CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARDS IN REAL ESTATE, HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION
April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Thanks for making a difference. Congratulations to the Corporate Social Responsibility Awards recipients for corporate, foundation and family philanthropy. Well done.
HIRENYC: New York City’s commitment to connecting economic development to job opportunities for New Yorkers By Ashley Putnam Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development
New York City’s economy is growing, with nearly 220,000 jobs added in the past two years. As significant drivers of this growth, Real Estate, Housing and Construction companies bring thousands of jobs to New York City every year through development and construction projects. New York City government itself is a major driver of economic growth across the five boroughs. The City spends billions of dollars every year on development activities such as creating a new manufacturing and industrial space at the Brooklyn Army Terminal ($100 million), investing in the transformation of Downtown Far Rockaway ($91 million), and creating 200,000 units of affordable over the next eight years ($8.2 billion). These economic development initiatives create employment for New Yorkers, but historically lacked a clear link to the workforce system and local job seekers. To address this missed opportunity, Mayor de Blasio launched HireNYC in October of 2015. HireNYC is one of the largest and most impactful targeted hiring programs in the nation, leveraging the City’s investments to connect businesses and qualified residents to jobs created through Real Estate and Development projects, Goods and Services purchases, and Human Services contracts. In order to forge these connections, HireNYC creates new opportunities for companies receiving City subsidies to work with the City’s robust workforce system. As part of the HireNYC initiative, employers working on City projects will receive free business and recruitment services through the Workforce1 Career Center system, including access to an expanded pool of talent. Employers are encouraged to consider qualified New Yorkers for open positions associated with those contracts in order to meet their hiring needs. HireNYC in action: The Sandy Recovery program Build it Back, announced in October 2014, is one of the most well recognized targeted hiring initiatives in New York City. As part of the program, Build it Back contractors are encouraged to employ 20 percent Sandy-impacted residents on their projects. To engage with local talent, employers submit job postings and interview candidates from the Sandy Recovery Workforce1 Center. This community impact approach meets business needs while providing opportunities to the residents that were impacted by Sandy to benefit from the jobs created by reconstruction efforts. Similarly, HireNYC Development leverages job opportunities created through funding from New York City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Housing Preservation
and Development (HPD). As of 2016, solicitations for NYCEDC projects above $1 million and HPD projects above $2 million contain new language incorporating HireNYC. Qualifying developers, General Contractors and sub-contractorsare able to enroll online with HireNYC, list job openings, and interview qualified candidates. As a result of this initiative, affordable housing and economic development investments will create job opportunities for New Yorkers, and connect companies to valuable talent pipelines. In addition, HireNYC establishes employment targets for permanent jobs created by businesses at City- supported development projects, including tenants of NYCEDC-managed properties. NYCEDC has expanded this program to new projects, as well as ones receiving assistance from the New York City Industrial Development Agency and BuildNYC Resource Corporation. Tenants and subtenants of these projects with 10 or more permanent positions are required to engage with HireNYC and consider candidates referred through Workforce1 centers. HireNYC Development provides valuable services to businesses and access to jobs for community members. Finally, in June 2015 the Mayor announced a deal on several new project labor agreements (PLA) with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC). This deal will help increase opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses in construction projects, and also for women, new high school graduates of the City’s public schools, returning veterans, and employees of certified minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs). In line with HireNYC’s goals, for trade positions, the PLA/MOU agreement increases the percentage of direct entry to apprenticeship opportunities from target populations from 45 percent to 55 percent, providing more New Yorkers with access to union job opportunities. Through HireNYC, the City has made a clear commitment to strengthening the connection between development and community impact. The program ensures large contracts, which make up over 90 percent of the City’s non-emergency spending, as well as construction and development investments will provide New Yorkers with access to thousands of jobs. HireNYC will help shape the growth of our economy in a way that is more inclusive and balanced by connecting New York City’s development, real estate and housing investments to opportunities for all New Yorkers. To learn more, visit nyc.gov/hirenyc or email HireNYCQuestions@cityhall.nyc.gov
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS
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CATAPULT NEW YORKERS INTO THE MIDDLE CLASS, ASAP By Tom Hilliard
Over the past several years, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have put New York at the forefront of efforts to reduce income inequality, announcing initiatives such as universal prekindergarten, paid family leave and a $15 minimum wage for public-sector workers. These are all hugely important policy innovations. But I’m keeping my eye on another inequality initiative, one rolled out late last year to little fanfare but which could turn out to be one of the most effective efforts in New York, and the nation, to catapult people into the middle class. I’m talking about CUNY’s plan to enroll virtually all full-time students at Bronx Community College in CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, an initiative that has proven to be amazingly effective in increasing community college graduation rates. CUNY ASAP, which provides community college students with free tuition, textbooks, MetroCards and regular contact with an adviser, is one of the most widely acclaimed educational initiatives in recent memory. The respected research organization MDRC evaluated an ASAP pilot project and found that it nearly doubled participants’ three-year graduation rates. “ASAP’s effects after three years are the most positive MDRC has found in over a decade of research in higher education,” the authors said. The program’s potential is clear. Community colleges have become key platforms for mobility at a time when a high school diploma is no longer enough to guarantee a decent-paying job. Yet these institutions are failing to fulfill their vast potential because so few of their students actually graduate with an associate degree or transfer to a four-year university. Just over one-third of first-time full-time community college freshmen statewide graduate within six years. In New York City, the six-year graduation rate at community colleges is 29 percent. ASAP has achieved far higher marks by offering students an integrated package of support that continues from enrollment to graduation. Students participating in ASAP agree to study full time and see an adviser regularly. In return, CUNY guarantees payment of tuition and fees, books and transportation; provides intensive academic advising, as well as tutoring support for students with developmental needs; and makes available special linked courses and a seminar that builds college knowledge. The challenge has always been figuring out how to scale CUNY ASAP. Until now, the program has served just 4,000 students a year. Now, CUNY is laying the groundwork to bring the ASAP model to more than 25,000 students, including an entire community college. Over the next several years, CUNY plans to raise the threeyear graduation rate at Bronx Community College from its current level of about 11 percent to 50 percent, an incredibly ambitious goal. If successful, Bronx Community College would attain one of
the nation’s highest community college graduation rates. Each year roughly 600 additional college graduates, from some of the nation’s poorest families, would walk across the commencement stage and then enter the skilled workforce. If CUNY expanded ASAP and related programs to all of its community colleges, it could add over 5,000 college graduates annually to the workforce, with impressive benefits not only to the students, but to employer competitiveness and community prosperity. The primary obstacle is cost. ASAP costs about 40 percent more per enrolled student, and the upcoming expansion required New York City to find an additional $42 million. A citywide expansion would cost much more, an extremely difficult lift that is only more challenging at a time when CUNY is struggling to settle a labor contract with its faculty and lobbying hard to maintain level funding from the state. Expanding the program will require Cuomo and the state Legislature to make long-overdue revisions to how the state finances its higher education system. Currently, the state’s college financing system rewards community colleges for enrolling students but not for graduating them. This needs to change. Ever since New York state first chartered its community colleges, it has paid them on a per-enrolled-student basis, which effectively rewards colleges for enrolling more students and punishes them for spending more to help those students succeed. Yet ASAP is actually less expensive than the status quo when measured by cost per graduate. The fact is that there is nothing sacred about New York’s traditional funding mechanism. Other states are experimenting with creative financing approaches, and New York could too. We should reward colleges like Bronx Community College that are doing the right thing for their students – getting them to graduation as quickly as possible without diminishing the rigor of their academic experience. At the same time, the state Legislature should reject Cuomo’s recent proposal to cut almost $500 million in annual state funding to CUNY and shifts the cost to the city. Adopting this proposal will almost certainly lead to a net reduction in public funding for CUNY, jeopardizing some existing programs and making it virtually impossible to scale up innovative initiatives like ASAP. Instead, the state should work to boost graduation rates at CUNY’s colleges and universities. That would change the lives of thousands of disadvantaged young people and take a giant step toward reducing inequality in New York. Tom Hilliard is a senior researcher at the Center for an Urban Future, an independent think tank focused on expanding economic opportunity and growing the economy in New York City. For more, go to www.nycfuture.org or @nycfuture. This op-ed originally ran on NYSlant.com.
