RE Industry Seminar: Urban Strategy America Fund
Date: Thursday, February 26th
When: 4:30-6:30 with reception to follow in the Regents Lounge
Where: Beck 198
Kirk Sykes
president of Urban Strategy America Fund, L.P.
The Cornell Real Estate Industry seminar welcomes Kirk Sykes, president of Urban Strategy America Fund, L.P., a New Boston Real Estate Fund, to campus as part of the Cornell Real Estate Industry seminar series this Thursday. The Fund is a true “triple bottom-line fund” that offers investors an opportunity to transform urban and economic development areas in their states, regions and cities while achieving an attractive return on their investment by prioritizing diversity in the asset types and locations in order to maximize returns. Mr. Sykes is responsible for the supervision of the partnership equity placement, the identification of investments and the day-to-day business operations of the USA Fund, which ultimately is an urban investment vehicle for select institutional investors.
Mr. Sykes began creating his development portfolio in late 1988 with the development of several mixed-use and residential properties on Massachusetts Avenue and St. Botolph Street in Boston’s South End. In 1998, Mr. Sykes became a key member of the team designated to develop Boston’s largest development site, the Boston State Hospital site. The site totals 163 acres including several developable parcels and an adjacent parcel of protected lands that comprises an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary and is the largest developable parcel of land within the Boston city limits. Named one of Boston Magazine’s “Forty Bostonians to Watch” in 2002, Mr. Sykes’ combination of business and community-based experience allows him to bridge the competing concerns that sometimes block urban projects from moving forward and apply his specialty of creating urban mixed-use developments.
Mr. Sykes earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell in 1980 and also completed the Commercial Development Executive Program at MIT. A member of the Cornell Real Estate Council, Kirk also sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Board of Directors. Mr. Sykes comments in seminar will focus on the “Triple Bottom Line” in real estate investing, and will provide ample opportunity for questions. Please review Kirk’s bio and explore the Urban Strategy America fund via its website at http://www.usa-fund.com. In lieu of Seminar Preparation Notes this week please simply come prepared for a lively Q&A with Mr. Sykes.