Published: How the New York City Real Estate Industry Responded to COVID-19
Jason Halpern – Founder and Managing Partner of JMH Development

The founder and managing partner of JMH Development, Jason Halpern, comes from a family that has developed hundreds of residential apartments in New York. While attuned to modern design and construction, Jason Halpern espouses that developments in historically significant neighborhoods should adhere to the area’s architectural character. An example of this philosophy is their renovation and construction of The Townhouses of Cobble Hill.
The Townhouses of Cobble Hill is along Congress Street in the landmark historic district of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. The row of nine brick townhouses comprises one redeveloped three-story building and five new structures neatly blending in the Cobble Hill environment. The original brick building was remodeled into four single-family homes reminiscent of traditional townhouses featuring scoops, entries, and other vintage attributes particular to the Brooklyn architectural setting.
The new buildings display a more current adaptation of the traditional Brooklyn character. It features large casement windows and an unbroken cornice binding the structure. The townhouses all offer modern amenities and generous open floor plans while remaining steadfast to the Cobble Hill personality. As to project marketability, all townhouses were sold within a year of project completion.

Jason Halpern is the founder and managing partner of JMH Development, headquartered in New York City, New York. Highly regarded for modernizing while preserving the historic architectural integrity of projects worth $100 million or more, JMH is a full-service development firm. Due to Jason Halpern and his firm’s depth and expertise, they have completed various projects in choice locations, such as the Three Hundred Collins in Miami Beach, Florida.
Designed by renowned architect Thomas Juul-Hansen, Three Hundred Collins stands in a peaceful corner of South of Fifth, one of Miami Beach’s sought-after addresses. Although a five-story luxury condominium building, there are only 19 units, ranging from one to four-bedroom configurations. The residences come fully equipped with a gas cooktop, a dishwasher, an oven, a Miele wine cooler, and white oak flooring. There is also a SmartHome audio/visual system.
Several prized lofts feature 18’ ceilings, individual 1,500-square-foot lawns complemented by outdoor summer kitchens. High-end amenities and services include a 75-foot rooftop pool, fitness center, and full-service concierge. Completed in 2018, the project sold at prices never before realized in the neighborhood.

A managing partner at JMH Development, Jason Halpern belongs to a third-generation real estate development company that has completed hundreds of projects across the United States. Jason Halpern believes good rapport with the concerned community is fundamental to project success. JHM modernizes historic districts while adhering to the area’s architectural heritage. An example is the 70 Henry Street development in Brooklyn, New York City.
Designed by Morris Adjmi Architects, the project nestles in Brooklyn Heights, New York City’s first historic district. The development had to gain acceptance from the neighbors and approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to commence. LPC requested that the upper floors have a lighter brick color from the first floor to distinguish between the old and new sections.
Previously a one-story building, the ground floor of the five-story development integrates walls erected in 1894. Located along 70 Henry and Orange streets, the boutique building boasts large windows characteristic of the neighborhood. The structure contains five luxury residences comprising a huge full-floor penthouse with an accompanying private roof deck, a maisonette, and several full-floor units.

The founder and managing partner of JMH Development, Jason Halpern has overseen the development of commercial and residential properties throughout New York City and Westchester County. Away from work, Jason Halpern maintains a commitment to charitable endeavors and supports the Joel A. Halpern Trauma Center.
Located in Westchester Medical Center, the Joel A. Halpern Trauma Center treats patients with severe injuries. The center undertakes many complex procedures that include reattaching limbs, performing open-heart surgery, and treating potentially fatal internal injuries.
A Level 1 trauma center, it is the lead hospital of the Hudson Valley’s trauma system. The center offers care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Patients always have access to medical professionals, including neurosurgeons and orthopedists.
Furthermore, the center maintains sophisticated life support and patient resuscitation equipment. Research performed at the Joel A. Halpern Trauma Center has been used by several organizations in the creation of programs, including regional trauma systems in the United States.

Possessing extensive experience in the real estate sector, Jason Halpern serves as the principal of JMH Development in New York City. Focused on projects that inspire him, Jason Halpern maintains a commitment to preserving the historic integrity of buildings that has led JMH Development to become a respected real estate developer. JMH Development has expertise in refining city skylines and historic districts. Among Mr. Halpern’s most notable endeavors was the renovation of 184 Kent Avenue, a waterfront Brooklyn warehouse built in 1913.
The effort involved converting a 400.000 square-foot property into a luxury condominium complex, with refurbishments focused on modernizing the building while maintaining its historic authenticity and paying tribute to its past. Originally designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert in an Egyptian Revival style, it initially housed the country’s then-largest wholesale grocer, Austin, Nichols & Company. In 2007, 184 Kent Avenue was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Conversion plans included remodeling the interior to encompass 340 luxury apartment units, as well as installing a waterfront promenade, a 20,000-square-foot landscaped courtyard, and amenities such as common rooms and a gym. Rebranded as the Austin Nichols House, construction and redesign work on the property concluded in 2010. A year later, it earned the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Building Brooklyn Award, which recognizes real estate development companies for newly completed projects that enrich the borough’s neighborhoods and economy.

