Cayuga Capital Management

Cayuga Capital Management (CCM) began its work in 2007, when Jacob Sacks and James Wiseman came together to build a real estate firm focused on patient growth and steady development practices. Based in New York City, the company focuses most of its efforts on Brooklyn and Texas. Its work includes property acquisitions, planning and execution of redevelopment, construction oversight, and long-term operational management. From its early days, CCM has aimed to develop properties that serve everyday use residential buildings, commercial spaces, and places that support activity and gathering within local communities. Brooklyn has been a central part of the firm’s operations for over a decade. During this time, Cayuga Capital has completed more than 350 apartment units and nearly 450,000 square feet of commercial space. These achievements have made CCM one of the major commercial developers in Williamsburg and a key residential operator in Bushwick. As these neighborhoods have moved from industrial origins toward more varied, mixed-use settings, the company has been involved in projects that guide that transition in a practical, community-minded way. A significant example of the firm’s adaptive reuse approach is its redevelopment work for Vital Climbing Gym, a fitness company founded in California. In 2017, Cayuga Capital acquired a warehouse at 1 Nassau Avenue, located at the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint near McCarren Park. The structure, more than a century old, offered a strong foundation for a new use. CCM recognized the opportunity to reposition the property and transformed it into approximately 46,000 square feet of climbing walls, fitness areas, and social space. When the property was sold in 2023 for $43.3 million, at that time the highest price ever paid for a standalone climbing facility, it demonstrated how a well-executed redevelopment can reveal new value in older buildings. In Bushwick, CCM contributed to early commercial activity by redeveloping two factory buildings at 22–28 Wyckoff Avenue into a 10,000-square-foot retail center. The project introduced an organic grocery store, a boutique wine shop, and a flexible space designed for restaurant or nightlife use. This redevelopment helped build momentum in a neighborhood that was beginning to attract new residents and see increased foot traffic. Another Bushwick project involved the redevelopment of a 27,000-square-foot site consisting of a historic church, a former middle school, and adjacent vacant land. Cayuga Capital transformed the combined property into a 99-unit residential complex while preserving the church's key architectural elements. Completed in 2017, the overall project covered 90,000 square feet and integrated historic preservation with modern residential layouts. The firm also completed the redevelopment of the Lewis Steel Building in Williamsburg, a 100,000sf steel factory constructed in the 1930s. Located at 76 North 4th Street and extending from Berry to Wythe Streets, the project resulted in 83 loft-style apartments and 20,000sf of retail space. The building remains a prominent example of industrial-to-residential conversion in the area. Beyond Brooklyn, Cayuga Capital has extended its work into the Dallas–Fort Worth region of Texas. The company believes in the state’s long-term growth outlook. It has invested in projects such as pickleball facilities, data centers, daycare centers, and various commercial developments intended to support daily community needs. Guiding the firm are its co-founders, who first met in college and later pursued careers in investment banking, private equity, and law. Jacob brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate investment, development, and operations. Before forming CCM, he served as Vice President at U.S. Realty Advisors, LLC, overseeing $3 billion in assets, and previously worked in investment banking at ING Barings’ Transportation & Logistics Corporate Finance Group. He earned a B.A. in Economics and a Master of Engineering in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Cornell University. Jamie serves as general counsel and principal, bringing more than two decades of experience in acquiring, developing, and operating real estate in New York and Texas. He leads development and construction efforts and shares responsibility for acquisitions and investment planning. Before co-founding CCM, he worked as an Associate General Counsel at Strategic Value Partners, managing legal and operational matters for more than $1 billion in global acquisitions. His earlier legal experience includes roles at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Jamie holds a B.A. in Economics and Psychology and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Cornell University, where he was recognized as a John M. Olin Scholar in Law and Economics.