In 2007, Jacob Sacks and James Wiseman established Cayuga Capital Management (CCM) with the intention of building a real estate firm centered on long-term planning and dependable development practices. Based in New York City, the company focuses much of its work in Brooklyn and Texas, managing everything from property acquisitions and redevelopment to construction oversight and ongoing operations. From the start, CCM has directed its efforts toward creating practical, community-supportive spaces that offer housing, retail options, recreational opportunities, and gathering areas.
Over the years, Brooklyn has been central to the firm’s progress. Cayuga Capital has developed more than 350 apartment units and nearly 450,000 square feet of commercial space, achievements that have positioned the company as one of Williamsburg’s most prominent commercial developers and one of Bushwick’s major residential operators. As these neighborhoods have shifted from their historically industrial roots to more diversified, mixed-use districts, CCM has consistently contributed through projects that meet growing local needs.
One of the company’s most prominent efforts involved its redevelopment work for Vital Climbing Gym, a California-based fitness operator. Cayuga Capital purchased a warehouse at 1 Nassau Avenue in 2017. Situated near McCarren Park at the line between Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the century-old industrial building offered ample opportunity for adaptive reuse. CCM identified it as a value-add project and redesigned the space to suit a specialized fitness tenant. The result was approximately 46,000 square feet of climbing walls, fitness amenities, and social areas. When the building was sold in 2023 for $43.3 million—at that time the highest price ever paid for a standalone climbing facility—it showed how older industrial structures can be successfully repurposed to support new forms of activity.
In Bushwick, Cayuga Capital played a role in early commercial development by converting two aging 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 intended for a restaurant or nightlife venue. This redevelopment helped establish more consistent retail activity in an area that was beginning to attract new residents and small businesses.
Another Bushwick project involved the redevelopment of a 27,000-square-foot property that included a historic church, a former middle school, and adjacent vacant land. CCM transformed the combined site into a 99-unit residential complex while maintaining significant architectural elements of the church. Completed in 2017, the resulting 90,000-square-foot development blended preserved features with updated residential layouts designed for modern living.
In Williamsburg, the firm completed the redevelopment of the Lewis Steel Building, a 100,000sf steel factory originally built in the 1930s. Located at 76 North 4th Street and spanning the block from Berry to Wythe Streets, the site was converted into 83 loft-style apartments and 20,000sf of retail space. The project stands as one of the area’s notable industrial-to-residential conversions.
Cayuga Capital has also extended its investments into Texas, focusing on the Dallas–Fort Worth region. The company sees strong long-term growth in the state. It has invested in pickleball facilities, data centers, daycare centers, and other commercial developments designed to support daily activity and complement surrounding neighborhoods.
The firm’s direction is rooted in the combined experience of its two founders. Jacob and Jamie 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 establishing CCM, he served as Vice President at U.S. Realty Advisors, LLC, overseeing $3 billion in assets, and previously held roles in investment banking at ING Barings’ Transportation & Logistics Corporate Finance Group. He earned his B.A. in Economics and his Master of Engineering in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Cornell University.
Jamie serves as general counsel and principal, drawing on more than two decades of experience in acquiring, developing, and operating real estate in New York and Texas. He manages development and construction efforts while sharing responsibility for acquisitions and investment planning. Before co-founding the firm, he served as Associate General Counsel at Strategic Value Partners, overseeing legal and operational processes for more than $1 billion in global acquisitions. Earlier in his career, he practiced law 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.