As the managing partner of JMH Development, Jason Halpern has focused on real estate projects that have a high barrier to entry. Jason Halpern points out that his success in these ventures would not have been possible had it not been for the challenges he faced in the past.
In recent years, there’s been a trend toward the positive thinking approach in both life and business. This often results in people doing what they can to avoid stressful situations that place them in difficulty. However, it’s these very situations that often embolden business executives and allow them to achieve true success.
JMH Development offers an example. Mr. Halpern’s prior challenges in the real estate sector led him to persevere and fueled his commitment to developing a framework that accounts for every aspect of the complex projects that the company handles today. They provided him with insight and knowledge of the key metrics that he needs to reach to make a business successful. The message is that failure is not something that people should avoid if they have an idea that’s worth the risk. Instead, every failure is a learning experience that, when utilized properly, can help them to achieve success.

Jason Halpern is the founder and managing partner of JMH Development, a full-service real estate development company in New York City. Drawing on extensive experience, Jason Halpern leads the firm with a sense of purpose. Over the course of his career, he has focused on undertaking projects that inspire him without consideration for the potential intricacies and risks. Like all experienced entrepreneurs, he has faced his share of challenges and learned from each of them. As a result, he has carved a niche for himself and is always prepared to tackle complex projects.
Under his leadership, JMH Development has become a premier firm in regards to the development of city skylines and the restoration of historic properties, as evidenced by its work on the 184 Kent project. A waterfront warehouse based in Brooklyn, New York, 184 Kent spans 20,000 square feet with 340 luxury rental apartments and a landscaped courtyard. The building was originally the home of the world’s largest grocer, the Austin Nichols Company, which was built in 1913. The structure underwent a full renovation with a focus on preserving its historical integrity.
The 184 Kent project features 100,000 square feet of amenities that include a gym that overlooks the East River. The hotel received the 2011 Building Brooklyn Award from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, which honors development companies that have undertaken neighborhood improvement projects.

Jason Halpern founded and serves as managing partner of JMH Development, spearheading high-profile residential projects across New York City and Westchester County. With a philanthropic focus, Jason Halpern contributed substantial funds toward creation of the Joel A. Halpern Trauma Center at the Westchester Medical Center.
A Level I facility, the trauma center is dedicated to saving lives among the region’s most severely injured patients. Its capacities include emergency neurosurgery, open-heart, and orthopedic surgery. The center’s services also encompass the treatment of life-threatening internal injuries and burns, as well as the reattachment of severed limbs.
As the lead hospital within the regional Hudson Valley trauma system, the Westchester Medical Center guarantees on-site, 24/7 availability of a range of specialty physicians and nurses, from neurosurgeons to anesthesiologists. The trauma center houses advanced life support and resuscitation equipment. Research from the practice has informed federal-level efforts to develop a nationwide regional trauma response program.

A third-generation real estate developer, Jason Halpern serves as managing partner of JMH Development in New York City. Among the high-profile projects Jason Halpern has guided is a 143-unit development in Queens at 36-20 Steinway Street.
The site stands at the convergence of Long Island City and Astoria. In tandem with the Mettle Property Group, JMH Development obtained a $56 million loan in May 2019 that enabled construction to move forward. With ground broken three months later, the 158,000-square-foot building encompasses rental apartments, as well as retail space at the ground level.
The residential-use space includes studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as amenities such as a communal lounge and fitness center. There are also several outdoor spaces for residents’ use and on-site parking. With the local architecture firm SLCE at the helm, an elegant masonry exterior has been created that adds value to a project scheduled to open in 2021.

Led by Jason Halpern, JMH Development delivers a wide range of quality-focused projects spanning neighborhoods across New York City. Jason Halpern has also pursued projects in Florida, including the 2015 construction of an Aloft resort property, at the historic Ankara Motel in Miami Beach.
Situated at the spot where Collins Canal, Lake Pancoast, and Indian Creek meet in South Beach, the location was originally the site of a motel built in 1954. Its layout, centered by a colorful lobby space with a high triangular roof, has been retained and transformed into a restaurant. Set on the original parking lot, the new lobby combines street art and an industrial aesthetic, and is oriented toward a spacious Liberty Avenue drop-off area. The property also features a new tower and amenities such as a library, lobby bar, and glass grand staircase.
As reported in the Miami Herald, another project involving JMH Development was the acquisition of the 1960s waterfront condo The Surf House, at 8995 Collins Avenue. The construction plan featured a 12-story luxury condo tower.