Capalino + Company - Government & Community Relations Advocates

Cityscape

Services

Real Estate Advisory

Capalino+Company has an impeccable track record in working with real estate development firms to ensure their project’s success. Services in this sector include:

Since 1981, Capalino+Company has advised many of the largest real estate development sponsors in the City including the developers of Riverside South, MetroTech and Moynihan Station in addition to countless small and mid-size projects.

For as-of-right projects, our focus is to accelerate a project’s implementation timetable by expediting the myriad of municipal regulatory approvals and permits before construction commences and then during construction, leading to temporary and permanent certificates of occupancy.

Larger scale commercial or residential projects usually require significant pre-development support in preparation for the City Charter mandated Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) and environmental review mandated by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Working in close consultation with a sponsor’s project planner, architect and land use counsel, we frequently assume a project coordination role by blending the various disciplines on the project sponsor’s team to achieve a comprehensive approval strategy and timetable. Through years of experience of working with the Department of City Planning and its borough offices, we understand the requirements of the review process prior to certification of a zoning or special permit application, and how to marshal the internal and external resources to reduce review timeframes.

Our technical advice on land use issues and procedures is complemented during each engagement by creating a community relations strategy to ensure favorable recommendations and determinations by community boards, borough presidents, the City Planning Commission and the City Council. In addition, we frequently assist clients in evaluating asset management and value creation strategies, particularly when opportunities to pursue higher and better uses are available. In the environmental regulatory arena, we keep our clients abreast of new policies and regulations and how they may impact economic return.

Acquisition & Lease StrategyAcquiring a site or securing a lease for a city or state-owned property can be complicated as a result of the numerous agency and governmental reviews and approvals required by law.

Capalino+Company works with its clients to secure these approvals by helping the Client understand the various policy requirements and managing the approval process. In many cases, our firm will help the Client negotiate better terms or resolve outstanding issues in the acquisition or lease.

Land Use AnalysisMaximizing the economic value of any property is the key to a real estate developers success. Understanding the zoning, policy and political climate of any land use matter is vitally important in making decisions that provide a significant economic return and reduce investor risk.

Our team combines decade’s worth of real estate experience with a strong understanding of how to maximize a real estate investment. Capalino+Company works with its Clients to identify the risks and potential of real estate transactions including helping Clients understand the underlying zoning and the political climate surrounding a change in use, and providing creative solutions to complex situations.

RFP ResponsesThe New York City government issues hundreds of Request for Proposals (“RFPs”) every year through its many agencies and quasi-agencies. A significant portion of these RFPs are for real estate and economic development projects. Over time, the issuance of RFPs is continuing to become more important as a source for the City to increase revenue by selling or leasing property. The competitive nature of the process and the resulting transparency has created a more challenging environment for companies that wish to do business with the City, and has created a continually increasing quality standard for those firms and a more level playing field.

The firm has many years of experience both preparing RFPs and responding to them. Capalino+Company alerts its clients to the issuance of RFPs – often in advance – and walks them through a detailed process that usually results in a winning response. The actual writing and production of Responses is handled by Capalino+Company, allowing Clients to focus on their core business.

Subsidies/IncentivesThe State and City of New York provide billions of dollars to‘incentivize’ development, such as zoning bonuses and tax incentives.

Capalino+Company advises its Clients on obtaining these incentives by representing Clients before Federal, State and Local governments and the appropriate agencies. We will work with our Client to help identify the various government programs available to them, help compose a proposal and presentation that properly identifies the reasoning for these incentives and advocates on behalf of the Client before government agencies to ensure the maximum amount of benefit.

Tenant/Landlord StrategyCapalino+Company services in this sector are twofold. First, we provide strategic advice to Clients on tenant strategy, particularly when landlords are seeking major institutional tenants such as a cultural institutions or an educational institution. Second, Capalino+Company advises Clients on resolving issues with current residents by acting as a mediator to resolve tenant/landlord issues.

ULURPIn order to effectuate a major zoning change in the City of New York, an applicant must go through the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP). ULURP is a complicated process that requires an applicant to secure approval by the Department of City Planning and the New York City Council with advisory opinions provided by the local Community Board and the Borough President.

Capalino+Company has a successful track recording in helping Clients manage each step of the ULURP process from initial certification by the Department of City Planning through the ultimate approval by the New York City Council. Our Clients have included both applicants for their own individual rezonings as well as Clients affected by major City rezonings such as the recent Hudson Yards and Williamsburg-Greenpoint rezonings.

Zoning: Variances & Special Permits Among its many duties, the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) is given the power to grant special permits and zoning variances in several sections, such as when the Department of Buildings denies a construction permit for zoning purposes. In general, the BSA will rule in favor of the applicant if approval is given for the application by the local community and the applicant can demonstrate that it meets a specific “hardship” test regarding on the property.

Capalino+Company represent its clients throughout the entire variance and special permit approval process. This includes composing the case statement for the BSA and working the BSA and the local community board to maximize the likelihood for approval.