John E. Restrepo
John Restrepo is one of New Jersey's leading affordable housing advocates, bringing more than 25 years of experience in affordable housing development, community planning, and public-private partnerships. Throughout his career, he has helped secure and manage hundreds of millions of dollars in public investment, leveraged millions in tax credits, developed thousands of affordable housing units, and led the rehabilitation of more than 300 abandoned properties. He has also played a key role in the asset management and repositioning of multiple Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) portfolios.
As the founder of a grassroots initiative that grew into a nonprofit serving eight municipalities across Hudson and Essex Counties, John has dedicated his career to expanding housing opportunities and revitalizing communities. His innovative homeownership programs have helped hundreds of families build long-term wealth through affordable housing, while his leadership as a two-time Chair of the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey has helped shape housing policy and strengthen partnerships that continue to create lasting community impact.
Keya Patel supports the company’s affordable housing development initiatives, bringing a strong quantitative and research background to project analysis and planning.
Her training in mathematics and physics, combined with independent ethnographic fieldwork experience studying the community impacts of large infrastructure projects, have given her a wide analytical skillset and a sharp eye for how development decisions play out on the ground. She is multilingual and her experiences around the world have informed her approach to studying and working on global cities. Keya is passionate about ensuring that housing growth benefits the communities it touches rather than displacing them, an outlook shaped in part by her thesis research work in Navi Mumbai, India. Keya holds a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) magna cum laude in Growth and Structure of Cities, Mathematics (Honors), and Physics from Bryn Mawr College.
President
Keya Patel
James Barnett is an affordable housing development professional focused on expanding access to homeownership, community-based housing solutions, and equitable neighborhood investment. Drawing on experience navigating complex public financing programs, housing policy, and real estate development, he advocates for housing systems that prioritize people alongside production. Raised in rural West Virginia, James developed an early passion for community design and a deep understanding of the impacts of economic inequality and disinvestment.
His work is driven by the belief that stable housing is foundational to opportunity, health, and long-term prosperity, and that emerging mission-driven developers play a critical role in creating innovative, grassroots housing solutions for underserved communities. James holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Public Policy from the University of Delaware Biden School of Public Policy and Administration and a Master of City and Regional Planning (M.C.R.P.) from the Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. He is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners.
James Barnett
Vice President
Nayeon brings versatility, careful attention to detail, and a strong sense of purpose to affordable housing development and consulting projects. Working with non-profit and municipality clients, she helps guide projects through each stage of development, from early planning and financing, construction, and the final steps toward lease-up or homeownership. Her ability to connect the many moving pieces of a project allows her to respond thoughtfully to each client’s needs and keep complex initiatives moving forward.
With an academic and professional background spanning urban design, planning, community development, and data-driven housing research in both Seoul and the United States, Nayeon has long been interested in housing inequality and the challenges facing underserved communities. She further developed her expertise in affordable housing policy and development while earning her Master of City and Regional Planning at Rutgers University. Drawn to Restrepo & Associates by its mission-driven approach and the passion of its team, Nayeon is committed to turning thoughtful housing ideas into meaningful opportunities for individuals, families, and communities.
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Nayeon Lee
Senior Project Manager
Nayeon Lee
Claire Williams
Claire Williams joined Restrepo & Associates in 2025, motivated by the urgent demand for services that enable municipalities to achieve their affordable housing objectives. With a robust background in fair share planning from a prestigious firm, she brings considerable expertise and insight to her role. Claire excels in identifying development opportunities for municipalities, expertly managing projects, coordinating documentation, and securing necessary approvals and funding.
As a magna cum laude graduate in Urban and Regional Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University, Claire is highly proficient in GIS mapping and has made significant contributions to planning initiatives across New Jersey. Her impactful work on transportation projects in Middlesex County has resulted in critical enhancements in bus and bike lane integration and overall bus services. Claire actively engages in county planning meetings, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping discussions around innovative project models, firmly establishing her commitment to advancing affordable housing in New Jersey.