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARDS IN CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & FAMILY PHILANTHROPY
The event was emceed by Merryl Tisch, outgoing chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents.
A thought leadership panel discussion featured (from left) Valerie Biberaj of Kate Spade & Company Foundation, Tanuja Gupta of Google for Nonprofits, Tamara Belinfanti of New York Law School, Lorie Slutsky of New York Community Trust, and Merryl Tisch, who moderated.
Custom City & State Reports cookies were made by honoree Eleni Gianopulos of Eleni’s New York.
Anthony Crowell, dean and president of New York Law School, addressed the crowd.
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On March 3, City & State Reports honored exceptional individuals from New York’s dynamic world of Corporate, Foundation and Family Philanthropy. The event drew a crowd of over 200 executives and professionals, and Merryl Tisch, chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents, emceed. A thought leadership panel featured executives from the Kate Spade & Company Foundation, Google for Nonprofits, New York Community Trust and New York Law School.
Ralph Bumbaca, senior vice president of TD Bank, presented an award to honoree Anthony Bergamo of MB Real Estate.
Valerie Biberaj of the Kate Spade & Company Foundation.
The Pinkerton Foundation team.
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
OneTitle congratulates today’s honorees and shares their commitment to make New York City a desirable and accessible place to live and work. At OneTitle, we are doing our part by dramatically lowering the closing costs for residential and commercial transactions. Learn more about our lower title premiums and superior service at www.onetitle.com.
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info@onetitle.com | www.onetitle.com | 212.641.0200
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
RUSSELL C. ALBANESE Chairman
Albanese Organization Inc.
Pioneer’s Award for Sustainable, Integrated Development
Russell C. Albanese has more than 35 years of experience in real estate planning, design, development and management. The Albanese Organization was co-founded by Russell’s father, Anthony, and uncle, Vincent, over 65 years ago. Today, Russell and Vincent’s son, Christopher, lead the firm. Based in Garden City, Long Island, the firm is dedicated to creating exceptional living and working environments that offer enhanced value both today and over the long term. Corporate integrity and excellence in both development and community service are core principles
that guide Russell and his firm. Completing a broad spectrum of residential and commercial developments, AO has collaborated successfully with both private and public partners to create numerous innovative and transformative developments in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area. For the past 15 years, the firm has been recognized as one of the leading developers to advance sustainable building practices; its development of the nation’s first two green high-rise residential towers has garnered the
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firm international acclaim. The company’s depth of experience ranges from high-rise luxury residential and Class A commercial office development to mixed-use, transit-oriented suburban downtown revitalization, providing opportunities for people of diverse backgrounds and economic needs. Russell is an active member and serves on the boards of various industry and charitable organizations. He has also been a frequent speaker promoting environmentally responsible development and smart growth principles.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
commercial banking | private banking Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Leumi is a proud sponsor of City & State Reports and congratulates the 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility honorees for their contribution to the Real Estate, Housing & Construction sectors. We admire your dedication to the city of New York and the contributions you make.
Congratulations to all the honorees:
Karim Hutson, Genesis Companies Daniel Martin, Housing Partnership Mason Tenders District Council Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc., Steamfitters Local 638 Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation Project Renewal Gary D. Rodney, New York City Housing Development Corp. Denise Richardson, General Contractors Association of NY Alexander Sachs and David Berger, DNA Development David Schwartz, Slate Property Group Paul Travis, Washington Square Partners
Russell Albanese, Albanese Organization David Amirian, The Amirian Group Ellen Baxter, Broadway Housing Communities Eric Benaim, Modern Spaces Scott Bloom, Bloom Real Estate Group Charles Borrok, Cushman & Wakefield Eric Brody, Wonder Works Construction Dave Cheikin, Brookfield Office Properties Martin Cottingham, Avison Young Robert Feder, Cuddy & Feder LLP Rodolfo Fuertes, Fine Fair David Greenberg, Columbia University Francis Greenburger, Time Equities
Leumi leumiusa.com
Tel: 917.542.2343 | Tel: 800.892.5430 579 Fifth Avenue | New York, NY 10017
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DAVID AMIRIAN President and Founder The Amirian Group
David Amirian of The Amirian Group is one of New York City’s premier residential and commercial developers. The firm focuses on projects that are unique in design and location. After 11 years of work in the real estate and construction industry, including HRH Construction and Zamir Equities, he partnered with Wonder Works Construction and The Brody Group in 2012 to build 316 East 3rd Street, a ground-up rental project in the Lower East Side and 540 West 49th Street, which broke the record for the highest price per square foot ever achieved in Hell’s Kitchen. His latest project, 16 East 10th Street, a 10,500 square
foot home, broke records as the most expensive single family townhouse ever sold in Greenwich Village. The Amirian Group will be starting three projects come the fall of 2015 which include: Thirteen East-West in the East Village, The Tribe Hotel in Tribeca and The Twenty One in Flatiron. Why are you passionate about the causes you’re a part of? The work with the Jewish organizations is extremely close to my heritage, while The Amirian Group’s work with groups dedicated to helping homeless individuals speaks to the greater need of the New York community.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Excellence in Corporate Philanthropy & Community Engagement
Real estate MaRk eting investMent pRopeRties Rental DevelopMents CoMMeRCial Real estate ConDoMiniuMsDevelopMent Design ConCept BR anD & iDentity new DevelopMents CoMMunity events pRe-DevelopMent planning I n ju st u nder 8 yea rs Moder n Spaces h a s succes sf u l l y m a rketed , sold , or lea sed out 25 project s tot a l i n g over $2 Bi l l ion i n s a les . For mor e i n for m at ion a bout t he s er v ices we pr ov ide, stop by one of ou r nei g h borhood stor ef r ont s tod ay a nd spea k to a pr ofes sion a l a bout a l l you r R ea l E st ate ne e d s .
