Charles Kushner
Encyclopedia
Charles Kushner is an American
real estate developer, philanthropist
and political fundraiser.
by way of Italy
in 1949. When Charles Kushner was born on May 16, 1954, his mother wanted to name him "Chanan", a Yiddish name, after her brother, who was killed in the Holocaust
, but she was overruled by an American nurse. Joseph Kushner worked as a construction worker
and independent builder, while acquiring real estate
, totalling 4,000 New Jersey apartments, which Charles Kushner began managing in 1985. Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
, in Livingston, New Jersey
, built by Charles Kushner, are named after them.
Charles Kushner grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey
, with an elder brother, Murray, and a sister, Esther. His son Jared Kushner
is the owner of the New York Observer
, and is married to Ivanka Trump
, daughter of Donald Trump
.
in 1976 and received an MBA from there and a Juris Doctor
from Hofstra Law School in 1979. He worked as a real estate and tax lawyer, becoming a partner in the law firm of Brach, Eichler, Rosenberg, Silver, Bernstein, Hammer & Gladstone, in Roseland, New Jersey, and a member of the bars in the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
, and based on his father's real estate holdings. He was CEO, chairman, manager, and, he says, "dishwasher"; he had one secretary.
In 1999, Kushner won the Ernst & Young
New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year award. At the time, Kushner Companies had grown to over 10,000 residential apartments, a home building business, commercial and industrial properties and a community bank.
In 2003, New York University
and Kushner Properties
announced that the University has signed a 15-year lease for three floors, comprising 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) of contiguous space, in the historic Puck Building
, 295 Lafayette Street
in Manhattan
's SoHo
neighborhood.
In early 2007, Kushner bought the building at 666 Fifth Avenue
, New York City
, for US$1.8 billion, the highest price ever paid for a single office building in the United States. Subsequently Kushner shifted focus from his New Jersey real estate operations to the New York market. In July 2007, the Kushner Companies sold 17,500 apartments in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New York, valued at $2 billion. Before that sale, the Companies had employed approximately 800 people.
In August 2011, representatives from the Kushner Companies made a presentation to the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency proposing a scaled-back design concept for the Landings at Harborside, a residential development set to be built along the city's waterfront, and allowing rental housing instead of owner-occupied units as originally planned. The plan, which would save two historic Perth Amboy
buildings, was endorsed by Mayor Wilda Diaz
, who was quoted in saying "Too many sites have been torn down. Let’s restore them and use them for other purposes." She further said that the Kushner sketched a concept for the courthouse that was incorporated into the redesign.
is named in honor of Kushner and his wife Seryl.
He is also well known for his charitable donations to Jewish educational institutions.
One of the Kushner family's philanthropic ventures was the dedication of Joseph Kushner Building of the Jewish Educational Center
in Elizabeth, New Jersey
. Kushner's father, Joseph, for whom the building is named, had been a longtime member of the Jewish community and major force in the JEC's early growth.
Kushner also funded the building of the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
(Pre-K through 8) and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
(grades 9-12), two connected Modern Orthodox
Jewish institutions located in Livingston, New Jersey
, where Kushner resides. The schools are named after his deceased parents, both Holocaust survivors.
, most notably to former New Jersey Governor
Jim McGreevey
. In 2005, following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey
, Kushner was convicted of witness tampering
, tax evasion
and making illegal campaign contributions and was sentenced to two years in prison. He has since been released.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
real estate developer, philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and political fundraiser.
Family
Kushner's parents were Joseph and Rae Kushner, who had come to America from BelarusBelarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
by way of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1949. When Charles Kushner was born on May 16, 1954, his mother wanted to name him "Chanan", a Yiddish name, after her brother, who was killed in the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, but she was overruled by an American nurse. Joseph Kushner worked as a construction worker
Construction worker
A construction worker or builder is a professional, tradesman, or labourer who directly participates in the physical construction of infrastructure.-Construction trades:...
and independent builder, while acquiring real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
, totalling 4,000 New Jersey apartments, which Charles Kushner began managing in 1985. Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy is a coeducational Modern Orthodox Yeshiva Day School located in Livingston, New Jersey. The Academy is dedicated towards developmental education and religious growth, for both boys and girls from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8...
and Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School/Yeshivas Bais Yosef is a four-year yeshiva high school located in Livingston, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2003-04 school year, the school educated 265 students in grades 9-12. The school serves students living in areas ranging from Livingston, Staten Island,...
, in Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 29,366.Livingston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township and Springfield...
, built by Charles Kushner, are named after them.
Charles Kushner grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
, with an elder brother, Murray, and a sister, Esther. His son Jared Kushner
Jared Kushner
Jared Corey Kushner is an American real estate entrepreneur and newspaper publisher. He is the principal owner of Kushner Properties, his family’s holding company, and the publisher of The New York Observer. He is the son of American real estate developer Charles Kushner.-Early life:Kushner is the...
is the owner of the New York Observer
New York Observer
The New York Observer is a weekly newspaper first published in New York City on September 22, 1987, by Arthur L. Carter, a very successful former investment banker with publishing interests. The Observer focuses on the city's culture, real estate, the media, politics and the entertainment and...
, and is married to Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Trump
Ivanka Marie Trump is an American businesswoman, socialite, heiress, and fashion model. The daughter of Ivana and Donald Trump, she is Executive Vice President of Development & Acquisitions at The Trump Organization...
