Join P/PREP for a policy panel discussion on the housing crisis in New York

We’re excited to invite you to the first event of 2024, a panel of experts focused on housing policy and production in NYC and the broader NY Metro region. It's no secret that NYC's Housing Crisis is the worst that it has been in 50 years. Come join experts from the State, City, and private sector discussing the status quo, challenges, and opportunities in generating meaningful investment in housing for New Yorkers.

The panel will include:

• Anand Amin (Senior Advisor for Real Estate within the NYC Mayoral Administration)

• Andrew Fine (Policy Director for Open NY)

• Rosanna Viera (Affordable Housing Development with Lemle Wolff)

• Joel Kolkman (SVP of Real Estate and Planning for NY Empire State Development)

• Moderated by Ian Lundy (Director of Development with MSquared)

Following the panel, we will have light refreshments, snacks and a chance to dive in further with friends and colleagues.

Thank you to our venue host, Adler & Stachenfeld, LLP! Venue details:

555 Madison Ave, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10022

After the event, attendees and the broader P/PREP community are invited to join us for happy hour at Judge Roy Bean Public House (38 W 56th St.), starting around 7:30pm.

There is limited capacity for this event, so RSVP now!

Cover image credit of New York City Department of City Planning’s “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning reform proposal.

It’s that time of year again, when P/PREP hosts its annual holiday party member mixer! You and a guest are invited for a holiday celebration at the offices of one of our sponsors, HR&A! We'll have appetizers, beer and wine, a photo booth, games, music, and more.

RSVP soon as space is limited!

Join P/PREP for a tour of Gotham Park, NYC's freshest urban oasis, where we'll explore its hidden gems and learn about how it came to be!

Encompassing 9 acres at the nexus of four Manhattan neighborhoods – Chinatown, the South Street Seaport, Two Bridges and the Financial District – Gotham Park is a community-driven project located at the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The urban community park aims to reinvigorate the area and provide access to high-quality public spaces for residents in the surrounding community and visitors alike. The redevelopment of the park, enabled by public and private support throughout the city, will be phased in three stages. As of May, stage one of the project has been completed, culminating in the reopening of the first acre of the park, dubbed “The Arches”.

Join us on a walking tour led by Rosa Chang, the Founder and President of Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan Inc., as we explore the revival of Gotham Park and gain insights into its transformation through Rosa's unique perspective. Learn about the vital public and private support that contributed to the park's success, including its inclusion in the City's $375 million investment in new public spaces, as well as how community activism led to the groundbreaking of the city’s newest public park.

Speaker: Rosa Chang, Co-Founder and President, Brooklyn Bridge Manhattan Inc.

Location / Time: This event will take place on Thursday, July 27th from 6pm – 8pm. The event will begin with a walking tour starting from City Hall Park at 6:00 pm and will find its way to Gotham Park. The walking tour will be 1-hour long and will be followed by a networking happy hour at Cowgirl SeaHorse, starting around 7:15pm.

As needed, additional details of the tour will be shared in a separate email prior to the event.

Register today!

All are welcome to join the walking tour and the networking happy hour. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Join P/PREP, Taconic Partners, and a former NYC HPD official for a tour and discussion of Essex Crossing! Register here.

About this event

Encompassing 9 sites and 3 phases, 6 acres, 1.9 million square feet, and over 1,000 units of housing, the Essex Crossing mega-project repaired a scar of urban renewal in the Lower East Side while bringing a vibrant mix of office, retail, and housing. The project also leveraged private and public resources to deliver a number of community benefits, including a new public market, affordable housing, new park, new museum, and streetscape upgrades.  

Past and present project managers from Taconic Partners and the New York City of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will talk about the history of this complex project, with a focus on how public and private interests were balanced in planning, designing, and building Essex Crossing. The development has been widely lauded for both its architecture and approach to community-based planning, including by the New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman and by ULI.

The speakers are:

-        Benjamin Baccash, Senior Vice President, Taconic Partners

-        Angus Page, Affordable Housing Acquisitions Manager, OMNI NYC (formerly the Deputy Director of Underwriting, Proposals, and Special Projects at HPD)

This event will begin with a walking tour of Essex Crossing from 5:00 pm – 6:00pm, followed by an indoor Q&A from 6:00pm - 6:30pm. Following Q&A, there will be a networking happy hour open to all at Grand Delancey in the Market Line, starting around 6:35pm.