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brooklyn 135 Kent aVenue williamsBurg
30th Ave 34-16 30th aVenue astoria
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chelseA 220 west 16th street manhattan
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
WE ARE NEW YORK’S LAW SCHOOL
Dean Anthony W. Crowell and
The Center for Real Estate Studies at New York Law School Congratulate
The Real Estate Housing & Construction Awards Honorees 12 www.nyls.edu
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
ELLEN BAXTER
Founder and Executive Director Broadway Housing Communities
Distinguished Lifetime Service on Behalf of New York’s Homeless
Ellen Baxter has been committed to fighting poverty and homelessness in New York City and nationally for more than 30 years, and was a founder of the New York Coalition for the Homeless. In 1983, Ellen founded the nonprofit community-based organization Broadway Housing Communities (BHC), which today leverages the synergies of housing, education and the arts to create meaningful change for underserved children, adults, seniors and entire communities. The recently completed Sugar Hill Project, with an iconic design by architect David Adjaye, is BHC’s first new-construction effort. Located in Harlem’s historic Sugar Hill district and serving as a model for other developers, architects, funders and policymakers, this ambitious community revitalization initiative pairs 124 units of affordable housing with an
early childhood education center and an innovative cultural institution, the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling. Conceived as an oasis for children and families in a neighborhood beset by poverty, Sugar Hill is poised to generate transformational opportunities for generations to come. The innovative quality of Broadway Housing Communities’ work has been widely recognized in both the private and public sectors, including a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Housing (1994), a Banker’s Trust Award for NonProfit Management (1993), a Citizen’s Housing & Planning Council Public Service Award (1994), the Robin Hood Foundation (2004), Resourceful Women (1998) and the Environmental Crusaders Award from West Harlem Environmental Action (2004). Baxter’s leadership in advocacy and advancing solutions
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to homelessness earned her Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters from Mount Holyoke and Bowdoin College, her alma mater. She is the recipient of a 2006 James A. Johnson Fellowship Award from the Fannie Mae Foundation and a 2008 Equity Champion honoree of the Educational Equity Center. In 2010, she received the Neighborhood Activist Award f r o m t h e Ne w Yo r k Wo m e n’ s Foundation. In 2011, Broadway Housing Communities became New York City’s newest and 27th settlement house, and in 2012 received a prestigious national ArtPlace award for strategic community investment in the arts. Why are you passionate about the cause you’re a part of? Understanding homelessness and deep poverty incites passion.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Congratulations to the winners of
City & State Reports’ Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction from The Board of Directors & Staff of The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce 335 Adams Street, Suite 2700 | Brooklyn, NY 11201 | 718.875.1000
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
ERIC BENAIM
President, CEO and Founder Modern Spaces
Excellence in Community Service
Eric Benaim’s entry into real estate began in 2001 following a successful career as owner of a live event production and marketing firm. Initially concentrating on Manhattan luxury sales, he later recognized untapped opportunity in his own beloved neighborhood and turned his focus exclusively to Long Island City. The result was the sale of 50 residences in 2006 alone. In the midst of 2008’s severe economic crisis, Benaim instinctively decided the time was right to launch Modern Spaces, permanently
changing the perception and value of real estate in LIC. In less than seven years, his insightful and personal approach resulted in the swift expansion of Modern Spaces, with additional offices in Manhattan, Astoria and Brooklyn. Benaim was the first person to be recognized as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star in both Queens and Brooklyn by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, respectively. He is a member of REBNY and serves on the Advisory Board of Mount
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Sinai Hospital as well as the board of directors for the Long Island City Partnership. Benaim is an art collector and avid supporter of the arts. As the informal “Mayor of LIC,” it is his passion for building prosperous community that informs Modern Spaces’ unparalleled perspective. What nonprofit or philanthropic issue would you like to be involved in? I’m (interested in) community-focused groups as well as (the) arts and fighting cancer.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
SCOTT M. BLOOM President
Bloom Real Estate Group
Excellence in Community Service
Prior to forming Bloom Real Estate Group, Scott M. Bloom spent 15 years at Newmark and GVA Williams gaining leasing and sales experience representing both landlords and tenants. Since 1989, he has fulfilled the diverse needs of owners and users in the acquisition and disposition of commercial space. As an owner representative, he has boosted occupancy in every assignment, improving rates from as low as 55 percent to as high as 97-100 percent. In addition to serving as exclusive
leasing agent for office buildings such as Carnegie Hall Tower, 1776 Broadway and 400 Madison Avenue, he has successfully completed more than 900 leasing and sales transactions. Bloom prides himself on being an active member of dozens of industry, nonprofit and charitable organizations including the Real Estate Board of New York (Grand Central Committee Executive Board). He donates to and volunteers for the Young Men’s/Women’s Real
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Estate Association, the World Wide Children’s Foundation, the City Athletic Club, the High School for Leadership and Public Service, the NY Blood Center, the National Institute for People with Disabilities, and many others. How did you get involved in the causes you’re a part of? Ever since Camp Tranquillity. We were all taught Noblesse Oblige … that “Those who can, must.”
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CHARLES R. BORROK Executive Vice Chairman Cushman & Wakefield
Special Lifetime Achievement in Promoting Workforce Readiness for Disadvantaged Children
Charles R. Borrok is one of the highest ranking brokerage professionals at Cushman & Wakefield. Over his career, Borrok has acted as a leasing broker for over 100 million square feet of office space throughout the world and has been involved in the purchase and sale of many important office buildings worldwide. He has specialized in negotiating some of the largest and most complicated sale, lease, and real estate development transactions throughout the world. He has also been involved in many successful government incentive and zoning negotiations. At Cushman & Wakefield in 1998, Borrok was recognized as the top broker in the firm worldwide. In 2009,
he was recognized as one of the top two brokers in the firm worldwide. In 2010, he was recognized as one of the top 10 producing brokers at Cushman & Wakefield worldwide and as the leading broker in New York. In 2014, Borrok was ranked as the top office leasing broker globally at Cushman & Wakefield. Borrok plays an active role in the New York metropolitan community. He is currently on the board of Junior Achievement of New York and on the board of directors of the New York Foundling Hospital. For many years, he served as a member of the board of Beth Israel Hospital and the Board of Visitors of Columbia College. He
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was a director of the 34th Street Partnership and a member of the board of the New York City Police Foundation. Borrok was the chairman of the Annual UJA/Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Campaign for the City of New York and chairman of the Real Estate Division and Board of Directors. As a member of the board of Long Island University, he received the William Zeckendorf Award for Excellence. How did you get involved in the causes you’re a part of? I enjoy helping people and throughout my life I have sought opportunities to be involved.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
NY Co-Chairs Edward C. Wallace Warren J. Karp
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
NY Co-Managing Shareholders Nancy Mitchell Stephen L. Rabinowitz
1 9 0 0 AT TO R N E YS | 3 8 LO CAT I O N S WO R L DW I D E˚
Real Estate Robert J. Ivanhoe Stephen L. Rabinowitz Kristen J. Lonergan Kenneth M. Sklar REIT Practice Judith D. Fryer Real Estate Operations Daniel J. Ansell Construction Robert C. Epstein Land Use Jay A. Segal Corporate & Securities Alan I. Annex Nancy Mitchell
Cybersecurity, Privacy and Crisis Management Rudolph W. Giuliani Entertainment & Media Barbara C. Meili Paul D. Schindler Environmental Steven C. Russo Government Law & Policy John L. Mascialino Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Scott J. Bornstein Alan N. Sutin Labor & Employment Jonathan L. Sulds Jerrold F. Goldberg Litigation Richard A. Edlin Alan Mansfield Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick Tax, Trusts and Estates Barbara T. Kaplan Linda B. Hirschson
We join in recognizing the 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility honorees for their outstanding work in New York’s Real Estate, Housing & Construction Sectors.
