Melissa Román Burch is NYCEDC’s Chief Operating Officer and leads the Real Estate Transaction Services and Asset Management divisions. As COO, she oversees public/private developments involving City-owned property, and manages NYCEDC’s portfolio of 200+ unique and iconic assets spanning 64 million square feet and comprised of commercial and industrial real estate, critical infrastructure, and energy assets. Melissa also leads the Strategic Investments Group, which structures impact investments through discretionary tax benefits and tax-exempt financing, and initiates catalytic investments that mobilize private capital and support the growth of strategic sectors. Melissa joined NYCEDC in April 2022 after two decades as a leading property executive and developer of large-scale, mixed-use projects distinguished by investments in transportation infrastructure, environmental leadership, and innovative partnerships. Prior to NYCEDC, Melissa served as Executive General Manager for Lendlease, where she initiated and led all acquisition and development activities for the NY region. Melissa was previously Executive Vice President for Forest City Ratner, where she oversaw the development of Pacific Park Brooklyn, anchored by the Barclays Center Arena and composed of new market-rate and affordable housing, office space, transportation improvements, and parks. A committed civic leader, Melissa proudly serves as a Trustee of the Henry Street Settlement and Coro New York Leadership Center. She was previously a Trustee and on the Executive Committee of the Citizen’s Budget Commission. Melissa is an active member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Urban Land Institute (ULI), and W/X New York Women Executives in Real Estate. Melissa graduated magna cum laude in government from Harvard College and received her MBA from the Harvard Business School. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

A leading Real Estate Executive and Property Developer for two decades, Melissa Román Burch oversaw the creation of large-scale regeneration projects across New York City. Over her career, she secured entitlements and initiated ground-up developments for 10+ million square feet of commercial and residential projects distinguished by iconic design, investments in critical infrastructure, environmental leadership, and innovative placemaking.Melissa served as Executive General Manager for Lendlease, where she oversaw all acquisition and development activities for the NY region. She spearheaded Lendlease Development’s entry into New York and created a pipeline of significant, mixed-use projects for the firm, including 277 Fifth Avenue, Claremont Hall and 1 Java Street. Lendlease is an international developer, builder and investment manager with an $80 billion development pipeline across 17 global gateway cities. Prior to Lendlease, Melissa was Executive Vice President for Forest City Ratner. She oversaw the development of Pacific Park Brooklyn, a $5 billion public/private partnership anchored by the Barclays Center and comprised of new housing, office space, transit infrastructure and parks. During her tenure, Melissa managed key negotiations with community, government and transit authorities; initiated design and construction of hundreds of market-rate and affordable housing units; and pioneered the use of modular housing for high-rise urban development.Melissa serves as a Trustee of the Henry Street Settlement, the Citizen’s Budget Commission, and the Coro New York Leadership Center. She has received numerous recognitions including Crain’s 40 Under 40, City & State’s Women of Public & Civic Mind, and the Commercial Observer Real Estate Power 100.Melissa graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and received her MBA from the Harvard Business School. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and two children.

As Executive Vice President of Forest City Ratner Companies, Melissa Román Burch is Director of Commercial and Residential Development and heads the development division for the Company. She has responsibility for all phases of development including feasibility, entitlements, programing, design, marketing and leasing. She partners seamlessly with the construction and finance teams to execute successful and innovative projects that are transformative in the marketplace. With over 10 years at FCRC, Ms. Burch has played a leading role in growing the development pipeline for the Company and launching its residential business in New York. She oversees the vertical development of the Atlantic Yards, a $5B public/private development partnership extending 22 acres and comprised of 15 residential buildings with 6,400 total units of rental and condominium housing, office and retail space and 8-acres of public open space. The first Atlantic Yards residential tower, B2, designed by SHoP Architects broke ground in December 2012 and at 363 units and 32 floors will be the tallest modular high rise building in the world. Since the Project’s inception in 2003, Ms. Burch has spearheaded key aspects of the entitlement and development of Atlantic Yards including the formation of the Frank Gehry Master Plan, the purchase of air-rights from the MTA, and business negotiations with the MTA, City and State of New York.