Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Hickey.
After falling victim to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors was formed by Paul in 2008 as a boutique real estate development, Project Management and Owner’s Representative consulting practice focused on high profile, prestigious projects with quality institutions, developers / landlords and users / tenants. As Principal of Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors, Paul has counted as clients such prestigious firms as MIT Investment Management Company, Taurus Investments, The Fallon Company, The Winn Companies, Tufts University, Shire Pharmaceuticals and many others.
Throughout his career, Paul has been an integral part of some of the largest, most exciting and high quality real estate development projects and has been privileged to work with some of the best real estate developers and institutions in Boston and around the country. He is regarded as a premier development manager in the field of high profile, complex, mixed-use and bio-tech focused real estate projects.
While with Forest City Development, Paul was Senior Development Manager for University Park in Cambridge MA, a 2.4M sf project and one of the first mixed-use biotech research parks in the country. With Forest City, he also led similar projects in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Chicago.
While at the Fallon Company, he was Vice President of Development focused on the first phase of development of Fan Pier, the 3M sf mixed-use waterfront project being developed by Joe Fallon in Boston’s Seaport District. The multi-phased master plan for Fan Pier includes biotech research space, commercial office space, retail space, a hotel and residential space, along with a marina and public waterfront parks.
As principal of Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors, Inc. He has worked closely with MIT Investment Management Company on a variety of projects including several tenant fit-outs as well as the renovation and repositioning of commercial lab space in Cambridge. Developer clients have also included The Fallon Company, Taurus Investments, Winn Development, Tufts University and others.
In addition to developers, Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors, Inc. also works with tenants / users of all sizes representing users in their evaluation of space, lease negotiations, design management and project management. In this role Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors, Inc. has represented firms such as Surface Oncology (35,000 square feet), SQZ Biotechnology (24,000 square feet), Eisai, Inc. (50,000 square feet) Exosome Diagnostics (28,000 square feet) and Shire Human Genetic Therapies, Inc. (180,000 square feet).
Paul holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Cornell University and a Graduate Certificate of Business Administration and Management from Harvard University Extension School. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and a licensed professional structural engineer.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a consulting practice in the real estate and construction space during the great recession of 2007 – 2008 was not easy. After some fits and starts, the firm really started to gain momentum in about 2010.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors, Inc. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Mr. Hickey is an accomplished real estate development professional with more than 25 years of experience. He has a strong background in the oversight and management of real estate development projects from financial feasibility analysis through design, lease negotiations, permitting / entitlements, financing, construction, turnover and/or disposition. His particular experience includes the evaluation and development of complex, multi-phase, mixed-use projects with various residential and commercial building types, public open space and infrastructure components as well as the management of complex lab and office fit-out projects.
With this background, Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors has two main lines of business. One line of business involves working with real estate developers and investors to manage the entire life cycle of a real estate development project from highest and best use / feasibility analysis to financial modeling, permitting, design management and construction management to move a project from conception to final build-out and occupancy.
Black Diamond Real Estate Advisors has also developed a niche and expertise in managing the design and construction of biomedical and pharmaceutical research and development lab space. In this roll, we help clients in the red-hot biotech industry in Cambridge, Boston and the suburbs plan, design and construct cutting edge research and development lab space. A typical client ranges from a small, growing venture funded biotech startup to international pharmaceutical firms.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the intellectual power and incredible innovation that occurs in our city. Between MIT, Harvard, BU, BC, Northeastern University and all the other excellent educational institutions; the world renowned hospitals; and the international high-tech and biomedical / pharmaceutical firms, this city is second to none in brain power and innovation.
I do not like the traffic, the state of public transportation and high cost of living.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackdiamondrea.com
- Phone: 617-921-4121
- Email: phickey@blackdiamondrea.com
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