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Introduction
Jeff Sacks is a leading community development attorney. His clients include large community development corporations, senior housing providers and housing authorities as well as a variety of large institutional service providers. He often represents nonprofit organizations that are embarking on major real estate projects that allow their organizations to deliver their services in new and innovative ways.
My focus
Low-income housing tax credits and historic rehabilitation tax credits
I assist my clients in using federal low-income housing and historic tax credits to develop affordable housing and mixed-use developments. Given the multiple funding sources necessary to complete any project today including federal resources from HUD as well as state and local funds, I work with our developer clients to assure that all of these funders work together to allow for the successful completion of these projects with the most efficient deal structure.
New markets tax credits
Some of my largest and most complex projects have involved substantial investments in very poor communities utilizing the new markets tax credit program. These projects, which have included major new urban medical centers, a supercomputing project as well as smaller educational facilities, can be the catalyst for additional neighborhood investment and substantial job creation.
Public housing
I have worked with a range of public housing authorities in the transformation of some of the most outdated public housing projects in the Commonwealth into new and vital communities that continue to serve their low-income residents. I served as a public housing authority commissioner for more than twenty years, and in 2013 worked on new legislation in Massachusetts to modernize and reform the Commonwealth’s public housing system.
Nonprofit organizations
Much of my work involves advising nonprofit boards of directors about the most efficient and effective legal and financial approaches to fulfilling their corporate missions. A central part of my work is framing the legal options and documentation to boards of directors.
Community preservation
I served as the first chair of the Newton Community Preservation Committee and have worked with that program for more than ten years. This unique state and local partnership provides funding exclusively for community housing, open space preservation, historic preservation and recreation facilities in cities and towns across the Commonwealth.
Looking ahead
I am working on new types of joint ventures among nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies to improve the delivery of housing and other community services. In a period of dwindling direct government support for community development activities, consolidation of services and the creation of new service delivery models are crucial with organizations working together in new ways.
In the news
- New England Real Estate Journal
Nixon Peabody advises Hebrew SeniorLife in construction of new senior affordable housing complex
April 7, 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. The team 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.
- Seniors Housing Business
Nixon Peabody advises Hebrew SeniorLife in construction of affordable community in Brookline, Massachusetts
April 4, 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. The team 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
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.
- 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 - WBUR
Boston City Council proposes law to maintain affordable housing
This article quotes Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks related to Jamaica Plain’s Forbes building, where the owners are trying to keep the development affordable and prevent current residents from being displaced.June 22, 2021 - Banker & Tradesman
Personnel file
This roundup of appointments and executive moves across the Massachusetts real estate and banking sectors covers Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks’ appointment as chairman of the board for Boston-based developer, owner, and operator 2Life Communities.Feb 1, 2021 - Seniors Housing Business
2Life Communities Names Jeff Sacks as Chairman of the Board
This article covers Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks for being named chairman of the board for Boston-based developer, owner, and operator 2Life Communities. The article highlights Jeff’s work in Massachusetts to transform outdated public housing projects into vital communities for low-income residents.Jan 28, 2021 - Multi-Housing News
Avanath Acquires Boston Workforce Housing
The following article covers client Avanath Capital Management’s acquisition of a 207-unit apartment community in Boston, a complex transaction that will preserve Morton Village as an affordable housing property for many years to come. The stories mention NP for the firm’s work as legal counsel and name members of the deal team, New York City partner Tatiana Gutierrez, Boston partners Jeff Sacks and Ruth Silman, and associate Ali Walendziak, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Nov 3, 2020 - Yield PRO
Avanath Capital Management Acquires 207-Unit Workforce Housing Community in Boston
The following article covers client Avanath Capital Management’s acquisition of a 207-unit apartment community in Boston, a complex transaction that will preserve Morton Village as an affordable housing property for many years to come. The stories mention NP for the firm’s work as legal counsel and name members of the deal team, New York City partner Tatiana Gutierrez, Boston partners Jeff Sacks and Ruth Silman, and associate Ali Walendziak, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Nov 2, 2020 - Seniors Housing Business
Nixon Peabody Arranges $48.8M in Financing to Upgrade Two Wollaston Affordable Communities Near Boston
The following article cover NP’s role in securing financing deals for client Wollaston Lutheran Housing, allowing the affordable-housing provider to substantially upgrade two properties in Quincy, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the deal team, which also included Boston associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso, and Washington, DC counsel Anthony Ruvolo, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Oct 6, 2020 - REBusinessOnline
MassHousing Provides $28.9M Loan for Refinancing of Multifamily Asset in Metro Boston
The following article cover NP’s role in securing financing deals for client Wollaston Lutheran Housing, allowing the affordable-housing provider to substantially upgrade two properties in Quincy, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the deal team, which also included Boston associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso, and Washington, DC counsel Anthony Ruvolo, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Oct 5, 2020 - Connect Media CRE
