Founder James I. Kennedy has over 18 years’ experience as a real estate attorney having served as a partner in a major law firm and in-house as a General Counsel. Mr. Kennedy has represented clients involved in numerous commercial real estate transactions, student housing projects and public-private partnerships, including representing colleges, universities and developers in connection with on-campus real estate projects, representing municipalities in connection with storm water infrastructure and renewable energy projects.
Mr. Kennedy has personally supervised an interdisciplinary team of attorneys, investment bankers, and consultants in connection with the acquisition, development and financing of numerous multi-family properties, office and student housing projects, as well as the privatization and subsequent redevelopment, management, construction, and renovation of student housing facilities and military family housing facilities at various universities and military installations throughout the continental United States.
In addition, Mr. Kennedy routinely acts as an outside General Counsel for several companies and worked on significant economic development incentive transactions for public entities and private clients. As a legal advisor, he has also assisted corporate clients looking to relocate or expand corporate operations as well as local governments developing incentive packages for prospective private industry clients.
Mr. Kennedy lives in Springfield, Pennsylvania with his wife Jaclyn and their four children. Mr. Kennedy served in the United States Marine Corps.
Mr. Kennedy has represented student-housing developers in projects totaling over $1,000,000,000 in total development costs. The projects serve universities and colleges across the United States.
Mr. Kennedy assisted an industry-leading developer and operator of on-campus student housing projects in negotiating, structuring and financing more than $1,000,000 in long-term public-private partnerships for the development, management, operation and financing of the construction, renovation and operation of nearly 15,000 on-campus student housing beds at approximately 15 institutions of higher education across the country.
Mr. Kennedy represented Drexel University in connection with the Vue32 student-housing project. Vue32 is a 16-story, $56 million project developed and owned by Radnor Property Group. The building is located in University City on Drexel University’s campus overlooking downtown Philadelphia and the 30th Street Station rail yard. The project is comprised of a 16-story mixed-use tower including a 180-person childcare facility on the lower two floors and 164 apartments. The apartments are marketed to Drexel students, faculty, staff, and young professionals providing 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units. The development includes a community plaza/garden, underground parking and residential amenities including a fitness center, game room, library, communal kitchen and rooftop deck with spectacular views to downtown. Radnor Property Group partnered with Drexel University under a Ground Lease arrangement to bring the project to fruition, and further revitalize University City.