C ONG RATUL ATIONS ! Russell Albanese
Francis Greenburger
Mega Contracting Group, LLC
Ellen Baxter
Karim Hutson Ben Krupinski
Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation
Anne Lubell
Project Renewal
Daniel Martin
Gary D. Rodney
Mason Tenders District Council
Robert Reffkin
Eric Benaim Scott Bloom Charles Borrok Eric Brody David Cheikin Martin Cottingham Robert Feder Rudy Fuertes
Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc., Steamfitters Local 638
Denise Richardson David Schwartz Paul Travis
At Greenberg Traurig, we share your dedication to the citizens of New York City and commitment to give back to the communities we live and work. Real Estate is a cornerstone of Greenberg Traurig and the firm is a recognized leader in the industry having achieved appreciation as one of the finest law firms for legal needs in the New York City real estate community. Our team provides clients with seamlessly integrated legal services for all phases of a real estate project, including housing and construction.
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP | METLIFE BUILDING | 200 PARK AVENUE | NEW YORK, NY 10166 | 212.801.9200 | GTLAW.COM
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Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2016 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Contact: Ed Wallace, John Mascialino in New York at 212.801.9200. °These numbers are subject to fluctuation. 27152
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
ERIC BRODY
Chief Operating Officer
Wonder Works Construction Corp.
Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Jobs & Opportunity for Disadvantaged Communities
Eric Brody leads the operations of one of the New York area’s most respected construction management, general contracting and real estate development firms. In addition to day-to-day operations, he is in charge of business development and leads the firm’s development division. Wonder Works Construction Corp. has a 25-year legacy of noteworthy development and construction, having completed more than $300 million of residential, commercial and mixed-use projects in recent years as a third-party contractor and construction manager. Its current construction management and contracting projects include such highly touted developments as the Oosten at 421 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg and 540West at 540 West 49th Street. In addition, Wonder Works Construction has been retained for two distinctive projects being
designed by world-renowned architects Morris Adjmi and Paik Architecture. As a developer, Wonder Works has a long history of innovation and versatility. On Brody’s watch, the firm completed Spectra at Constitution Plaza, a much anticipated 190-unit luxury rental in Hartford, Connecticut, and 316 East 3rd Street on the Lower East Side. The firm is in the early stages of building a 48-unit luxury condominium at 302 East 96th Street and is just completing a highly publicized five-story mansion at 357 West 17th Street. In little over a decade, Wonder Works’ development division has been recognized for introducing luxury projects to emerging neighborhoods, starting with Davenport Lofts on Main in 2004, which sparked a rebirth of New Rochelle, New York’s downtown district.
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Bro d y j o i n e d Wo n d e r Wo r k s Construction following several years of developing and marketing his own multi-family projects. As the founder and principal of The Brody Group, a boutique development firm specializing in multi-family and adaptive re-use projects, he was an active participant in the revitalization of the Lower East Side. Why are you passionate about the causes you’re a part of? A specific need arose on a few of our projects and I needed a reliable and credible source of human capital. Everyone needs a second chance. People change, people mature and grow. A mistake in the past should not be a death sentence in the future of your employment. You want to work, you want to change, then I am willing to be a part of that change.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
NY NYC
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
The staff and the board of directors of the NYC Housing Partnership congratulate Housing Partnership President and CEO Dan Martin for receiving the Corporate Social Responsibility Award in Real Estate, Housing and Construction for From City & State Reports
Dan Martin President & CEO NYC Housing Partnership The NYC Housing Partnership facilitates the development and revitalization of affordable housing for the residents of New York City. In nearly four decades the Housing Partnership has assisted in the development of more than 50,000 affordable home ownership and rental units throughout the five boroughs, and leveraged more than $6 billion in private sector financing. www.housingpartnership.com The Housing Partnership Development Corporation 242 West 36th Street New York, 20NY 10018 Phone: 646-217-3370
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
DAVID CHEIKIN
Executive Vice President Brookfield Property Partners
Special Award for Outstanding Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development, Volunteerism & Charitable Giving
As the head of the New York region for Brookfield Property Partners’ office portfolio, David Cheikin is responsible for the performance and strategic positioning of Brookfield’s 20 million feet of office and retail space and seven million square feet of development. Prior to his current role, Cheikin was the project lead for Brookfield’s recent retail repositioning and office reletting at Brookfield Place. The $250 million Brookfield Place retail
redevelopment is broadly acknowledged as the premier luxury shopping district and culinary destination in Lower Manhattan. In addition, the 8 million square-foot complex is now 95 percent occupied after Cheikin and his team leased over 5 million square feet of office space within the complex, including the 700,000 square-foot headquarters for Time Inc., 450,000 square-foot headquarters for Hudson’s Bay Company and 400,000 square-foot headquarters
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for the Bank of New York Mellon. Prior to joining Brookfield in 2002, David was a lease and valuation specialist in Jones Lang LaSalle’s New York office. Why are you passionate about the causes you’re a part of? People need to be conscious of we how interact with our natural surroundings as the decisions we make today will impact what will be available for future generations.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Congratulations to all of today’s honorees whose commitment to corporate and social responsibility make our city a greater place to live, work and raise our families. We’d especially like to congratulate: Mitchell Netburn Project Renewal Dennis Cheikin Brookfield Robert Bonanza Mason Tenders District Council
Kasirer, LLC Suri Kasirer Julie Greenberg Omar Alvarellos Cynthia Dames Ashley Dennis Jason Goldman Peter Krokondelas Pakhi Sengupta Michael Krevet Samantha Jones Chelsea Goldinger Marelle Goodlander Tyesa Galloway Tracy Fletcher 22
321 Broadway, 2d Floor New York, NY 10007 T: 212 285 1800 F: 212 285 1818 kasirer.nyc info@kasirer.nyc
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
MARTIN COTTINGHAM Principal
Avison Young
Outstanding Service on Behalf of the Communities of Queens
Martin Cottingham, a real estate veteran with more than 17 years of experience, is a principal in Avison Young’s New York office specializing in transaction management. Cottingham was previously managing director of the Corporate Services Group at Grubb & Ellis, where he oversaw the firm’s corporate services effort in the Northeast region. The group offered corporate clients a full array of planning, financial analysis and portfolio management services via an integrated platform of quality standards, processes and account oversight. Cottingham’s performance earned him
recognition in the company’s Circle of Excellence program in 2008 and 2010. Prior to joining Grubb & Ellis, Cottingham was a managing director at Bear Stearns & Company, where he was responsible for all global facility management, property management, design, development, construction, facility planning, furniture procurement and corporate services units for a real estate portfolio totaling more than four million square feet. In addition, he had responsibilities in domestic and international branch real estate lease administration.
