Eldad Gothelf, Senior Vice President of Real Estate at Kasirer, one of New York’s leading government relations firms, emphasizes that real estate development in New York City cannot succeed without understanding politics. In a recent Q&A, Gothelf outlined his background in urban planning from Columbia University and his approach to balancing technical expertise in zoning with community engagement.
Gothelf described his day-to-day work as a mix of client strategy sessions, internal team coordination, and site visits to understand neighborhood contexts. He stressed that success depends on technical knowledge, political acumen, and emotional intelligence, particularly the ability to listen and translate between developers, elected officials, and community groups. Trustworthiness is critical, as consistency and transparency build credibility across projects.
Addressing the term “lobbyist,” Gothelf reframed the role as a translator who helps align private investment with public goals. He cited the Metro-North rezoning in the Bronx, where Kasirer worked with Himmel + Meringoff Properties and city stakeholders to advance housing and infrastructure plans. The project exemplified how public-private alignment can achieve equitable growth.
Gothelf highlighted the importance of the City of Yes initiative, which modernizes zoning rules to facilitate housing development and adaptive reuse. He noted that while zoning reform provides clarity, projects still require financial viability, community support, and political navigation. Looking ahead, he called for a willingness to say “yes” to more housing and infrastructure while managing tradeoffs through transparency and shared responsibility.
The full interview is available at citybiz.
