Delivering housing that drives impact

— Mission

At Ailanthus, we create housing where it doesn’t yet exist—unlocking complex sites, aligning public and private partners, and delivering projects that help cities grow more equitably.

New York—like many cities across the country—faces a severe housing shortage. In 2023, rental vacancy dropped to 1.4%, the lowest in over fifty years. The Regional Plan Association estimates the metro area will need 473,000 new units by 2032 to meet demand.

Addressing this crisis requires experience to navigate land use, capital, and community priorities—and the persistence to move projects forward through complexity. That’s where our expertise in public-private development sets us apart.

20+

years in the New York market

~3,000

housing units in the pipeline

Our approach

Atlantic BK — 456 units delivered (30% affordable)

— Approach

Community is at the center of our work

Development carries a long-term responsibility—to our neighbors and to the future of our communities. We bridge public process and private execution to ensure each project expands opportunity in the neighborhoods where we work. Our approach to engagement is intentional and inclusive. We focus on:

Creating housing where it doesn’t exist by unlocking complex urban sites and navigating public-private pathways

Expanding overall housing supply through a mix of affordable, workforce, and market-rate projects

Shaping developments around the needs of local residents and stakeholders

Committed to creating meaningful impact through housing

Our current
pipeline totals

~3,000 units

across Brooklyn

Our goal over the next
5 years is to create

10,000 units

of new housing

Our expertise

— Expertise

Public-private expertise is essential to delivering housing at scale

1

Source

Proprietary access to deal flow is driven by a disciplined, in-house sourcing pipeline and longstanding relationships with landowners. This gives us differentiated access to off-market opportunities, focused on sites that can support 150 or more housing units.
2

Align

Approvals work best as a shared process. We coordinate agencies and community stakeholders, align project terms early, and keep the path forward clear through public review and pre-development.
3

Commit

Real impact starts with listening. We translate community input into clear, actionable commitments—and follow through, as demonstrated by our track record of completed projects.
4

Build

Execution is where plans become reality. We bring together institutional partners and capital providers, assembling the right teams to move projects efficiently from development through completion.

We believe private enterprise is essential to addressing urban housing challenges—delivering housing in areas that need it most, while creating long-term value for both communities and investors.

Ofer Cohen , Principal

Meet our team

Access to housing is one of the defining equity challenges of our time. We believe a community-driven approach is essential to delivering development that is both impactful and inclusive.

Vivian Liao , Principal

Meet our team

Delivering housing at scale requires true public-private expertise. We know how to navigate both sides—aligning partners, processes, and priorities to move complex projects forward.

Tucker Reed , Principal

Meet our team

Featured projects

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