Additional details of the tour and location of the will be shared in a separate email prior to the event.

Tour is capped at 20 people so register today! A wait-list will also be created in case a space opens up. If you are unable to attend, please let P/PREP know in advance so your space can be offered to another.

All are welcome to join the networking happy hour, which starts around 6:35 pm at the Grand Delancey!

Join P/PREP, BRP, Goldman Sachs, and Empire State Development (ESD) for a tour and discussion on the National Urban League project.

About this event

This historic new development will bring the National Urban League (NUL) back to Harlem, where it was founded over 100 years ago, feature the Urban Civil Rights Museum, an institution dedicated to telling the story of civil rights advocacy in the North, and include over 170 units of affordable and supportive housing, Class A office space and retail along 125th Street.

Speakers from BRP Companies, Goldman Sachs and Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) will talk about the RFP and pre-development process, with a focus on how this unique mix of uses and historic project is accomplished through a complex financing structure and public-private partnership.

The speakers will include:

• Alyson Beha, VP of Real Estate Development and Planning at ESD

• Scott Maxfield, VP, Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs

• Olivia Jaffe, VP, Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs

• Andy Cohen, Managing Director of Development, BRP Companies

This event will include a tour with discussion/Q&A at 5 - 6pm at the project's active construction site at 121 W 125th Street (access via Gate A on 126th Street), and followed by an outdoor happy hour around 6pm in the neighborhood (Corner Social @321 Malcolm X Blvd).

Additional details of the tour and location of the will be shared in a separate email prior to the event. You will be asked to sign a waiver prior to the tour.

Tour is capped at 20 people so register today! A waitlist will also be created in case a space opens up. If you are unable to attend, please let P/PREP know in advance so your space can be offered to another.

All are welcome to join the networking happy hour, which starts around 6pm.

2020 marked a dramatic shift in New Yorkers' use of their streets and sidewalks: the City's Open Streets program pedestrianized over 67 miles, and its Open Restaurants program attracted over 9,000 applications from interested restaurants. Thousands of business, community organizations, and Business Improvement Districts participated, creating an unprecedented experiment in how private organizations use the public realm. These programs are just the beginning, as changing technologies and cultural preferences pressure public pavement to move beyond auto-oriented uses. For instance, how will streets and sidewalks accommodate new forms of personal mobility, climate resilient infrastructure, or micro-retail and housing?

One year in to Open Streets and Open Restaurants, P/PREP invites you to learn how public officials and private leaders are reflecting on the program, what they learned from countless deployments, and how they and their constituents are looking to the future of street uses. Our esteemed panelists are:

• Erick Gregory, Chief Urban Designer + Director of Urban Design, NYC Department of City Planning (DCP)

• Jeffrey C. LeFrancois, Executive Director, Meatpacking District

• Wellington Chen, Executive Director, Chinatown Partnership

Register here to attend for this virtual event! The link to the livestream will be sent to registered attendees in advance.

Note: This will be P/PREP's first - and hopefully last - virtual event! As New York City continues to reopen, we hope to be able to meet again for events and networking in-person very soon!

Please join P/PREP for a discussion about Sendero Verde with the two development managers who made it happen. Sign up today!

About this Event

Sendero Verde is a transformative, mixed-use project in East Harlem that will provide 709 units of affordable housing to a range of incomes, 90,000 sf of community facility space, and a 20,000 sf courtyard with community gardens. Developed by Jonathan Rose Companies, L+M Development Partners, and Acacia Network, the project is the winning response to SustaiNYC, a forward-thinking RFP issued by HPD in 2016 to build an environmentally sustainable building in accordance with Passive House standards. The first phase of Sendero Verde broke ground in July 2019. When complete, it will be the largest Passive Housing development in the United States.

Joining us will be Sabrina Barker, Senior Development Manager at Jonathan Rose Companies, and Jessica Yoon, Director at L+M Development Partners. In addition to discussing this innovative public/private partnership, Sabrina and Jessica will reflect on their successful collaboration that made this project a reality.

