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Introduction
Karla Chaffee focuses her practice on land use permitting and real estate due diligence. She helps her clients maximize efficiency by charting a coordinated permitting strategy through a deal’s lifecycle.
My focus
Land Use Permitting
I provide guidance to clients seeking zoning approvals and other development entitlements. I lay the groundwork for successful projects by working with clients, planning staff, and elected and appointed officials to navigate local, state, and federal permitting. My experience facilitates real estate objectives for clients and helps to build public benefits for all involved in the development process. I also serve on my local zoning board of appeals.
Land Use Transactional
I perform due diligence work for nation-wide real estate transactions prior to acquisition and financing. I also assess environmental risk of properties and determine what mitigation measures are needed to help clients make the best business decisions and avoid potential liability. Finding appropriate mitigation measures has given me the opportunity to negotiate the terms of purchase and sale agreements, liability transfer documents, and insurance policies. I work with sellers, buyers, and lenders to ensure a successful transaction.
Looking ahead
The prevalence of online retail has changed our day-to-day lives in many ways. It influences land use patterns and transforms the market for warehouse and industrial space across the country. The opportunities for development in these sectors vary significantly by region and clients will need to understand how the prevalence of e-commerce has impacted local market and regulatory conditions.
Locally, the lack of adequate housing supply in Massachusetts is at crisis levels. Recent changes to the Massachusetts Zoning Enabling Act have lowered the voting thresholds for projects and zoning amendments that encourage market-rate and affordable housing development. These changes have given developers and housing advocates a new opportunity to work with community leaders to produce sorely needed housing stock.
In the news
- Boston Real Estate Times
Nixon Peabody advises Hebrew SeniorLife in construction of new seniors affordable housing complex
March 28, 2023This article highlights NP’s work advising Hebrew SeniorLife in the site acquisition and construction of a new affordable housing complex for seniors in Brookline, MA. The article quotes Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Julie Hancock Stande, who led the NP deal team, which also includes senior counsel Jeff Sacks, counsel Karla Chaffee, associates Talia Burghard and Jason Kim, and paralegal Vienna Kim, all of the Boston office and Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
- Bisnow
This week’s Boston deal sheet
March 27, 2023This roundup of Greater Boston real estate deals mentions NP for advising Hebrew SeniorLife in the site acquisition and construction of a new affordable housing complex for seniors in Brookline, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Julie Hancock Stande led the NP deal team, which also included senior counsel Jeff Sacks, counsel Karla Chaffee, associates Talia Burghard and Jason Kim, and paralegal Vienna Kim, all of the Boston office and Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
- Boston Real Estate Times
Beacon Communities and Harborlight Homes host groundbreaking for Beverly Village for Living and the Arts
March 7, 2023This article, which covers the groundbreaking ceremony for a new seniors- and arts-focused affordable housing development north of Boston, mentions NP for advising Beacon Communities in the complex financing for the project. The NP deal team was led by Washington, DC Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner and General Real Estate & Transactional team leader Dara Histed and included New York City Project Finance & Public Finance counsel Barry Rothchild; and Boston counsel Karla Chaffee, Washington, DC associate Jamie Flesch, and Boston paralegal Vienna Kim, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
- Seniors Housing Business
Beacon, Harborlight plan intergenerational adaptive reuse for former Briscoe School in Beverly, Massachusetts
Jan 25, 2023This article mentions NP for advising Beacon Communities in a complex financing deal that will transform a former school just north of Boston into senior and arts-focused affordable housing. The article notes this is the first time an affordable housing deal in Massachusetts utilized American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Washington, DC Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner and General Real Estate & Transactional team leader Dara Histed led the NP team, which also included New York City Project Finance & Public Finance counsel Barry Rothchild; and Boston counsel Karla Chaffee, Washington, DC associate Jamie Flesch, and Boston paralegal Vienna Kim, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice.
- Boston Business Journal
SJC ruling muddies the waters for future of Massachusetts coastal development
This article covers potential implications of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that sends Boston’s municipal harbor plan back to the drawing board. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate counsel Karla Chaffee is quoted in this article, explaining how the Department of Environmental Protection still needs to work out how to handle future harbor plans, noting that it could leave current plans in a state of limbo until the DEP releases related regulations.July 14, 2022 - Seniors Housing Business
Hebrew SeniorLife receives financing for expansion of affordable community near Boston
This article on client Hebrew SeniorLife closing financing to build 45 new units of affordable senior housing in metro Boston mentions NP for advising on the project. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the NP team, which also included Community Development Finance partner Forrest Milder, and AHRE senior counsel Don Cooper, counsel Karla Chaffee, associate Ali Sisson, and paralegal Vienna Kim, all of the Boston office.March 3, 2022 - Law360
Real estate lawyers on the move
This column on notable industry moves features the arrival of Chaundi Randolph in Washington, DC, Karla Chaffee in Boston, and Daniel Perlin in Chicago as counsel in NP’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practiceJan 19, 2022 - Affordable Housing Finance
People on the move
This column on notable industry moves features the arrival of Chaundi Randolph in Washington, DC, Karla Chaffee in Boston, and Daniel Perlin in Chicago as counsel in NP’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice. The article also includes a brief description of each attorney’s practice.Dec 15, 2021 - McKnights Senior Living
People in the news
The following roundup article on notable industry moves feature the arrival of Chaundi Randolph in Washington, DC, Karla Chaffee in Boston, and Daniel Perlin in Chicago as counsel in NP’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice. The article also features a brief description on each of their practices.Dec 14, 2021 - Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
People
The following roundup article on notable industry moves feature the arrival of Chaundi Randolph in Washington, DC, Karla Chaffee in Boston, and Daniel Perlin in Chicago as counsel in NP’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice. The article also features a brief description on each of their practices.Dec 13, 2021 - The American Lawyer
Nixon Peabody adds three more lawyers to Affordable Housing, Real Estate bench
This article features the arrival of Chaundi Randolph in Washington, DC, Karla Chaffee in Boston, and Daniel Perlin in Chicago as counsel in NP’s Affordable Housing & Real Estate practice. The article also quotes AHRE practice group leader Denise Pursley on recent growth across the practice and the increased demand for legal services.Dec 9, 2021
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
Education
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Professional activities
- Chair, ABA, Land Use and Zoning Committee
- Past Treasurer, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association
Recognition
- Rising Star in Massachusetts Super Lawyers in the area of Land Use, 2016–2019
Pro bono services
Assisted several clients to receive asylum in the United States, including derivative asylum for a client’s young family.Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllJared C. Lusk
Partner / Office Managing Partner, Rochester- Rochester
- Office:585.263.1140
- jlusk@nixonpeabody.com
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