32
Spotlight
December 2021
New York Real Estate Journal
2021 Year in Review
Rafael Stein AIA Urbahn Architects
What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2021? We’re working on several projects aiming at bringing humane conditions and quality healthcare to inmates housed at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility. One of them, in the design phase, is the adaptive retrofit of three floors at the NYC Health + Hospitals’ Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan and Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, to accommodate 274 patients in the Dept. of Corrections’ custody. Among commercial projects, I am very proud of Urbahn completing the 93-unit, seven-story Tides Building 2 in Queens. Urbahn designed the entire two-building, 214-unit, market-rate rental Tides complex, located at the oceanfront community of Arverne, for developers The Beechwood Org. and The Benjamin Cos.
Mary Guarino
Nancy Ruddy
Ron Lanzo
Ámbar Margarida,
Todd Wenzel
CetraRuddy
ERG Commercial Real Estate
AFR Furniture Rental & Event Furnishings Inc.
CID, IIDA, Assoc. AIA, LEED GA, WELL AP
Coldwell Banker Commercial – Custom Realty
What is the best advice you received in 2021, and who was it from? The best advice I received this year was related to a project but it translates well into a world view. My friend and client, David Greenbaum, in the middle of dealing with project constraints, noted that our focus should be on crafting the journey forward. I believe that all of us in the real estate and design world need to be part of the solution in creating the next chapter in building community, our cities, and a sustainable global approach. Central to this is our collaboration on creating environments that promote health, well being and inspiration in design. That kind of advice is so rare and so valuable.
What was the biggest lesson you learned while working during the pandemic? While working in the real estate industry, it’s imperative to recognize that the real estate market is constantly fluctuating. However, during the pandemic, there was a huge wave of uncertainty. This presented a challenge when communicating with clients. It was unclear how this pandemic would impact New York real estate and more importantly the value of properties. The biggest lesson I learned while working during the pandemic is that you have to be prepared to pivot and adapt quickly to the current circumstances.
What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2021? We were once again able to do the 76th United Nations General Assembly meeting. AFR has done these in the past and it’s always an exciting project pulling together enough office cubicle partitions to create private conference rooms at The United Nations. The event planners and UN officials refer to these meeting rooms as “Bi-Laterals.” These are 14 ft. wide by 24 ft. long conference rooms with comfortable seating. With security high, we also supplied the command centers for the U.S. Secret Service, an entire floor of the Marriott Marquis Hotel.
What was the biggest lesson you learned while working during the pandemic? I learned how to build a project out of sequence! So many things were delayed that we had to be creative when overseeing construction. I learned that we are all connected and our actions impact others directly and indirectly. I learned that the jobs we consider essential are underpaid. I learned that while most work can get accomplished from anywhere nothing replaces face to face interaction and the social fabric that is woven between people in the inbetween spaces such as warming up and cooling down after and in-person meeting. I learned my neighbors’ names, their histories, and interests. I gained lifelong relationships.
What was your greatest professional accomplishment or most notable project, deal, or transaction in 2021? The most notable deal in 2021 was that of a lakefront restaurant property. After almost 60 years in business, the family decided it was time to pass the torch and make this asset available for the first time. Navigating the market and eventually closing this transaction was professionally and personally fulfilling as I was able to deliver the desired result to the family, as well as the community by finding a buyer to carry on the restaurant’s storied history. What was the biggest lesson you learned while working during the pandemic? Patience. It is a virtue that people in our line of work are inadvertently taught to neglect from the beginning of their careers.
For full responses, please visit www.nyrej.com
Spacesmith LLP
ENABLING GREATNESS
LERA WISHES YOU A HAPPY 2022! LERA is a W/MBE structural engineering firm providing services to architects, owners, contractors, and developers. LERA has expertise in life science facilities, healthcare, academic, adaptive reuse and renovations, cultural, mixed-use, commercial and residential developments, civic projects and forensic engineering services.
BARBARA E. CHAMPOUX, ESQ.
Best Wishes to CREWNY and the entire CRE Industry for a Happy, Healthy and Successful 2022!
LGA Int’l Airport | Queens, NY
917.270.0393 • bechampoux@gmail.com
NE NY Tel: 781-878-4540
W/MBE Certified | lera.com
NYC Public Health Lab | New York, NY
LERA