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Preceding his promotion to managing director, Cottingham oversaw all site activities in the development of Bear Stearns’ 1.2 million-squarefoot world headquarters at 383 Madison Ave. in New York City. He served as the company’s liaison to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Metro-North Railroad, Consolidated Edison and Long Island Rail Road, and coordinated the construction schedule, development team and consultants. He also developed and implemented the firm’s relocation plan for 5,000 people from four sites to 383 Madison Ave. following completion of the building.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
JEFFREY DUNSTON Chief Executive Officer
Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation
Distinguished Lifetime Achievement in the Preservation & Development of Affordable Housing Jeffrey Dunston is the chief executive officer of Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corporation (NEBHDCo), a community-based affordable housing developer that provides affordable housing and addresses the housing needs of the working poor, seniors and moderate-income families city-wide. NEBHDCo’s partnership with the Arker Companies has allowed it to expand its housing footprint in the five boroughs of New York City. This joint venture combined with NEBHDCo’s housing development activities in central Brooklyn has resulted in the preservation and development of 3,215 units of housing; representing $324.2 million in debt financing; raising $217.1 million in tax credit equity and $7.3 million in housing subsidies to meet the housing needs of New Yorkers. Beyond its housing accomplishments, NEBHDCo is committed to broader economic development and tenant support activities that enhance the quality of life for tenants living in its housing and the community. In 2013, NEBHDCo invested $1 million
to expand its food pantry by developing a 5,000 square-foot state-of-theart Client Choice food pantry with Demonstration Kitchen and Benefits Center in an existing building it owned, thereby increasing its capacity to serve emergency food and provide referrals to tenants and the community at large. The pantry has introduced more healthy fresh food options to combat a variety of health disparities impacting low-income households. In addition to managing 17,000 square feet of commercial space throughout central Brooklyn, NEBHDCo acquired a five-story, 33,000 square-foot office building in the historic Stuyvesant Heights neighborhood of BedfordStuyvesant in 2012. The organization is investing $2.5 million to upgrade the property and to create new office space for the organization. Dunston has been in the field of affordable housing and community development for 25 years. He began his career at NEBHDCo in 1991 as the organization’s associate director for housing and tenant support services for five years. In 1996, in partnership
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with the NYC Housing Partnership, he created the first Central Brooklyn Neighborhood Employment Center to address the employment needs of tenants in city funded housing projects and successfully placed over 2,500 residents in jobs. Dunston returned to NEBHDCo as its chief executive officer in 2000 committed to identifying innovative and avant-garde approaches to community economic development. Dunston’s dedication to community involvement led him to serve in various capacities as a board member for several organizations including: ANHD/CHAMP, Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA, American Civil Rights and Education Services (ACRES), Borough Development Group, Coalition for the Improvement of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center. Dunston is a graduate of Pratt Institute Center of Community and Environmental Development in city and regional Planning and attended Parsons School of Design majoring in fine arts. Dunston has received numerous awards and proclamations for his leadership in community development.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
ROBERT FEDER Founding Partner Cuddy & Feder LLP
Excellence in Civic Engagement
Robert Feder is primarily involved in the development, financing, construction, purchase, leasing and sale of real estate. He has extensive experience in the environmental review of large real estate projects and the complex zoning and planning issues associated with large-scale development. He represented General Motors in their obtaining development permits, environmental clearance and sale of the 97-acre former assembly plant in Sleepy Hollow, New York. He is also actively involved in commercial transactions throughout the United States and abroad. He was general counsel and a director of Interplex Industries, Inc., a privately held multinational corporation,
which is a leader in the field of manufacturing precision parts for the electronics industry, with manufacturing and sales facilities in 10 states, Mexico, and throughout Europe and the Far East. The company was sold to a publicly owned Singapore corporation on July 31, 2014. Mr. Feder has represented most of the major developers and owners of commercial real property in Westchester and surrounding counties. He is a member of the board of directors of Presidential Realty Corporation, a publicly owned REIT. He was actively involved in the negotiations that led to the formation of the Health Star Network, an alliance of the four leading community hospitals in Westchester.
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Why are you passionate about the causes you’re a part of? They are all terribly important. Higher education fulfills the function of improving our future society. Health care is obvious. Legal services for the indigent is a matter of humanitarianism – so many indigent people face legal issues, both civil issues such as landlord/tenant, and criminal matters, and don’t have the resources to be adequately represented. Particularly in criminal matters, I believe society owes people adequate representation. When you’re going to accuse someone of a misdemeanor or felony and threaten them with incarceration, they need the best defense they can get.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
We salute City & State for recognizing Corporate Social Responsibility in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Congratulations to all the honorees
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
RODOLFO FUERTES President & CEO Fine Fair
Lifetime Achievement in Promoting Entrepreneurship & Opportunity in Developing Communities
Born and raised in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Rodolfo Fuertes arrived in New York City in 1981 and began working for a relative at the Corona Hardware Store in Corona, Queens. During his three-year tenure at the hardware store, Fuertes learned the English language and began to interface with entrepreneurs in the supermarket industry. He opened his first supermarket in early 1985, a Fine Fare in the Bronx. This was the beginning of a successful entrepreneurial career that followed
many other supermarket openings in New York City. In 2003 Fuertes decides to expand his horizon by purchasing a construction company that specializes in commercial construction. His overall business contributes more than 800 jobs to the economy of New York City. In 2008, the president of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel FernĂĄndez, appointed Fuertes as Under-Secretary of State, Industry and Commerce with offices in New York. His responsibilities include the promotion of Dominican imports to the United
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States, especially in the area of produce, and oversee trade relations between the two countries. He has been actively involved with organizations that fight against poverty in the Dominican Republic, such as Caritas, and is a board member of important business and educational organizations in the United States, including the National Supermarket Association, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, the Children’s Aid Society and the Harriet Tubman Charter School.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Social ResponsibilitySALUTES Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction COLUMBIACorporate UNIVERSITY
THE CITY AND STATE 2016 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARDS
Congratulations to the 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Award honorees and all the outstanding business leaders who have put the values of CSR into practice to strengthen their businesses and communities. A special congratulations to our own David Greenberg and the Columbia Real Estate team whose work with small, local businesses help create a sense of community in our neighborhoods and our city.