The event will be held at Jonathan Rose Companies, 551 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor, and will be followed by a reception. Sign up today!

Join P/PREP for our first-ever event outside of the five boroughs of NYC, as we explore the rapidly transforming landscape of downtown Newark, NJ. 

Local expert guide Emily Manz of Have You Met Newark will lead you through a lively walking tour of the major sites that are redefining the downtown today, while also introducing historical landmarks and context that mark Newark's past. You'll also hear from other leaders from Newark's planning, real estate, and anchor institutional sectors, bringing each of their perspectives on supporting the downtown's growth. (Final participants to be announced shortly.)

We'll visit recent major sites including:

• Mulberry Commons/Ironside Building

• Teachers Village

• Military Park

• Hahne's Building

• One Theater Square

You'll learn about the process involved in getting these projects off the ground - including of course the role of public and private sector players - the catalytic impact these have had, and ongoing priorities and vision for the downtown and the city as a whole. 

The tour will meet at 5pm inside the entrance of Newark Penn Station, near the Dunkin Donuts stand, and is expected to run between 1.5 - 2 hours. Join us for drinks and networking at Redd's Biergarten at 220 Market St afterwards!

Register for the event today!

Note: Due to limited capacity this event will be capped at 30 people on a first-come, first-served basis. A waitlist will also be created in case a space opens up. If you are unable to attend, please let P/PREP know in advance so your space can be offered to another.

Join P/PREP and BFC Partners for a sneak peek before the opening of Empire Outlets on Staten Island.

About Empire Outlets
BFC Partners' Empire Outlets, designed by SHoP Architects, will be an approximately 340,000 square foot retail complex, comprised of 100 designer outlet retailers and a variety of restaurants, featuring open corridors to the water and sustainable green roof visible from the harbor. The project site was developed via a RFEI issued by the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to develop parcels controlled by Small Business Services (SBS) and NYC Department of Transportation (DOT). 

About the Event
On the tour, you'll learn how the vision for a new anchor of the Staten Island north shore evolved from concept to design and construction; changes and challenges along the way; and the private-public partnership that facilitated the development that will soon activate waterfront areas around the Staten Island of the ferry landing.

After the tour, join P/PREP, BFC Partners, and NYCEDC for a spring Happy Hour on the ferry back to Manhattan. Register for the event today!

Additional Information
Meet at Manhattan’s Staten Island ferry terminal (@Whitehall) around 5:45 pm for the 6:00 pm ferry, or meet at Staten Island's St. George terminal at 6:30 pm. (Late-comers may be accomodated on an as-need basis.) See ferry schedule here. 

Join P/PREP and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for a presentation on the NYC Ferry!

Launched in 2017, NYC Ferry’s six routes serve 20 communities with otherwise limited transportation options, from Soundview in the Bronx to Far Rockaway in Queens. A public-private partnership with operator Hornblower, the Ferry has served 8.5 million riders, with plans to launch three more routes by 2021. As part of its goal to increase equity and promote economic development, the price of a ferry ride is $2.75, the same as a subway ride.

You’ll hear from two experts on the NYC Ferry:

• NYCEDC’s James Wong, the Executive Director of NYC Ferry,

• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation's Emma Manson, Assistant Vice President of Development

You'll learn how the vision for the ferry system evolved from concept to launch; the process of identifying a private operator and revitalizing new waterfront docking infrastructure; and the impact of the system on commercial and residential activity in waterfront neighborhoods. 

After the talk, there will be a Q&A, followed by networking at Jeremy's Ale House (228 Front St, New York, NY 10038).

You are invited to the P/PREP dinner series!

What is it? From time to time, we’ll gather a small cross-section of 15 members from all sectors to discuss pertinent real estate topics, get to know each other in a more intimate setting, and experience one of the best things NYC has to offer – its food scene!

How will it flow? The topic for this month’s dinner is Transportation & Infrastructure, with Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Deputy Director at NYC Department of Transportation. We’ll start by going around the table to hear everyone’s thoughts over appetizers but expect the conversation to flow freely from that point on. (Meal costs to this event are $30 per person. Any extra costs incurred at the event will need to be covered on site).

