Cayuga Capital Management

Cayuga Capital Management

Real Estate Development and Management

Cayuga Capital Management (CCM) was founded in 2007 by Jacob Sacks and James Wiseman, who chose to build a real estate development and management firm rooted in New York City. Their earliest work focused on Brooklyn's growing neighborhoods, where aging buildings, shifting demographics, and new business activity created a need for thoughtful redevelopment. Over time, their work expanded to include projects in Texas as well.

From the start, the partners saw value in combining development, renovation, and long-term operations. Their efforts range from acquiring properties to managing construction and overseeing mixed-use projects. They approach each project with the intention of contributing to the surrounding community by adding housing, retail, and spaces that support daily life.

Development Across Brooklyn

Over the past decade, Cayuga Capital has become a familiar presence in several Brooklyn neighborhoods. The firm has completed over 350 apartment units and nearly 450,000 square feet of commercial space. Through this work, CCM has grown into one of Williamsburg’s major commercial developers and a leading residential operator in Bushwick.

These projects reflect ongoing changes in Brooklyn’s real estate environment and the need for developments that combine housing, shops, and practical services.

Warehouses Reimagined: The Vital Climbing Gym Project

One of CCM’s most notable Brooklyn transformations involved repurposing a century-old warehouse near McCarren Park. The building at 1 Nassau Avenue, along the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, had long served industrial purposes before Cayuga Capital acquired it in 2017.

Recognizing a potential new use for the building, the firm secured a long-term lease with Vital Climbing Gym, a California-based fitness chain. The warehouse was converted into roughly 46,000 square feet of climbing areas, fitness facilities, and social space. The project demonstrated how older structures can be adapted to meet current residents' needs while preserving the original building's character.

CCM’s strategy aligned well with the changing market. The property was sold in 2023 for $43.3 million, setting a record as the highest sale price for a standalone climbing facility at the time. The project remains an example of how adaptive reuse, paired with the right tenant, can bring new value to older assets.

Factory Buildings in Bushwick Converted into Retail

Cayuga Capital also contributed to Bushwick as the neighborhood experienced early stages of revitalization. At 22–28 Wyckoff Avenue, near Troutman Street, the firm redeveloped two older factory buildings into a 10,000-square-foot retail project.

The completed space introduced some of the area’s earliest higher-end retail offerings, including an organic grocery store, a boutique wine shop, and space for a restaurant or nightlife tenant. These additions helped bring new activity to the area and provided the community with new places to shop and gather.

Additional Redevelopment and Residential Projects

Another Bushwick project involved converting a 27,000-square-foot property, including a historic church, a former middle school, and an adjacent lot, into a 99-unit residential development. Completed in 2017, the 90,000-square-foot project maintained key features of the church’s original architecture while adding modern apartments suited to current residential needs.

In Williamsburg, CCM redeveloped the 100,000sf Lewis Steel Building, a former 1930s steel factory. Today, it includes 83 apartments and 20,000sf of retail space. Located at 76 North 4th Street, the property spans the block between Berry and Wythe Streets. The project reflects the firm’s ability to balance adaptive reuse with modern commercial and residential design.

Expansion Into Texas

As part of a broader strategy, Cayuga Capital expanded its work into the Dallas–Fort Worth region. The partners believe Texas will continue to see long-term population and economic growth, making it a strong market for new investment.

The firm’s Texas projects include pickleball facilities, data center properties, daycare centers, and other commercial uses. These developments are planned to support consistent activity, generate foot traffic, and help strengthen surrounding retail and residential areas.

Background of the Co-founders

Jacob and Jamie first met during college and later reconnected professionally in New York City. Before starting CCM, each gained experience in investment banking, private equity, and law, which provided the foundation for the firm’s approach.

Jacob brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate investment and development. Before founding the firm, he served as Vice President at U.S. Realty Advisors, LLC, where he managed $3 billion in assets. Earlier, he worked at ING Barings in the Transportation & Logistics Corporate Finance Group on transactions involving debt and equity issuances, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions. His academic background includes a B.A. in Economics and a Master of Engineering in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Cornell University.

Jamie serves as CCM’s general counsel and principal. With more than two decades of experience in real estate in both New York and Texas, he oversees development and construction and shares responsibility for acquisitions and investment planning. Before forming CCM, he served as Associate General Counsel at Strategic Value Partners, supporting over $1 billion in global acquisitions. Earlier in his career, he practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He earned a B.A. in Economics and Psychology and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Cornell University, where he was a John M. Olin Scholar in Law and Economics.

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