Remediate
Repurpose
Rebuild
Repurpose
Rebuild
Company Overview
River Development has over 40 years of redevelopment history in New Jersey and across the northeast. Through cyclical financial markets and constantly changing regulatory environments, River Development has developed a diverse range of projects including mixed-use city centers, specialty industrial, and residential properties.
River Development has differentiated itself through a deep focus on redevelopment and engagement with public/private sites, including federal, state, municipal and private entities. We continue to exceed the demands of our tenants and partners by targeting properties with high municipal interest in redevelopment, and often times in need of significant environmental remediation. Over the course of our diverse waterfront redevelopments and environmentally sensitive projects, River has built a unique ability to successfully navigate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, federal and state environmental agencies, and federal and local transportation agencies.
River and its affiliates have developed and/or purchased and managed twelve garden apartment properties, six grocery anchored shopping centers, and 2.5 million sf of national distribution and flex properties. Our portfolio of tenants includes global CPG brands, healthcare and pharmaceutical corporations, big box and ecommerce retailers, financial institutions, and US Governmental agencies.
We maintain a commitment to building lasting relationships with private and public stakeholders, development and management companies, design professionals, investors and lenders, and corporate tenants allowing us to execute on the highest and best level of planning, capitalization, development, and management of our projects. River approaches each project with the understanding that success is best achieved by combining the experience of our trusted partners and expertise from new, local partners with a strong history of serving the project region. Each of our projects is built with smart growth and sustainable development principles that aim to better the community functionally and economically. River Development continues its legacy as a primarily long hold owner/operator with a multi-generational approach to asset development and management.
River Development has differentiated itself through a deep focus on redevelopment and engagement with public/private sites, including federal, state, municipal and private entities. We continue to exceed the demands of our tenants and partners by targeting properties with high municipal interest in redevelopment, and often times in need of significant environmental remediation. Over the course of our diverse waterfront redevelopments and environmentally sensitive projects, River has built a unique ability to successfully navigate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, federal and state environmental agencies, and federal and local transportation agencies.
River and its affiliates have developed and/or purchased and managed twelve garden apartment properties, six grocery anchored shopping centers, and 2.5 million sf of national distribution and flex properties. Our portfolio of tenants includes global CPG brands, healthcare and pharmaceutical corporations, big box and ecommerce retailers, financial institutions, and US Governmental agencies.
We maintain a commitment to building lasting relationships with private and public stakeholders, development and management companies, design professionals, investors and lenders, and corporate tenants allowing us to execute on the highest and best level of planning, capitalization, development, and management of our projects. River approaches each project with the understanding that success is best achieved by combining the experience of our trusted partners and expertise from new, local partners with a strong history of serving the project region. Each of our projects is built with smart growth and sustainable development principles that aim to better the community functionally and economically. River Development continues its legacy as a primarily long hold owner/operator with a multi-generational approach to asset development and management.
Our Team
Warren Waters
Warren is a Principal and Founding Member of River Development Equities. His chief focus is leveraging his more than 40 years of redevelopment experience to identify the next strategic opportunity and drive the vision and design for the project.
Warren enables the River Development team and their consulting professionals to analyze the planning and zoning challenges of the site and focus on their resolution. Under Warren’s' management the company has expanded into regional markets, strengthened existing partnerships, and forged new relationships with each development.
A long serving Board Member on over a dozen charitable organizations, Warren sits on the Advisory Board of Trustees of the Valley National Bank.
Warren enables the River Development team and their consulting professionals to analyze the planning and zoning challenges of the site and focus on their resolution. Under Warren’s' management the company has expanded into regional markets, strengthened existing partnerships, and forged new relationships with each development.
A long serving Board Member on over a dozen charitable organizations, Warren sits on the Advisory Board of Trustees of the Valley National Bank.
Sam Waters
Sam is a Principal at River Development Equities focused on land acquisition and redevelopment across industrial, mixed use, and multifamily assets.
Prior to joining River Development, Sam was a Senior Strategic Operations Manager at Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), where he optimized rideshare operations and drove product growth strategy across the US & Canada. During his time at Uber, he partnered with professional sports venues, global real estate companies, and major events and festivals on enhancing pickups and dropoffs at their properties. Sam worked closely with municipal officials on a number of urban and transportation planning initiatives.
Sam began his career as a currency trader for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) in New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University.
Prior to joining River Development, Sam was a Senior Strategic Operations Manager at Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER), where he optimized rideshare operations and drove product growth strategy across the US & Canada. During his time at Uber, he partnered with professional sports venues, global real estate companies, and major events and festivals on enhancing pickups and dropoffs at their properties. Sam worked closely with municipal officials on a number of urban and transportation planning initiatives.
Sam began his career as a currency trader for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (BBH) in New York. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University.
Matthew Waters
Matthew is a Business Development Associate focused on River’s tenant strategy and growing hospitality business. In addition to contributing to the design vision for our vibrant "downtown" retail and entertainment districts, he brings a depth of experience in digital media and marketing. Matthew has worked with some of the largest retail brands, professional athletes, and celebrity talent across the globe on experiential marketing initiatives and digital growth strategy.
Melissa Smith
Melissa leads River’s administrative functions, including invoicing, contract processing, accounting, and data transfers. She brings over 20 years of experience as a Senior Account Executive at industry leading apparel manufacturing companies, where she spearheaded various initiatives related to budget forecasting, go-to-market planning, brand strategy and product development.
Operating Partners
Victor Rizzuto
Victor is an engineering and construction professional with over 40 years of diverse experience in planning and managing the design and construction of major facility, site and infrastructure projects. He has been involved in every level of the construction and real estate development industries, including as an executive in Fortune 100 and 500 manufacturing companies and ENR Top 100 Design Firms. Vic includes stints with Top 100 General Contractors and as an entrepreneur. He has worked on projects throughout the US and all over the World.
In recent years, Vic continues to protect his employers and clients with respect to liability, while managing resources and processes. He has expertise in mediation, arbitration and jury trial, as well as forensic engineering. Much of what Vic does in the design and construction industry relies on experienced objective instinct as well as technical training.
Vic has a degree from the University of Notre Dame, and holds several professional engineering licenses.
In recent years, Vic continues to protect his employers and clients with respect to liability, while managing resources and processes. He has expertise in mediation, arbitration and jury trial, as well as forensic engineering. Much of what Vic does in the design and construction industry relies on experienced objective instinct as well as technical training.
Vic has a degree from the University of Notre Dame, and holds several professional engineering licenses.
Chris Smith
Chris is an operating partner focused on River's hospitality business. He spent 14 years as a Commodities Trader and member of the New York Mercantile Exchange trading natural gas and crude oil futures as an independent trader, where he was a Member of the National Futures Association (NFA) and served on the NYMEX Adjudication committee. For the past 10 years, Chris has focused on Real Estate Development, including residential, commercial, and re-development.
Chris is currently a councilman for the borough of Little Silver, NJ and serves as Council President. Chris is the former President of the Little Silver Board of Education. He is a founding board member of the Rumson St. Patrick's Day Parade, a non-profit organization that celebrates Irish Heritage and supports locally based charitable foundations.
Chris is currently a councilman for the borough of Little Silver, NJ and serves as Council President. Chris is the former President of the Little Silver Board of Education. He is a founding board member of the Rumson St. Patrick's Day Parade, a non-profit organization that celebrates Irish Heritage and supports locally based charitable foundations.