Nixon Peabody Secures $29M Refinancing for Affordable Housing Development in Quincy
The following article cover NP’s role in securing financing deals for client Wollaston Lutheran Housing, allowing the affordable-housing provider to substantially upgrade two properties in Quincy, MA. Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks led the deal team, which also included Boston associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso, and Washington, DC counsel Anthony Ruvolo, all of the Affordable Housing & Real Estate group.Oct 5, 2020 - Senior Housing News
Transactions & Financings
Nixon Peabody client Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) was included in this roundup of notable deals for closing on the financing of two Boston-area properties that will help the organization with its post-pandemic future. Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks, and associates Ali Walendziak and Alexander Rosso were mentioned for representing HSL in the Randolph financing. Jeff Sacks and Affordable Housing & Real Estate associate Julie Hancock Stande were noted for representing HSL in the Brookline transaction. All the attorneys are based in Boston.July 22, 2020 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
ATB clarifies tax method for ‘entry fee communities’
Boston Affordable Housing and Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks wrote this contributed article analyzing a ruling by the Appellate Tax Board on the proper method of determining real estate taxes for senior living facilities that use an entry fee model. Boston law clerk Thomas Jackson contributed to the article.Aug 22, 2019 - Wicked Local Provincetown
Wellfleet housing ‘can happen here’
Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks is quoted in this article about a proposed affordable housing development in Wellfleet.March 21, 2019 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Planning agency can challenge foreclosure
Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks is quoted in this article on the ability of municipal planning agencies to respond to possible foreclosure of affordable housing properties.Dec 27, 2018 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
SJC limits public funding of church preservation
Boston Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Jeff Sacks wrote this contributed article analyzing a recent decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court that “likely will lead to greater scrutiny of all historic preservation projects involving church properties.”Aug 16, 2018 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Exercise of property right, or zoning by another name?
Boston affordable housing partner Jeff Sacks and Manchester commercial litigation associate Chris Minue were included in this article which focuses on a legal battle to bring new affordable housing units to the city of Newton, a suburb of Boston.April 20, 2017 - Multi-Housing News
Affordable senior housing coming to Boston suburb
Nixon Peabody is mentioned as legal counsel representing the developers of Hearth at Four Corners, a 54-unit affordable senior community in Dorchester, MA. Boston affordable housing partner Jeff Sacks is lead counsel on this project.Nov 22, 2016 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Manufactured triggering of right of first refusal upheld
Boston Affordable Housing partner Jeffrey Sacks was quoted in this article about a homeowner’s rehab case regarding the exercise of right of first refusal under Section 42(i)(7).Nov 10, 2016 - Bisnow
Why Boston's One of the Toughest Places to Develop Affordable Housing
Boston Affordable Housing partner Jeff Sacks is mentioned in this article about a recent panel he moderated focused on the challenges of affordable housing in the Boston area.Oct 5, 2016 - Boston Business Journal
Viewpoint: New housing resources generated through bonds
Boston affordable housing partner Jeff Sacks authored this op-ed about the lack of affordable rental housing in Massachusetts.April 29, 2016 - Journal of Tax Credits
Tax Credits Bring Updated Housing to Boston Veterans
This feature story highlights the New England Center for Homeless Veterans’ (NECHV) efforts to rehabilitate an existing apartment community serving formerly homeless and at-risk veterans in Boston. Affordable Housing partner Jeff Sacks is quoted in the piece and noted as development counsel and key player in structuring the financing.Oct 1, 2015 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Fair housing case may push 'disparate impact' limits
Boston Affordable Housing partner Jeff Sacks provides commentary in this article discussing the decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to hear an appeal that could be a national test case probing the limits of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision validating fair-housing claims on a “disparate impact” basis.Sep 21, 2015 - Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
Lawyer's long history with Center for Homeless Veterans hits new high
Nixon Peabody’s efforts in a recapitalization project for the New England Center for Homeless Veterans are featured in this article. Boston Affordable Housing partner Jeff Sacks led this complex real estate transaction, which includes Historic Tax Credits as well as affordable housing components.June 21, 2015
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
Education
Yale Law School, J.D.
Brown University, B.A.
Professional activities
- Newton Housing Authority, Commissioner (1992015–2014)
- Served on Governor Deval Patrick’s Public Housing Reform Commission
- Served on DHCD’s Public Housing Advisory Committee
- 2Life Communities, Board chair
- Lawyers Clearinghouse on Affordable Housing and Homelessness, Director
- Statewide Massachusetts Community Preservation Coalition, Director
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 in the field of Real Estate Law; listed since 2012
- Recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2023 for Real Estate (Massachusetts); also recognized in 2022
- Recognized as a “New England Super Lawyer” in Real Estate based on a peer-review survey by Boston Magazine (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2012)
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllDeborah VanAmerongen
Strategic Policy Advisor / Deputy Practice Group Leader, Affordable Housing & Real Estate- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3054
- dvanamerongen@nixonpeabody.com
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Aaron J. Yowell
Partner
Chief Innovation Officer- New York
- Office:+1 212.940.3161
- ayowell@nixonpeabody.com
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