Paula Roy Carethers Appointed Director of Real Estate for Archdiocese

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Cardinal Dolan has appointed Paula Roy Carethers as director of real estate for the archdiocese. Ms. Carethers, founder of Unit 3 Planning + Advising, has had a 20-year career spanning the public, private and nonprofit sectors in advancing ambitious mixed-use and mixed-income projects. Her appointment was effective Sept. 8.

Ms. Carethers succeeds David Brown, who had served with distinction as the archdiocese’s director of real estate since 1989.

Cardinal Dolan noted that Ms. Carethers’ broad background would assist her in helping the archdiocese meet the needs of the people it serves. “The Church must continue to respond to the ever-changing cultural and demographic trends here in New York in a way that puts all of its resources—including the resource of real estate—at the service of people,” the cardinal said.   “Whether it is building and renovating churches and schools, providing much-needed affordable housing, or working with civic and community leaders on zoning and land preservation issues, the work of the director of real estate is integral to the mission of the archdiocese.  

“I am grateful to Paula Roy Carethers for her willingness to assume this position, and to carry on the tremendous legacy of her predecessor, David Brown.”

Ms. Carethers most recently led the master planning for Ford’s restoration of Michigan Central Station and served as the liaison to public partners and key stakeholders. She previously was executive vice president for real estate at the New York City Housing Development Corporation, a public benefit corporation which ranks among the nation’s top multi-family bond issuers. She oversaw the corporation’s Real Estate Development and Asset Management departments responsible for all mixed-use new construction and preservation originations, as well as portfolio analysis, compliance and lease up for a portfolio of over 200,000 projects and $9.8 billion in mortgages and mortgage interests. 

As part of the administration of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, she provided oversight of the 22-acre Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park mixed-use development in Brooklyn, led the governor’s repositioning of the state’s Mitchell Lama portfolio, and served as president of the Queens West Development Corporation. Ms. Carethers also managed pre-development activities for CPC Resources, successfully gaining public approvals for the redevelopment of the historic Domino Sugar Refinery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 

In 32 years with the archdiocese, Dave Brown served three archbishops, including Cardinal Dolan. His many accomplishments include the relocation of Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie, new churches built in LaGrangeville, Somers, New City, Monroe, Co-op City, Staten Island and Roosevelt Island, and the restoration of St. Brigid in Manhattan. 

Other notable projects include the new NYU Catholic Center, the erection of the Egan Pavilion for retired priests in Riverdale, the construction of the Sheen Center for Arts and Culture in Manhattan and large-scale renovations of St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers and the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Manhattan. He will continue to serve as a consultant to the archdiocese.