About Me

Gregory D. Atkins, has years of diverse professional experience and success in both the public and private sectors. Through his work with economic development agencies, public officials, international financial institutions and real estate development companies, Atkins has amassed a wealth of expertise and has acquired a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the real estate market.

Real Estate Development

In June 2008 Atkins joined a new hotel development company, V3 Hotels.  As Director of Development and later President, Atkins was responsible for the design and construction of a 128-key boutique hotel in Downtown Brooklyn. Under Atkins’ supervision, V3 acted as co-general contractor for the $28 million hotel.  The Hotel 718 was sold in the spring of 2012.  V3 Hotels completed the planning process for a second 186-key hotel in downtown Brooklyn.  The land and plans for this project were also sold.

After the sale Atkins and his partners took over ownership of V3 Hotels and rebranded the firm as the Brooklyn Hotel Group (BHG) as a new hotel development partnership.  BHG developed plans for a 220 key hotel in Downtown Brooklyn and sold the development plans for a substantial profit for its investors.  In 2015, BHG purchased and renovated at 81 key hotel in the Red Hook neighborhood successfully renovating and rebranding the hotel as the Red Hook Lodge Hotel. BHG created its own hospitality management company which manages the day-to-day business including revenue management.  BHG also created an Asset Management division to oversee assets for its investors.  As a partner at BHG Atkins was responsible for underwriting, equity raises, design and project management, hotel and asset management. 

In 2012, Atkins also started his own firm, consulting on multi-family development projects and project management.  Atkins managed over $300 million in real estate assets.  

In 2023, Atkins joined the New York University Schack Institute of Real Estate as an Adjunct Faculty member.  Atkins currently teaches two classes at Schack, “Introduction to Commercial Real Estate and ESG” to master’s students and “Use of Space and Urban Design” to undergraduates.  

Government and Non-Profits

In June 1993, Atkins started work as an Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts.  Atkins moved to New York City in May 1995 to be the first Director of the not-for-profit Southwest Brooklyn Economic Development Zone (SBEDZ).  In this capacity, Atkins worked with local businesses in Sunset Park and Red Hook to create over 2,000 new jobs.  In the fall of 1996, Atkins took a leave of absence from the SBEDZ to work on President Clinton’s re-election campaign, serving as press secretary in Vice-President Gore’s home state of Tennessee.

From March of 1997 to September 2001, Atkins served as New York State Assemblywoman Joan Millman’s Chief-of-Staff.  He was responsible for directing the Assemblywoman’s legislative and political agenda, and he played a key role in numerous public projects such as the planning of Brooklyn Bridge Park, the reconstruction of the Gowanus Expressway and the long-awaited flushing and development of the Gowanus Canal. 

In 2001, after nearly five years with New York State Assembly, Atkins joined the international banking giant UBS. As Assistant Vice President for State and Local Government Affairs, Atkins managed the firm’s relationships with political parties and partisan associations.  He worked closely with the Municipal Securities Group to build relationships with municipal bond issuer officials.  

In 2003, Atkins returned to the public sector as Chief of Staff for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.  Atkins oversaw Borough Hall’s 80 employees and the Borough President’s policy initiatives, land-use and economic development responsibilities, community outreach, and capital and expense budgets.  He led the Borough President’s involvement in the city’s rezoning of Downtown Brooklyn and Greenpoint and Williamsburg and led the public approvals process for the Atlantic Yards/Barclay’s Center Development and Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Atkins managed the allocation of almost $200 million in capital projects and oversaw the administration of the $1.5 million annual budget.  He served as the Borough President’s appointee to many boards and commissions, including serving as a board member for the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC), the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, and the MetroTech BID.

Personal

Atkins attended college at the University of Massachusetts, and in 1991 graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Landscape Architecture.  He continued at the University of Massachusetts and went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Regional Planning in 1993.  

Atkins currently lives in Northport, NY with his wife Julie Hendricks-Atkins and his daughters Dylan and Sadie.