Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO
Scott Rechler is chairman and CEO of RXR, an innovative investor, developer, and place-maker that manages 84 commercial properties and investments worth $22.4 billion, as well as 7,300 multi-family residential units in operation or development and a growing infrastructure portfolio. Scott serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Board of Directors, as well as chair of the Regional Plan Association, and as trustee and vice chair of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Scott previously served on the Board of Commissioners as vice chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and on the Board of the MTA.
RXR
Michael Maturo, Managing Partner and President
Michael Maturo is a founding managing partner and president of RXR, where he develops, implements, and oversees RXR’s corporate strategy, investment fund, and asset management businesses as well as all capital markets activities. Michael is a member of RXR’s Investment Committee and its Board of Directors. Over his career in real estate, Michael has completed over $50 billion in capital markets transactions. Michael is the first vice chairman of the Long Island Association, Long Island’s largest business advocacy group. He was also appointed in 2012 to the Long Island Power Authority Board of Trustees, where he served as chairman of the Personnel and Compensation Committee.
Rafael Salamanca, Jr.
Chair of the Committee on Land Use, New York City Council
A proud product of the South Bronx, Councilmember Rafael Salamanca has had the honor of representing the people of the 17th Council District since 2016. In that time, Salamanca has been a stalwart advocate and champion for his constituents, prioritizing access to quality healthcare, employment, education and improved quality of life. Throughout his term, Salamanca has allocated and secured over $100 million in critical funding for capital investments and social programming.
As chair of the powerful Committee on Land Use, Salamanca has been a champion for smart development across the Bronx and New York City that prioritizes the needs of all New Yorkers; deeply affordable housing, housing for the homeless, senior housing and housing for working families. Using his role as chair to benefit the South Bronx, Salamanca has worked with developers to secure over 7,000 units of 100% affordable housing, including over 5,000 units via new construction. A member of the important City Council Budget Negotiation Team, Salamanca is one of a handful of councilmembers who work hand-in-hand with the Speaker of the Council to negotiate the city’s annual budget.
Pierina Sanchez
Chair of the Committee on Housing and Buildings, New York City Council
Pierina Sanchez represents the 14th District, where she was born and raised. She grew up watching her elders sell oranges, drive taxis, clean buildings, to ensure her generation had a fighting chance at higher education and opportunity. She attended public schools, Harvard, and Princeton before serving as the New York director at the Regional Plan Association during the production of the Fourth Plan, and serving as a senior advisor for housing, economic development, and labor in the Mayor’s Office.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
The Kingsbridge Armory! It is the largest armory in the world, housed 10,000 troops in the 1940s, was home to the United Nations in the 1940s and 50s, and even served as a concert space to original MCs as hip hop was born in the Bronx in the 1980s. For nearly three decades, however, this beautiful, majestic space has been underutilized. As a beacon of hope and possibility, it is one of my major priorities to transform the Armory through community-driven, adaptive reuse.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
After being closed for more than 40 years, New York City’s oldest standing bridge reopened in 2015. The High Bridge, which connects the neighborhoods of Washington Heights in Manhattan to the Bronx has opened the beauty of NYC to Bronxites. Growing up, we would walk across the spaghetti of highways that are the I-95/Cross Bronx, I-87/Major Deegan, over the Washington Bridge to visit family in the Heights. It is a matter of environmental justice to have the High Bride restored. And its restoration points to the possibility of restoring additional historic Bronx structures, like the Kingsbridge Armory!
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
Following several difficult years, New York’s economy is finally rebounding. The city is adding jobs, tax revenues are increasing, with Real Estate Transaction Taxes and Hotel Taxes driving the growth. Despite this growth, unemployment numbers remain stubbornly high, especially in the Bronx, and particularly in communities like the ones I represent. Thus, commercial real estate is on the rebound in NYC, but we must keep our eyes peeled for opportunities to tackle inequality and ensure equitable growth.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
I have shared my personal story of waking up hearing my mother tell me to get out of the apartment because it was on fire. My mom, my tias, my family chose to fight back against negligent landlords and I have spent my career advocating for truly affordable, quality housing and bringing back the investments in housing our community deserves.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
I’ve spent time in Washington DC, Chicago, Princeton, Cambridge and Boston, and hands down – my favorite place to live is the boogie down Bronx!