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
DAVID M. GREENBERG Executive Vice President
Columbia University Facilities and Operations
Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Small Business & Community-Based Enterprise
David Greenberg is the executive vice president for Columbia University Facilities and Operations, where he leads a team responsible for new building design and construction, campus public safety, campus services for students, building and grounds maintenance for academic and administrative departments, oversight of Manhattanville construction and the university’s residential and real estate portfolio. With over 1,900 employees, Facilities and Operations manages more than 240 buildings and 15 million gross square feet and has an operating and capital budget in excess of $800 million per year. Prior to joining Facilities and Op e r a t i o n s , Gr e e n b e rg s e r v e d as the first executive director of Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute,
an interdisciplinary neuroscience research and discovery center that will bring together 1,000 scientists in a state-of-the-art engine of discovery based at the Jerome L. Greene Science Center. As the institute’s senior non-academic and chief operating officer, he was responsible for creating and managing the administrative infrastructure and overseeing finance, human resources, information technology, communications, and building operations while working closely with co-directors Thomas Jessell, Richard Axel and Eric Kandel, who are responsible for setting the Institute’s scientific vision and mission. Greenberg continues to provide strategic and operational oversight of the Institute. Greenberg, formerly vice president
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of finance and administration and chief administrative officer at Columbia Facilities, has worked at the University since 2006. Before coming to Columbia, Greenberg was associate vice president and chief financial officer at the Georgetown University Law Center and served in several senior posts in New York City government, including the Department of Citywide Administrative Services and the Office of Management and Budget. Greenberg holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester; a master’s of public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University; and a master’s of construction administration from Columbia University.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
FRANCIS J. GREENBURGER Chairman, CEO Time Equities Inc.
Chairman’s Award Francis Greenburger is the Founder, CEO and Chairman of Time Equities Inc. (TEI), an internationally-recognized full-service real estate firm that manages a portfolio of over 20 million square feet of property in 27 U.S., British Virgin Islands, Canada and Germany. Greenburger, with more than 50 years of experience in the industry, is known for his ability to foresee changing market conditions as well as property specific “added value” opportunities. Throughout his career, Greenburger has been known to guide the firm with an unwavering commitment to integrity and ethical business practices. Founded in 1966, TEI was once a market leader in the cooperative conversion business in New York City, having converted more than 100 buildings including and more than 10,000 apartments. More recently, TEI took the lead in the conversion of obsolete office buildings into residential apartments in New York’s Financial District. Building on expertise in new residential construction and development, TEI is currently working on or has recently
completed several development projects including 50 West Street in downtown Manhattan, 34 Prince Street in Nolita Manhattan, 1000 South Michigan in Chicago, and 3111 South Dixie in West Palm Beach. In the last few years, TEI has completed ground up projects in Long Island, Queens, Jersey City and Toronto. Taking advantage of under-recognized opportunities has been the hallmark of the TEI strategy and a major component of its success. Mirroring his commitment to the real estate industry is his passion and commitment to the arts. In 2003, he founded Art-in-Buildings, a TEIsponsored program that aims to enrich commercial and residential spaces by installing rotating installations and exhibits from upcoming contemporary artists and galleries. Greenburger also established the Art Omi International Arts Center, a nonprofit artist residency program for visual artists, writers and musicians from all over the world. Mr. Greenburger also launched a second nonprofit organization known as the Greenburger Center for Social
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and Criminal Justice. The organization’s mission aims to advocate for the reforms to the criminal justice system. His philanthropic efforts are felt throughout the Greater New York area, with involvement in numerous organizations including Alliance for Downtown New York, Lavigny Writer’s Residency, Lincoln Center – Real Estate and Construction Council, Little Red Schoolhouse/Elizabeth Irwin High School Board of Trustees, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, MASS MoCA, Michael Wolk Heart Foundation, NYU Real Estate Institute Advisory Board, Sports and Arts In Schools Foundation. Why are you passionate about the cause you’re a part of? I have a very strong social justice sensibility. I cannot watch others suffer and not try to help. I also am a strong believer in the promise of the United States of America and our values as expressed in the Constitution (as amended) I consider the abuses in our criminal justice system to be inconsistent with that promise.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
KARIM HUTSON
Founder and Managing Member Genesis Companies
Outstanding Achievement in Hiring Minority & Women-Owned Contractors
Karim Hutson founded Genesis Companies in 2004, and under his stewardship Genesis has grown rapidly and developed a reputation for building high-quality projects that enhance urban centers while remaining accessible to the residents of these communities. This commitment to responsible and environmentally conscious development has allowed Genesis to grow as an effective and reliable community-friendly for-profit real estate development firm. Hutson’s dedication to community development extends to his personal life as well. A resident of Harlem, he is actively involved in a multitude of
community and charitable organizations. Hutson is the treasurer of the trustee board of First Corinthian Baptist Church and a member of the executive committee of the New York State Association for Affordable Housing. He formerly served as vice-chairman of the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity-NYC, vice-chairman of the board of 651 Arts and a member of the board of the New Jersey School Development Authority. Genesis Companies is a full-service development and construction firm enhancing communities in New York and New Jersey. It is staunchly committed to community engagement
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and disciplined analysis. Boasting leadership with over 30 years of experience in multifamily development, the Genesis portfolio includes 38 buildings representing 850 residential units and approximately 900,00 square feet of utilized space, which are completed and/or in development. The company’s properties encompass low- and moderate-income housing, mixed-use properties and commercial development. Prior to founding Genesis, Hutson was a vice president at Full Spectrum of NY, an investment banker with Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs in New York City and a private equity investor with General Atlantic in Greenwich, Connecticut.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
DANIEL E. MARTIN President and CEO
Housing Partnership Development Corporation
Excellence in Nonprofit Entrepreneurship on Behalf of Affordable Housing
Daniel E. Martin has been the president and CEO of the Housing Partnership Development Corporation and its aff iliate Community Partnership Development Corp. since July 2004. The Housing Partnership is a nonprofit intermediary established in 1982 to facilitate the development of affordable homeownership housing on vacant cityowned land. Over the course of its history, the Housing Partnership has participated in the creation of more than 45,000 affordable homes for low- to moderate-income New York City households. Since joining the Housing Partnership, Martin has built it into an innovative and entrepreneurial company that is well-suited to meet
the challenges that face New York City’s affordable housing market. He developed entrepreneurial business practices, expanded the Housing Partnership’s capacity and diversified business lines. Under his direction staff was broadened to include professionals in finance, law, real estate, affordable housing development, marketing, fundraising, architecture and information technology. The Housing Partnership’s Board of Directors was also strengthened, comprised of influential leaders from both private and public sectors. Martin is also augmenting the capabilities of the Community Partnership Development Corporation, a nonprof it aff iliate of the Housing Pa r t n e r s h i p a n d a Co m m u n i t y
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Development Financial Institution, established in 1989 to provide predevelopment loans to small builders and developers of affordable housing in New York City. Martin has extensive background in community-based lending and reinvestment. He served in executive positions at Apple Bank, Roslyn Savings Bank and New York Community Bank. Martin serves on the Affordable Housing Advisory Council of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York; the board of directors of the Real Estate Institute at Stony Brook University College of Business; the board of directors of the New York Housing Conference; and the Ventures Board of the Housing Partnership Network.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
MASON TENDERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL Excellence in Promoting Safety & High-Skills Training for New York’s Construction Labor Force
The Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York and Long Island has emerged as one of the most progressive and aggressive labor organizations in the nation. The nearly 15,000 members of the Mason Tenders District Council (MTDC) include construction workers, asbestos and hazardous materials handlers, Catholic High School teachers, recycling and waste handlers. The Mason Tenders’ District Council Trust Funds administers the health and welfare, pension, and annuity accounts for all eligible Local 79