, daughter of Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
.
Education and legal career
Kushner graduated from New York UniversityNew York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1976 and received an MBA from there and a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Hofstra Law School in 1979. He worked as a real estate and tax lawyer, becoming a partner in the law firm of Brach, Eichler, Rosenberg, Silver, Bernstein, Hammer & Gladstone, in Roseland, New Jersey, and a member of the bars in the states of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
Business career
In January 1985 Kushner founded Kushner Companies, headquartered in Florham Park, New JerseyFlorham Park, New Jersey
Florham Park is a borough in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 8,857, which had grown to 12,389 as of the Bureau's 2008 estimate....
, and based on his father's real estate holdings. He was CEO, chairman, manager, and, he says, "dishwasher"; he had one secretary.
In 1999, Kushner won the Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year award. At the time, Kushner Companies had grown to over 10,000 residential apartments, a home building business, commercial and industrial properties and a community bank.
In 2003, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and Kushner Properties
Kushner Properties
Kushner Properties is a real estate developer in the New York City metropolitan area.The company's biggest presence is in the New Jersey residential market. It also owns in the Puck Building in New York City...
announced that the University has signed a 15-year lease for three floors, comprising 75000 square feet (6,967.7 m²) of contiguous space, in the historic Puck Building
Puck Building
__notoc__The Puck Building occupies the block bounded by Lafayette, Houston, Mulberry and Jersey Streets in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, United States. An example of the German Rundbogenstil style of Romanesque Revival architecture , the building was designed by Albert Wagner, and was...
, 295 Lafayette Street
Lafayette Street (Manhattan)
Lafayette Street is a major north-south street in New York City's Lower Manhattan, which runs roughly parallel to Broadway to the west. Originally, the part of the street below Houston Street was called Elm Place....
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
's SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
neighborhood.
In early 2007, Kushner bought the building at 666 Fifth Avenue
666 Fifth Avenue
666 Fifth Avenue is a 41-story office building on Fifth Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets in New York City.-Tishman ownership:The Tishman family via Tishman Realty and Construction built the tower in 1957. It was designed by Carson & Lundin and the building was called the Tishman Building...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, for US$1.8 billion, the highest price ever paid for a single office building in the United States. Subsequently Kushner shifted focus from his New Jersey real estate operations to the New York market. In July 2007, the Kushner Companies sold 17,500 apartments in the states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New York, valued at $2 billion. Before that sale, the Companies had employed approximately 800 people.
In August 2011, representatives from the Kushner Companies made a presentation to the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency proposing a scaled-back design concept for the Landings at Harborside, a residential development set to be built along the city's waterfront, and allowing rental housing instead of owner-occupied units as originally planned. The plan, which would save two historic Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Perth Amboy is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. The City of Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 50,814. Perth Amboy is known as the "City by the Bay", referring to Raritan Bay.-Name:The Lenape...
buildings, was endorsed by Mayor Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz
Wilda Diaz was elected Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey in May 2008. She defeated incumbent Joseph Vas, by a 58% to 42% margin. She is Perth Amboy's first female mayor and the first female mayor of Puerto Rican and Latina ancestry elected mayor of a city in New Jersey...
, who was quoted in saying "Too many sites have been torn down. Let’s restore them and use them for other purposes." She further said that the Kushner sketched a concept for the courthouse that was incorporated into the redesign.
Philanthropy
Because of his contributions, the building housing Hofstra University School of LawHofstra University School of Law
The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, New York. Founded in 1970 and accredited by the ABA in 1971, the school offers a JD, a joint JD/MBA degree, and LL.M degrees in American Law and Family law...
is named in honor of Kushner and his wife Seryl.
He is also well known for his charitable donations to Jewish educational institutions.
One of the Kushner family's philanthropic ventures was the dedication of Joseph Kushner Building of the Jewish Educational Center
Jewish Educational Center
The Jewish Educational Center is a fifteen-year yeshiva school located in Elizabeth, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in Prekindergarten through 12th grades. Throughout the day students learn a mixture of Judaic and secular studies. JEC, as it is commonly known, is run...
in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. Kushner's father, Joseph, for whom the building is named, had been a longtime member of the Jewish community and major force in the JEC's early growth.
Kushner also funded the building of the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy
The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy is a coeducational Modern Orthodox Yeshiva Day School located in Livingston, New Jersey. The Academy is dedicated towards developmental education and religious growth, for both boys and girls from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8...
(Pre-K through 8) and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School
Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School/Yeshivas Bais Yosef is a four-year yeshiva high school located in Livingston, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2003-04 school year, the school educated 265 students in grades 9-12. The school serves students living in areas ranging from Livingston, Staten Island,...
(grades 9-12), two connected Modern Orthodox
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
Jewish institutions located in Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston, New Jersey
Livingston is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 29,366.Livingston was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 5, 1813, from portions of Caldwell Township and Springfield...
, where Kushner resides. The schools are named after his deceased parents, both Holocaust survivors.
Political fundraising and convictions
Kushner is a major donor to the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, most notably to former New Jersey Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jim McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
. In 2005, following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
, Kushner was convicted of witness tampering
Witness tampering
Witness tampering is harming or otherwise threatening a witness, hoping to influence his or her testimony.-Witness tampering in the USA:In the United States, the crime of witness tampering in federal cases is defined by statute at , "Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant"...
, tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
and making illegal campaign contributions and was sentenced to two years in prison. He has since been released.