Nora Martins concentrates her practice on New York City zoning and land use, Her work ranges from zoning due diligence and consultation with regard to development potential to the preparation and management of discretionary land use applications for all types of projects, from multifamily buildings to complex large-scale mixed-use waterfront developments. She practices before the NYC City Planning Commission, the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), and the NYC Department of Buildings, as well as appearing before local community boards, borough presidents, and elected officials.
In particular, Nora focuses on complex projects requiring discretionary approvals and significant public-private coordination, including land use applications with City agencies as co-applicants , landmarked properties requiring approval from LPC, and/or 100% affordable housing projects that will be publicly financed by HDC and HPD.
People
Eleanore ('Nora') C. Martins
Partner, Real Estate
Notable Work
Represented 8th Regiment Partners, as co-applicant with NYCEDC, in the landmark restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx — the largest armory in the U.S. — transforming the long-vacant, seven-acre site into nearly 1 million square feet of mixed-use development, including a 17,000-person live events venue, commercial and cultural spaces, and up to 500 units of permanently affordable housing. Representation included complex negotiations with the City, drafting new zoning text, and obtaining approval of rezoning and special permits, as well as the LPC approval necessary to accommodate the project’s innovative uses. These approvals will unlock $215 million in public funding for a project expected to generate $2.6 billion in economic impact and thousands of jobs.
Represented MADDD Equities and Joy Construction, working closely with NYCEDC in connection with the Inwood Plan through its approval and then with NYC Parks and NYC DOT to secure a waterfront certification and negotiate easements and other legal agreements required to develop a 30-story, 611-unit, publicly financed 100% affordable housing waterfront site at 375 West 207th Street in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan, adjacent to the City’s planned North Cove Park.
Represented Madison Realty Capital, as co-applicant with NYCHA, in a public/private land use application to modify a prior large-scale residential development special permit to facilitate transfer of development rights from Campos Plaza to build a new 24-story, 175-unit mixed-use building on the corner of E. 14th Street and Avenue C.
Represented Home Depot in obtaining a special permit from the Department of City Planning to permit development of a self-storage facility adjacent to its new store in Maspeth, Queens.
Represented Project Renewal, the nonprofit operator of the existing New Providence shelter in Midtown East, Manhattan, as co-applicant with DHS, in obtaining approval of the disposition of City-owned land and site selection actions necessary to permit the construction of a new 21-story building containing a purpose-built shelter to replace the existing outdated shelter, together with affordable housing.
Represented Thorobird Companies LLC, as co-applicant with HPD, in securing the necessary land use approvals, including a rezoning and disposition of city-owned land and negotiating necessary agreements with MTA, to facilitate the redevelopment of a City-owned municipal parking lot with a 213-unit, 100% affordable apartment building adjacent to an existing subway station and above a subway tunnel.
Represented York Studios in securing approval of a waterfront special permit and waterfront certification to facilitate construction of the second phase of an existing TV and movie production studio in the Bronx that will provide public access to the waterfront and generate hundreds of jobs in the TV and movie industry.
Represented Bajraktari Realty Management Corp. in securing land use approvals, including a rezoning, to permit development of a hotel on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx’s Little Italy neighborhood.
Represented MADDD Equities in securing approval of a rezoning of a property in Downtown Brooklyn and the subsequent approval of the Section 18 disposition with NYCHA to facilitate the the acquisition of a $25 million fee parcel and approximately 90,000 square feet of air rights from the adjacent NYCHA Ingersoll Houses development to construct a new 31-story building with commercial, community facility, and residential use.
Represented Cayre Equities in connection with obtaining a special permit from the BSA to allow a daycare in a manufacturing district in Queens.
Published Work and Lectures
- FXCollaborative, Presenter, "City Charter Revisions: A Discussion of the Adopted Affordable Housing Ballot Proposals," December 12, 2025
- Akerman Real Estate Presentation, Presenter, "From Ballot to Reality: A Discussion of the Adopted Affordable Housing Ballot Proposals and Their Impact on Development in New York City," November 21, 2025
- Akerman Real Estate Presentation, Presenter, “A Practical Guide to City of Yes: Building in NYC with the City’s New Zoning,” January 30, 2025
- Akerman Real Estate Presentation, Presenter, "Akerman Hosts Virtual Seminar Series: Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning Webinar - Seminar Four," December 16, 2021
- Akerman Real Estate Presentation, Presenter, "Akerman Hosts Virtual Seminar Series: Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning Webinar," September 9, 2021
- Bisnow, Quoted, "Outdoor Dining Saved Thousands Of NYC Restaurants. Its Future Is Still An Open Question," August 20, 2021
- Bisnow, Quoted, "Cuomo Wants Empty Offices, Hotels Converted Into Housing. Most Landlords Aren't Ready To Make The Leap," February 15, 2021
- Lawline CLE Webcast, Presenter, "Practical Skills in NYC Zoning and Land Use Due Diligence," December 14, 2019
- Lawline CLE Webcast, Presenter, "Basic NYC Zoning and Land Use for Real Estate Lawyers," April 11, 2019
- Akerman Real Estate CLE Webcast, Presenter, “Basic NYC Zoning and Land Use for Real Estate Lawyers,” March 28, 2019
- New York Real Estate Journal (NYREJ), Author, "Automotive use to affordable apartments: The Jerome Ave. rezoning - by Nora Martins and Joshua Rinesmith," July 3, 2018
Affiliations
- Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), Member
- New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH), Member
- New York City Bar Association, Member
- Urban Land Institute (ULI) New York, Member
- Urban Land Institute (ULI) NEXT New York, Member
- Citizens Housing and Planning Council, Policy Innovation Network, Member
Honors and Distinctions
- Connect CRE, 2024 Women in Real Estate Award Winner, New York & Tristate
- New York Business Journal, 2024, "Women of Influence" Honoree
- GlobeSt., 2024, “Aspiring Leaders in CRE” Honoree
- Fordham Law Women, 2024, Awarded the Santangelo Alumna Mentorship Award
- New York Real Estate Journal (NYREJ) Publication 2021, Listed as "Ones to Watch"
- Super Lawyers Magazine 2014-2022, Listed in New York as a "Rising Star" for Land Use and Zoning
- The Legal 500, 2022, 2025, Recommended for Real Estate – Land Use/Zoning
- Honored as a "Top Woman in Business" by Queens Courier in 2015