and Local 78 workers. The Greater New York LaborersEmployers Cooperation and Education Trust is a jointly managed trust fund of the Mason Tenders District Council and its 1500 signatory contractors. Its mission is to generate business opportunities for union contractors and job opportunities for LIUNA members. The dissemination of accurate and timely information and job data is a fundamental core of LECET’s work. Tracking projects and providing the unions of the Mason Tenders District
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Council and its signatory contractors with a wide range of comprehensive data is a key element to expanding market share and increasing work opportunities for our members. The research that GNY LECET conducts, and the information that it disseminates, provides our contractors and union leaders with the tools they need as they assess potential projects, evaluate possible business partners and work to expand market share. The ability to make an informed decision is based on receiving current accurate data and information. That is GNY LECET’s goal.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
STEAMFITTERS LOCAL 638, MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK Excellence in Community Service
The Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc. (MCA) advocates for the unionized Mechanical and Fire Sprinkler Contracting industry in New York City and Long Island. Since 1885, the MCA has promoted the welfare and development of the heating, piping, air conditioning and fire suppression industry. Steamfitters Local 638 leads pipefitting in New York’s five boroughs and Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Steamfitters design, install and maintain fire sprinklers, piping, heating and cooling systems in tens of thousands of high-occupancy commercial, retail, industrial and residential buildings
throughout the New York region. Together, the MCA and Steamfitters Local 638 operate and underwrite a rigorous five-year educational apprentice program, making significant investments in all of their graduates. The groups significantly recruit from Helmets to Hardhats, which provides U.S. military veterans an opportunity to transition into promising career pathways and civilian life. The apprenticeship program also provides a pathway to middle-class careers in the construction industry for inner-city youth through its participation in the Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills. Mayor Bill de Blasio has laid out a
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goal for New York City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. Nearly three-quarters of all citywide greenhouse gas emissions come from the city’s aging buildings inventory. Steamfitters are trained to make New York City buildings greener and more efficient. Why are you passionate about the causes you’re a part of? Steamfitters 638 and the MCA believe in providing the best safety training and workplace skills to improve our industry, providing middle-class job opportunities, good wages, quality healthcare and pensions for our members.
New York Water Management Congratulates Jeffrey Dunston on his Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as everything you do for affordable Housing in New York City. May you continue in this worthy endeavor for many years to come! Avi Naumberg & Mark Schwartz
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
PROJECT RENEWAL Outstanding Achievement in Providing Shelter & Comprehensive Services for New York’s Most Vulnerable Citizens se
Project Renewal’s mission is to end the cycle of homelessness by empowering men, women and children to renew their lives with health, homes and jobs. The organization began in 1967 as a 48-bed voluntary alcohol detoxification program at a time when arrest and incarceration were society’s most common responses to
“public inebriation” of the homeless. The program soon emerged as the nation’s first successful remedy for this ongoing social problem. Since then, our goal has remained the same: to respond to New York City’s homelessness crisis with creative, comprehensive, sympathetic answers. The organization provides clients with
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access to quality health care, stable housing and the resources necessary to secure employment. Project Renewal addresses the needs of more than 16,000 clients annually, meeting the most vulnerable New Yorkers where they are and providing them with the tools they need to buttress their capacity to live independently.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CONGRATULATIONS TO PAUL TRAVIS, RECOGNIZED AS AN EXCEPTIONAL INDIVIDUAL IN NYC’S REAL ESTATE, HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY BY CITY AND STATE!
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citypointbrooklyn.com | dekalbmarkethall.com
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
GARY D. RODNEY President
New York City Housing Development Corporation
Special Public Service Award for Achievement in Sustainable Affordable Housing
Gary D. Rodney is the president of the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC), one of the nation’s most active Housing Finance Agencies and the largest issuer of mortgage revenue bonds for affordable multifamily housing. He was nominated to the position by Mayor Bill de Blasio in February 2014 following years of distinguished service in both the public and private sectors. He brings to the position a deep understanding of the affordable housing industry and its importance in fostering healthy and economically diverse communities. Previously, Rodney served as executive vice president for development at Omni New York LLC, a real estate development company known for focusing on the preservation and development of affordable housing properties. While at Omni, Rodney was responsible for acquiring
and preserving more than 5,500 units of affordable housing in New York and Massachusetts, including turning around some of the most troubled properties in the New York metropolitan area. His appointment to HDC president marks Rodney’s return to the agency: He first joined the corporation in 2001 as a development project manager, rising by 2005 to vice president for development with responsibility for supervising transactions worth more than $1 billion annually in tax-exempt and taxable bonds. Rodney now oversees an agency that manages approximately $13 billion worth of assets, including a multifamily portfolio of over 190,000 units and approximately $9.7 billion in mortgage loans. Under his leadership, the agency has entered the most prolific and innovative period
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in its history, issuing approximately $2.7 billion in bonds and launching New York City’s plan to build or preserve 200,000 units over 10 years. To implement that plan, Rodney has extensively revised the financing terms of the corporation’s programs and piloted new financial strategies and partnerships to leverage more housing production. How did you get involved in the causes you’re a part of? I started volunteering with young kids as a teenager and (throughout) college. That experience led me to an interest in community development. After an internship working with the Economic Development and Planning departments for the City of Rochester in college, I discovered it was possible to have a career actually helping improve communities.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
GREATER NEW YORK LECET APPLAUDS THE MASON TENDERS’ DISTRICT COUNCIL (MTDC) FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. WE THANK MTDC FOR CONTINUING THE FIGHT FOR:
A DIVERSE WORKFORCE
SAFETY & TRAINING STANDARDS
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PAID FOR BY GREATER NEW YORK LECET
LOCAL HIRE INITIATIVES
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
DENISE M. RICHARDSON Executive Director
The General Contractors Association of New York, Inc.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Denise M. Richardson is the executive director of the General Contractors Association of New York, a trade association that represents New York City’s unionized, heavy civil construction/ public works contractors. Richardson has over 25 years of construction contract and financial management administration experience in both the public and private sectors, including positions at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the
former New York City Department of General Services (now DDC), the New York City Department of Sanitation and Honeywell International. Prior to joining the GCA in 2006, Richardson was deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Customer Services at DEP, where she led the effort to resolve the city’s longstanding water bill accuracy problems. In her current capacity as GCA Executive Director, Richardson serves as the employer trustee for the GCA’s signatory unions with benefit fund
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investments of over $10 billion and health benefits for over 15,000 union employees. Richardson is also Vice Chair of the Regional Plan Association and is on the board of the New York League of Conservation Voters. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Simmons College in Boston, where she received a Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and a master’s in public administration and urban and regional planning from the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
ALEXANDER J.A. SACHS & DAVID L. BERGER Partners
DNA Development
Outstanding Service on Behalf of Art & Education
Alexander Sachs and David Berger co-founded DNA Development in 2014 and have more than 20 years of combined real estate experience. Sachs spent over a decade acquiring, developing, repositioning and investing in real estate assets as owner and founder of Wildedge Group LLC, an investment, development and advisory company focused primarily on hospitality assets. With a background in marketing and branding as well as project management, he has overseen and developed real estate projects with budgets ranging from $6 million to over $100 million in Manhattan, Brooklyn, California and New Jersey.
