Edward Puerta

My focus

Acquisitions and dispositions

I represent purchasers and sellers of real property that include health systems, real estate investors and not-for-profits. In this role, I negotiate agreements and advise clients on financing, structuring issues, compliance matters, and local building and zoning regulations.

Leasing

Leasing is another core area of my practice. I work with both landlords and tenants to negotiate, draft and amend commercial, retail and industrial leases. I also work extensively with clients on medical and health care leases, which present unique challenges due to governmental regulations and restrictions.

Affordable housing

My practice also involves affordable housing, and I represent clients in the siting and financing for a number of affordable housing developments. I am proud to have worked on and closed more than $500 million in projects to create quality affordable housing in urban and suburban areas around the country. This area involves a web of interaction between developer, owner, investor and government before results can be seen. Locally, I serve as outside counsel to the Long Island Housing Partnership, a not-for-profit with more than thirty years’ experience developing, rehabilitating and sustaining affordable housing on Long Island.

Looking ahead

I find the interplay between responsible, environmentally-sustainable development and profit-oriented investors fascinating, particularly at a time when governments are revisiting their regulatory models and their offerings of tax benefits. I think the next few years will require creativity and new funding sources to succeed in property development and rehabilitation. I’m also closely watching emerging models of healthcare delivery and the “encroachment” of medical office space into traditional retail segments.

Representative experience

• Guiding a non-profit health care system in the sale of 600+ units of regulated low-income and senior housing to a national developer and operator of affordable properties.
• Representing a midtown Manhattan office tower owner on all aspects of property leasing and operations
• Advising on the creation and operation of one of Long Island’s first community land trusts
• Negotiating the disposition of an international transportation company’s headquarters property on Long Island