Tag Archives: James Stuckey

Real Estate

James Stuckey | Thoughts on Strategic Litigation

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James Stuckey, former President of the New York City Public Development Corp., explains that once a real estate development idea is brought to the table, there are other obstacles to overcome.

According to James Stuckey, while the first step in any real estate project is to shape the idea, the next step is to develop a strategy to respond to those individuals who may bring lawsuits, why, and what can be done to ensure they are not successful. In the real estate realm, says James Stuckey, winning the lawsuits are the penultimate land use approvals.

James Stuckey points out that few members of the public, and an even smaller number of “decision-makers,” understand what the information in a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) tells them; and, those that do are given unreasonably short periods of time to analyze and respond to the data. According to James Stuckey, Environment Impact Statements and the EIS process have really become a tool to litigate, delay or stop a development. Unfortunately, laments James Stuckey, almost no one pays attention to the environmental impacts that are disclosed; and, in some instances, because some impacts can’t be mitigated, all that’s required is disclosure.  This is true for all land use approvals, as virtually any decision made by a public official or public body is subject to challenge in court, notes James Stuckey.

Other factors that may impact the pre-development phase, says James Stuckey, are blogs, the Internet, and instant access to information (including false information that project opponents or competitors can “create” on the web), and these have changed litigation strategies. There have also been instances where regions, states and municipalities have used litigation to block projects, steal or retain corporate tenants, and leverage infrastructure improvements, maintains James Stuckey.

During his three-decade long career, James Stuckey has seen countless lawsuits. For instance, there were dozens of suits initiated over the course of twenty years to litigate against and stop the Times Square Redevelopment. Lawsuits can focus on issues such as land use claims and environmental issues to eminent domain and first amendment rights, according to James Stuckey.

Nearly any person or group of people can bring a lawsuit to try to block a specific development, notes James Stuckey. Before Hamilton Plaza, a project in the Gowanus section of Brooklyn, a group of local merchants brought a federal suit that tried to block the addition of a large supermarket to the neighborhood.

A developer must wear many hats before he can get down to business, says James Stuckey. He must endeavor to foresee all issues that may arise, determine the best course of action to circumvent these issues, and make a convincing case as to why the proposed development should be allowed to proceed, concludes James Stuckey.

James Stuckey is not only a hands-on real estate developer; he is also an educator who has served as the Dean of the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate.

 

Real Estate

James P. Stuckey says Atlantic Yards is Long Overdue

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James P. Stuckey, one of the original initiators of the Atlantic Yards project, says this massive development is bringing more than just jobs to the area; it will give a fresh face to New York City. James P. Stuckey says that the project currently employs over 650 workers. More than two thirds of these are New York City residents, adds James P. Stuckey, with nearly 200 coming from the surrounding community of Brooklyn.

According to James P. Stuckey, the project is providing far more than just temporary employment. The $4.9 billion development will include a combination of retail, office, and residential space along with several community facilities, reports James P. Stuckey. When all is said and done, it is estimated that new job creation will be in the thousands, points out James P. Stuckey.

Once completed, Atlantic Yards will be the epicenter of sports and entertainment, according to James P. Stuckey. He says that the development’s 850,000 square foot arena, the Barclays Center, will be the new home of the professional basketball team currently known as the New Jersey Nets. In addition to sports, James P. Stuckey also reports that the arena will host a number of events including concerts and family entertainment.

As the project progresses, James P. Stuckey is confident that the Atlantic Yards development will bring with it a sense of community pride of which the city can be proud. The area, he says, deserves revitalization and James P. Stuckey believes that project will benefit Brooklyn, as well as all of New York City, for years to come.
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A real estate developer for over three decades, James P. Stuckey is CEO of the green and sustainable development firm, Verdant Properties, LLC®. James P. Stuckey has served the people of New York City as President of the New York City Public Design Commission and as the divisional Dean and Clinical Professor at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, among others. James P. Stuckey pioneered NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate’s post-catastrophe learning program. During Mayor Edward I. Koch’s administration, James P. Stuckey oversaw or participated in the development of many projects that continue to impact the city today. These included the development of the Citibank Center, the Astoria Motion Picture Studio, and the Staten Island Corporate Parks.

James P. Stuckey has held memberships in the Urban Land Institute, the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives, the New York City Transit Museum, the Young Presidents Organization, and has served as a Chairman for the Center Against Domestic Violence. Holding two masters degrees from St. John’s University and St. Joseph’s Seminary Institute for Religious Studies, James P. Stuckey often lectures at Harvard, Columbia, and St. John’s University. James P. Stuckey is also a gifted musician with proficiency in 10 different instruments. He lives in Florida with his wife and family.