SPD understands that cultural, educational and institutional clients are unique because the primary goal of any project is to support the mission of the institution. Our Civic & Cultural practice serves diverse organizations including hospitals, museums, scholastic institutions and charitable causes that champion the underserved. We advise on financing and public funding, as well as government and external affairs. SPD provides advisory services to private foundations and family offices whose philanthropic pursuits include capital projects and real-estate initiatives. SPD establishes efficient governance and oversight to maximize and leverage the full potential of the investment.
Joelle Byrer jbyrer@sterlingprojectdevelopment.com
Sandy Polsak spolsak@sterlingprojectdevelopment.com

David Ehrenberg is SPD P3 Strategic Advisors’ practice lead, leveraging 20 years of experience leading major public private partnerships in New York City. He joined SPD and launched the P3 practice area in January 2023.
From 2013-2022, David served as President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC). During his stewardship, the Navy Yard added nearly 3 million square feet of manufacturing and creative office space, a physical expansion that resulted in the addition of nearly 7,000 jobs and 300 companies and established the Navy Yard as a national model for the resurgence of urban manufacturing.
Previously, David was Executive Vice President of Real Estate Transaction Services at the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), where he managed the city’s priority economic development projects. In this role David also led administration and strategy for the NYC Industrial Development Agency, the city’s primary provider of discretionary tax incentives.
David is a graduate of Wesleyan University, and holds dual Masters in Public Policy and Urban Planning from the Princeton University.

Since entering the industry in 1986, Richard Browne (Managing Partner of SPD) has enjoyed equally successful careers as a builder, commercial building owner and project consultant.
Mr. Browne’s real estate career began as a property owner and manager of two large commercial buildings as well as a construction company owned by his family in New York City. He became managing general partner of the family businesses in 1989 and subsequently sold the properties to outside investors in 2001.
From that point forward, Mr. Browne has focused on managing and advising third-party clients on literally hundreds of real estate development projects across the globe. This included significant restoration work in Lower Manhattan in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center from 2001 through 2004.
From 2005 until its final completion in 2010, Mr. Browne served as Owner’s Representative to Queens Ballpark Company, LLC, which spearheaded the development and construction of Citi Field, the Home of the New York Mets. This $800 million ballpark, which was completed on schedule and under budget, is regarded as one of the premier sports and entertainment facilities in the country.
In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of SPD, recently completed projects in which Mr. Browne has played a role include UBS Arena, the new home of the New York Islanders hockey team, as well as St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan.
A certified mediator, Mr. Browne currently devotes the majority of his time to complex / distressed project work as well as dispute resolution, which is his true passion.