrastructure, and development that reflects the city's values. This requires honest conversations about tradeoffs and managing neighborhood changes through trust, transparency, and shared responsibility. The city's high demand presents an opportunity to create vibrant, inclusive communities if stakeholders can navigate the complex intersection of real estate and politics effectively.