Where is it? We have a private room at RAHI / Artisanal Indian, Greenwich Village  from 5-7pm on Tuesday, March 26. See their full menu at https://www.rahinyc.com

Will you join? Can we look forward to seeing you there? There are a limited number of seats so please confirm quickly. The attendee list will be provided on the day of the event. Please confirm your attendance by Saturday, March 23 by registering via the Eventbrite Link or we’ll release your invitation to another member.

We hope to see you at the dinner! We also invite you to check out the other events in the pipeline on our website and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pprepnyc.

Please join P/PREP for a holiday celebration at the offices of BJH Advisors and WXY Architecture! We'll have appetizers, beer and wine, a photo booth, music, and more. Admission is free but we encourage you to make a donation which will go to Community League of the Heights (CLOTH).

Join P/PREP, Vornado, New York State, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for a presentation on the redevelopment of the Farley Post Office.

Formerly a mail processing center built in 1912, the $3.0 billion renovation will ultimately include 770,000 SF of new office and a 225,000 SF train hall for Long Island Rail Road and Amtrak passengers, including 122,000 SF of retail in a skylit train hall. A joint venture between Vornado, the Related Companies, and Skanska is undertaking the complex redevelopment of this landmarked building, utilizing financing from multiple federal, state, and private sources.

Speakers from the joint venture, State, and City will discuss the complexity of redeveloping an icon in the heart of Manhattan while working across several public jurisdictions, regulations, and funding sources. Particular attention will be paid to coordinating multiple actors while steadily advancing a major construction project.

The speakers will include:

• Marc Ricks, a Senior Vice President with Vornado Realty Trust

• Michael Evans, President of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation

• Maxwell Padden, a Vice President with the NYC Economic Development Corporation

This event will take place at the Farley Marketing Studio, 345 West 33rd Street in Manhattan (on the north side of the street Between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Register for the event today! Note: Due to limited capacity this event will be capped at 30 people on a first-come, first-served basis. A waitlist will also be created in case a space opens up. If you are unable to attend, please let P/PREP know in advance so your space can be offered to another.

Additionally, P/PREP and VNO will be conducting a tour of the Farley Post Office before the event from 5PM - 6PM! You can register for the event here. Due to limitations posed by ongoing construction, we will confirm your attendance closer to the event date.

Afterthe talk, there will be a Q&A, followed by networking at the Pennsy.

Join P/PREP and Greenland USA for a presentation and conversation on the planning and development of Pacific Park.

Pacific park is a much anticipated 22 acre neighborhood development in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn that includes the development of 15 mixed use buildings, 8 acres of open space and a world-class, 19,000 seat entertainment venue. Originally engendered by Bruce Ratner of Forest City Ratner, in 2006, Greenland USA entered as a partner in the project in 2013 and has completed 3 buildings and ~900 residential units and will continue to develop the remaining projects in Pacific Park.

Scott Solish, Executive Vice President of Greenland Forest City Partners, will walk through the history of Pacific Park’s development, beginning with a general overview of its genesis and providing insight into future plans. There will be a focus on how public private partnerships have contributed to the project’s development, and how that partnership has been the foundation for building a stronger community today and world class destination in perpetuity.

After the talk, there will be a Q&A, followed by a self-guided tour, and networking and drinks at Soda Bar (629 Vanderbilt).

Join P/PREP and Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation for a presentation and conversation on the planning and development of Brooklyn Bridge Park!

Brooklyn Bridge Park is an acclaimed 85-acre post-industrial waterfront site stretching 1.3 miles along Brooklyn s East River edge. The park was created through a unique public/private structure, incorporating residential, office, hotel, retail, and cultural uses on a number of development sites.

This event will cover the trajectory of Brooklyn Bridge Park s development, beginning with its inception and looking into the future of how the park will evolve in the years to come. We ll be specifically focusing on how various public private partnerships have contributed to the park s development, and will continue to strengthen its status as a world-class destination.

We ll be treated to a presentation by Eric Landau, president of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, followed by a Q&A.

After the presentation, there will be a self-guided tour, followed by drinks and networking at Fornino’s rooftop bar (Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6).