About Kacy Keys

Kacy Keys is a real estate development executive, and land use and transactional real estate attorney, who has made her career specializing in urban infill and transit-oriented development projects. She has overseen the development of over $1 billion in real estate assets with experience in residential, retail, office and mixed-use product types. She is currently active as an independent developer in the Southern California market through Praxis Development Group.

Prior to working with Praxis Development Group, Kacy joined Seritage Growth Properties as its Senior Vice President, overseeing development in the Western United States.  Seritage is a publicly-traded REIT spun-off by Sears to activate, redevelop, or otherwise monetize the portfolio of 200+ Sears retail locations nationwide.  Kacy’s high-profile projects include the adaptive reuse of the iconic Sears building in Santa Monica, CA; redevelopment of the Sears property at University Town Center in San Diego, CA; and a major master planning and development effort of 14 acres in Redmond, Washington. Overseeing roughly $800M of real estate and approximately $500M of development, Kacy built out a team and managed the Los Angeles office on behalf of the company; and also directed joint development efforts and strategic initiatives across the portfolio.

For ten years prior to joining Seritage, Kacy supported the JH Snyder development company, acting as in-house counsel and director of development, sourcing deals, and overseeing due diligence, entitlement, acquisition, financing, disposition, leasing, purchase and sale agreements, asset management, partnership and operating agreements, public/private negotiations, joint venture agreements, commission agreements, and general business operations. While at Snyder, Kacy played a lead role in deals closing; she has extensive experience in strategic negotiation, entitlement and implementation. Notable projects in Southern California include: The Vermont in Koreatown (464 high-rise apartments over retail); 1601 Vine (110,000 sq.ft. office project) and 959 Seward  in Hollywood (250,000 sq.ft. office project); NoHo Commons and 5250 Lankershim in North Hollywood (mixed-use multi-family, office, retail, Laemmle Theater); The Crescent in Beverly Hills (mixed-use multi-family and office); West Hollywood Gateway (retail); Bella Terra (retail); and more.

Kacy served as the Senior Real Estate Representative within the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, City of Los Angeles. During her service with the City, Ms. Keys spearheaded the Adaptive Re-use ordinance and major development projects in downtown Los Angeles and surrounding areas, including Staples Center, Disney Hall, the Old Bank District and more. She also worked as the Chief Economic Development consultant to the Tenth Council District, City of Los Angeles, and prior to that time, she was an attorney with the law firm of Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble and Mallory. Kacy has a comprehensive knowledge of entitlement, land use and real estate law; she also possesses vital negotiating skills necessary for the implementation and approval of complex development projects. Prior to joining the JH Snyder Company, Ms. Keys established her own firm, Keys Consulting Group, providing expert advice on all aspects of economic and real estate development.

Kacy has an economics and law degree from U.C. Berkeley, as well as a masters in urban planning from UCLA. Kacy is also an accomplished dancer, who used to perform professionally and founded the dance organization, Praxis Project, in Los Angeles. Kacy has been dancing since the age of six. 

A native of Los Angeles, with family roots reaching back more than 100 years, Kacy lives in the LaFayette Square neighborhood of South Los Angeles.