Vision, discipline, and commitment to innovation are the foundation of our success. We source our investments carefully, drawing upon wide-ranging contacts throughout the real estate, financial and business communities. We are open-minded in our approach and progressive in our policies, so that the spectrum of opportunity remains as broad as possible. Once a suitable investment has been identified, we are scrupulous in our due diligence and persistent in our pursuit. Our keen sense of the local and regional markets allows us to harvest underperforming assets at the most opportune times.
The risk-adjusted return we can effectively achieve for investors has been, and will always be, our primary investment criteria. Toward that end, we have participated in many real estate asset transactions in diverse locations, achieving significant returns in a socially responsible manner in neighborhoods that were largely ignored by the investment community.
Geographically, we have a preference for commercial office and multi-family properties in locations best suited to capitalize on our local knowledge and relationships. This would include the New York metropolitan area, although we will also utilize our diverse skills to consider opportunities in all major domestic markets. We are currently seeking opportunities that include redevelopment and adaptive reuse projects, restructurings, note sales, and ground-up development.
Arthur R. Stern
CEO
Since Cogswell’s inception, Mr. Stern has served as its Chief Executive Officer overseeing the daily operations of the real estate company. Mr. Stern’s vision, talent, and professionalism have underscored the success of Cogswell and contributed to the prosperity of its partners, investors, and clients. During the course of his 25-year career, Mr. Stern has served as partner/investor, advisor, broker, manager, and project executive for more than $2 billion in real estate. Among his many achievements are the acquisition and repositioning of New York City properties at 60 Broad Street, 270 Lafayette Street, 55 West 125th Street, 215 West 125th Street, 183 Madison as well as the acquisition and redevelopment of 150 Rivington Street and 345 Carroll Street in New York City and 744 Broad Street and 1180 Raymond Boulevard in Newark, NJ. He has participated in over 2.5 million square feet of Management and Leasing transactions as both tenant and/or owner’s representative, and has consulted for many notable firms, including, ASB Real Estate Investments, Piedmont Realty Trust, L3 Capital, RREEF Property Trust, City Investment Fund, Lennar Partners, Lehman Brothers, Ameresco, Archon Real Estate (a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs), J.E. Roberts and Co., and Morgan Stanley. A graduate of the New York University School of Law, Mr. Stern is a member of the Young Men/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York and a member of the board of the Association for a Better New York, Junior Achievement and the Churchill School Fund.
Ross L. Jacobs
Partner
A graduate of Syracuse University’s School of Management, Mr. Jacobs’ primary focus is on acquisitions, development, leasing, and asset management. As project executive for the Cogswell portfolio of commercial properties in Harlem, New York, including its two largest privately-owned office buildings, Mr. Jacobs has worked closely with governmental agencies, including U.S. General Services Administration, New York State Office of General Services, and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services in structuring major lease transactions. He also has been involved with Cogswell’s residential developments, including the conversion of a 400,000 square foot office building in Newark, NJ into a 317-unit residential tower, and the construction of a 46-unit apartment building in Harlem. Earlier in his career, Mr. Jacobs worked for Price Waterhouse & Co. and a consulting firm specializing in real estate investments on behalf of European investors. For 12 years prior to joining Cogswell, he was Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Rockrose Development Corporation, where he was involved with over $500 million of development and asset management of residential and commercial real estate, including three 500,000 square foot projects under New York City’s former 421-g Program. Mr. Jacobs is committed to the Harlem community. He sits on the Board of Directors of the 125th Street Business Improvement District and is an active member of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement.
Arthur R. Stern
CEO
Since Cogswell’s inception, Mr. Stern has served as its Chief Executive Officer overseeing the daily operations of the real estate company. Mr. Stern’s vision, talent, and professionalism have underscored the success of Cogswell and contributed to the prosperity of its partners, investors, and clients. During the course of his 25-year career, Mr. Stern has served as partner/investor, advisor, broker, manager, and project executive for more than $2 billion in real estate. Among his many achievements are the acquisition and repositioning of New York City properties at 60 Broad Street, 270 Lafayette Street, 55 West 125th Street, 215 West 125th Street, 183 Madison as well as the acquisition and redevelopment of 150 Rivington Street and 345 Carroll Street in New York City and 744 Broad Street and 1180 Raymond Boulevard in Newark, NJ. He has participated in over 2.5 million square feet of Management and Leasing transactions as both tenant and/or owner’s representative, and has consulted for many notable firms, including, ASB Real Estate Investments, Piedmont Realty Trust, L3 Capital, RREEF Property Trust, City Investment Fund, Lennar Partners, Lehman Brothers, Ameresco, Archon Real Estate (a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs), J.E. Roberts and Co., and Morgan Stanley. A graduate of the New York University School of Law, Mr. Stern is a member of the Young Men/Women’s Real Estate Association of New York and a member of the board of the Association for a Better New York, Junior Achievement and the Churchill School Fund.
Ross L. Jacobs
Partner
A graduate of Syracuse University’s School of Management, Mr. Jacobs’ primary focus is on acquisitions, development, leasing, and asset management. As project executive for the Cogswell portfolio of commercial properties in Harlem, New York, including its two largest privately-owned office buildings, Mr. Jacobs has worked closely with governmental agencies, including U.S. General Services Administration, New York State Office of General Services, and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services in structuring major lease transactions. He also has been involved with Cogswell’s residential developments, including the conversion of a 400,000 square foot office building in Newark, NJ into a 317-unit residential tower, and the construction of a 46-unit apartment building in Harlem. Earlier in his career, Mr. Jacobs worked for Price Waterhouse & Co. and a consulting firm specializing in real estate investments on behalf of European investors. For 12 years prior to joining Cogswell, he was Vice President of Acquisitions and Development for Rockrose Development Corporation, where he was involved with over $500 million of development and asset management of residential and commercial real estate, including three 500,000 square foot projects under New York City’s former 421-g Program. Mr. Jacobs is committed to the Harlem community. He sits on the Board of Directors of the 125th Street Business Improvement District and is an active member of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement.
