Cayuga Capital Management (CCM) was founded in 2007 by Jacob Sacks and James Wiseman, who decided to form a real estate development and management firm grounded in steady, long-term work. Based in New York City, the company focuses on projects in Brooklyn and Texas, acquiring properties, developing them, overseeing operations, and undertaking both renovations and new construction. The partners have aimed to support neighborhoods by creating housing, retail spaces, fitness facilities, and other places that serve day-to-day needs. Their philosophy has been to match real estate decisions with thoughtful growth rather than short-term trends.
The firm has established a strong track record in Brooklyn. Over the past decade, CCM has developed more than 350 apartment units and nearly 450,000 square feet of commercial property. Through this continued effort, Cayuga Capital has become one of Williamsburg’s most prominent commercial developers and a major residential operator in Bushwick. Its projects have played a role in the evolution of both neighborhoods as they transitioned from older industrial corridors into mixed-use communities.
One of CCM’s notable projects involved partnering with Vital Climbing Gym, a California-based fitness and climbing operator. Cayuga Capital acquired a warehouse at 1 Nassau Avenue in 2017, located near McCarren Park along the line between Williamsburg and Greenpoint. The warehouse was a century-old industrial structure that offered substantial potential for adaptive reuse. CCM repositioned the property to attract a high-performance fitness tenant, ultimately converting it into about 46,000 square feet of climbing space, fitness areas, and social sections. The building was sold in 2023 for $43.3 million, marking the highest price at the time for a standalone climbing facility and demonstrating how a reimagined industrial asset could reach a new level of value.
In Bushwick, the firm contributed to early revitalization efforts by turning two older factory buildings at 22–28 Wyckoff Avenue into a 10,000-square-foot retail center. The development introduced an organic grocery store, a boutique wine shop, and a space suited for a restaurant or nightlife tenant. These additions helped attract more foot traffic and supported the growing commercial landscape in that part of the neighborhood.
Cayuga Capital also redeveloped a 27,000-square-foot site that included a historic church, a former middle school, and adjacent vacant land. The result was a 99-unit residential complex that preserved core elements of the church’s original architecture. Completed in 2017, the 90,000-square-foot project combined historic preservation with updated residential development.
In Williamsburg, the firm planned and redeveloped the Lewis Steel Building, a 100,000sf former steel factory from the 1930s. The project resulted in 83 loft apartments and 20,000sf of retail space. Located at 76 North 4th Street, it spans the block from Berry to Wythe Streets and remains one of the area’s better-known industrial-to-residential conversions.
Beyond New York, Cayuga Capital has expanded its activity in the Dallas–Fort Worth region of Texas. The firm sees continued long-term growth in the state. It has invested in projects such as pickleball facilities, data centers, daycare centers, and other commercial uses designed to support steady community activity and complement nearby retail and housing.
Jacob and Jamie met during college and went on to work in investment banking, private equity, and law before starting the firm. Jacob brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate investment, development, and operations. Before launching CCM, he served as Vice President at U.S. Realty Advisors, LLC, a private firm with $3 billion in assets, and earlier worked in investment banking at ING Barings’ Transportation & Logistics Corporate Finance Group. He holds 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, drawing on more than two decades of experience in acquiring, developing, and operating real estate in New York and Texas. He leads all development and construction work and shares responsibility for acquisitions and investment strategy. Before co-founding the firm, he served as Associate General Counsel at Strategic Value Partners, overseeing legal and operational matters for more than $1 billion in global acquisitions. His earlier roles included practicing 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 named a John M. Olin Scholar in Law and Economics.