Sachs loves to scour the market and source off-market deals and unique opportunities through his extensive network and has always strived to push the creative envelope. He graduated with a degree in art history from the University of Michigan. Berger worked for more than a decade as a founding partner of Northstar Property Group and Fifth Square Partners, developing and investing in mixed-use residential projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Jersey City, Baltimore and Greenwich, Connecticut,. Berger specializes in adaptive re-use of historic buildings into luxury
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condominium projects, such as 344 Bowery (Manhattan), 22 South Howard Street (Baltimore) and the Arch Street Exchange (Philadelphia). David thrives on the challenge of finding the best use and layouts for each property. Berger received a B.S. in civil and structural engineering from Cornell University and an M.B.A. in real estate and finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His other past work experience includes construction management for the Clark Construction Group and real estate investment and portfolio financing with Rockwood Capital.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Congratulations to Jeffrey Dunston CEO, Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corp, and to all of the other recipients of
The 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Award in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Alexander
/ Development / Group
www.alexanderdevgroup.com
Congratulations To All The Honorees
WonderWorksCorp.com
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DAVID SCHWARTZ Principal & Co-Founder Slate Property Group
Outstanding Achievement in Affordable Housing & Community Engagement
David Schwartz manages the development and construction of projects and shares responsibility for all acquisitions as well as investment decisions. He leads ground-up development projects with an emphasis on multifamily and mixed-use properties in Brooklyn’s emerging neighborhoods. Schwartz oversees all aspects of the development process, from acquisition, design and construction to the marketing and sale of a property. Prior to co-founding Slate Property Group, Schwartz co-founded two development f irms that focused on residential and mixed-use
development in New York City with a strong focus on Brooklyn. Collectively his development projects are valued at approximately $1 billion representing over 900 residential units. Earlier in his career Schwartz worked at Crescent Heights, where he was involved in the development of more than 3,000 apartment and hotel units throughout the United States. How did you get involved in the causes you’re a part of? Though working in Brooklyn we’ve gotten involved in causes that positively impact current Brooklyn residents.
Congratulations to Jeffrey Dunston, Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corp on this prestigious award 47
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Congratulations toReal Jeffrey Dunston, Northeast Brooklyn Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Estate, Housing & Construction Housing Development Corp on this prestigious award from the following groups
Ivan D. Armstrong, CPA 233 Broadway Suite 2075 New York, NY 10279 Office 212-233-2777/8 Fax 212-233-2772
Congratulations to Jeffrey Dunston, Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corp on this prestigious award 48
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
PAUL TRAVIS Managing Partner
Washington Square Partners
Excellence in Environmentally Responsible, Community-Based Urban Development
Paul Travis is managing partner of Washington Square Partners, a real estate development advisory firm in New York City that he founded in 1994. Over the years he has worked with corporations, nonprofit institutions and government entities to reconfigure real estate assets and solve land use issues. He is also a partner in Kingsbridge Development Partners, a real estate development firm that developed the River Plaza center with Target Stores, at the time the first major private commercial development in the Bronx in 20 years. Since its inception, his firm has been responsible for several major redevelopment initiatives, including Moynihan Station Redevelopment, New York Hi s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y, Do w n t o w n Brooklyn Redevelopment, Cooper
Union, Harlem Park, River Plaza, Theatre Row, Long Island City and Skyland Center in Washington, D.C. Travis is currently a partner in the 1.8 million square foot mixed use City Point project in Downtown Brooklyn. Prior to founding Washington Square Partners, Travis served as Chief Operating Officer of Forest City Ratner Companies in New York City, where he was responsible for the development and leasing of MetroTech Center, a 4.5 million square-foot complex in Brooklyn, New York. He was also responsible for the revival of Lincoln Road and the development of the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, the first new convention center hotel in that city. Travis had previously been Director of Real Estate for the Price Company, the predecessor to Costco,
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and Senior Vice President of the New York City Public Development Corporation (now EDC). At PDC, he directed the 42nd Street Development Project in Manhattan and was responsible for commercial and industrial development projects throughout the city, including the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Travis is a member of the Urban Land Institute and serves on the board of directors of Playwrights Horizons, the Milano School at the New School University and the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs at the University at Albany. Why are you passionate about the cause you’re a part of? I believe the arts are an essential part of the quality of life in New York City.
CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
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Congratulations to Jeffrey Dunston, Northeast Brooklyn Housing Development Corp and Karim Hutson, Genesis Companies on this prestigious award
We congratulate Jeffrey Dunston We congratulate Jeffrey Dunston President of ofNEBHDC on President NEBHDCO receiving The Lifetime on receiving The Lifetime Achievement Award Achievement Award
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Osei Rubie
Osei Rubie President President National Standard Abstract LLC National Standard Abstract LLC
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
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CITY & STATE REPORTS - April 2016
Corporate Social Responsibility Awards in Real Estate, Housing & Construction
Capalino+Company Is Proud to Support City & State’s Corporate Social Responsibility Awards
Congratulations to the honorees for Real Estate, Housing & Construction
James Capalino Chief Executive Officer
Travis Terry Chief Operating Officer
Jeanne Mullgrav Executive VP Corporate Social Responsibility
Cathleen Collins Senior VP Corporate Social Responsibility
Contact us today to learn how our team of experts can help your business grow
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