Forest City Star Developer Melissa Burch Leaves for Lend Lease

Melissa Burch, formerly in charge of Forest City Ratner's massive 22-acre Atlantic Yards project, will now lead development for real estate giant Lend Lease as executive general manager for New York for the Americas Development business. She will be replaced by former Howard Hughes exec Susi Yu.

Melissa, a Bisnow power woman, landed her first gig at FCR via a cold call 11 years ago and ascended to the high-profile role of EVP in 2013, replacing MaryAnne Gilmartin, who became CEO. (We also profiled Melissa as part of our New Gen Leaders series, which spotlights under 40 execs.) While there, she oversaw commercial and residential development of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards and supervised leasing of Forest City Ratner's office and residential operating portfolios. The New York Daily News reports that Melissa leaves amid delays and cost overruns at B2 BKLYN, slated to be the tallest modular high-rise in the world at 32 stories. An FCR spokesperson told the Daily News Melissa's departure wasn't related to the building's problems. At Lend Lease, she’ll help the company find new development sites in New York and nationally.

Howard Hughes exec Susi Yu will replace Melissa as FCR EVP. It's her second stint at the company, where she's already a 12-year vet, having played a major role in projects such as 8 Spruce, the downtown tower designed by Frank Gehry. Susi, who immigrated to the US from Korea at age 10, has a background as a trained architect and has worked for Robert A.M. Stern on hotel, public, multifamily and single-family projects.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's New York Newsletters
Related Stories

From Bankruptcy To $400M Buying Spree: Michael Shah's Rapid Comeback

Pace Of NYC Housing Construction Plunges As Developers Play Small Ball

Alliance Building Houston-Area Complex Amid Declining Multifamily Construction

PMC Proposes 31-Story Apartment Building In Center City West

Jemals Sell Georgetown Building To Developer Planning Conversion

After Departing Trump Admin, HUD's Former Philly Head Joins Local Planning Commission

Developers Line Up To Convert Boston Offices To Housing, But Most Still Stuck At Starting Gate

NYC Office Investor Warns It Could Go Under As Defaults Pile Up

To Rein In Costs, Philly Affordable Housing Players Look To Become 'Less Reliant On Consultants'

Chetrit Group 'Being Dissolved' As Family Turmoil Spirals

Rent Concessions Dip As Fewer Apartments Come Online

AvalonBay, Equity Residential Selling Boston Towers As Part Of Merger Settlement