Belinda Schwartz
Partner and Chair of Real Estate Department, Herrick Feinstein LLP
Belinda has chaired Herrick’s Real Estate Department since 2014,has been a member of the firm’s Executive Committee since 2017, and is a 30+ year veteran of New York City’s commercial real estate market. Her clients include prominent developers, owners, funds, investors, and family-owned real estate businesses, whom she advises in complex debt and equity transactions, including real estate restructurings and workouts; fund formation; property acquisitions and sales; joint ventures; development deals; construction matters; ground leases and commercial leases.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
Since I’ve lived here my whole life, my favorite landmark changes over time. Right now, it is the Statue of Liberty. It reminds me of the challenges the world is currently experiencing but helps me be hopeful for a better tomorrow.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
I love when a development repurposes something from the past while creating something for the here and now. Empire Stores in Dumbo is one such project. It was once a coffee warehouse along the Brooklyn waterfront; now it’s a beautiful urban marketplace.
Carlo Scissura
President and CEO, New York Building Congress
Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., is president and CEO of the New York Building Congress, a position he has held since January 2017. Prior to joining that, Carlo was president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. He served as chief of staff and general counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. A graduate of both Pace University and Pace Law School, Carlo owned a solo practice law firm in Dyker Heights and previously served on-staff for State Senator Vincent Gentile and Assemblyman Peter Abbate. Born and raised in Bensonhurst, he now lives in Bay Ridge with his daughter, Teresa Rose.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
Brooklyn Bridge.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
Atlantic Yards. It brought pro sports back to Brooklyn for the first time in 50 years, filled in a gaping hole in the middle of the borough and connected communities.
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
This is a moment of reflection for us. You look at One Vanderbilt opening during COVID, as well as other new projects and development in East New York and the Bronx, and you see the worst pandemic limitations as a hiccup in progress — but we’re on the right road.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
When you live in New York all you have to do is look up! And you immediately see the impact these industries have had on our skyline . . . and on our lives.
Favorite place lived:
Brooklyn – come on! Where else?!
Dean Shapiro
Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Development, Oxford Properties
Dean J. Shapiro is senior vice president and head of strategic partnerships for Oxford Properties. In this capacity, Dean is responsible for raising third party capital to augment Oxford’s proprietary capital in the funding of Oxford’s continued business expansion. Formerly, Dean served as the head of U.S. Development for Oxford, where he formed and managed a 25-person team that was responsible for over 30 development projects around the U.S. in the office, residential, and life sciences asset classes. Notable projects included Hudson Yards and St. John’s Terminal, the latter of which was Oxford-led and sold to Google for over $2 billion.
Dean has over 30 years’ experience in the real estate industry including as Partner in Building and Land Technology in Stamford, CT where he was involved in the transformation of South Stamford, CT into a vibrant mixed-use destination, and at CBRE where he held various positions, ultimately as leader of the NYC business.
David Sigman
Executive Vice President and Principal, LCOR
David Sigman is an executive vice president and principal of LCOR and a member of the company’s Executive Committee, with responsibility for originating, developing and managing mixed-use and office projects, including many of LCOR’s transportation-oriented developments, in the New York region. Since joining LCOR in 1994, David has directed a number of large-scale projects such as the redevelopment of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, a $1.4-billion facility representing the largest airport terminal ever developed as a result of a public/private partnership.
Among other projects, he also lead the firm’s efforts to develop two large residential condominium towers in midtown Manhattan totaling 400 units and 28,000 square feet of retail space, with a sales value in excess of $540 million; 545 Madison Avenue, a gut renovation of a LEED Gold 140,000 square foot boutique office building; 25 Broad Street, acquisition and renovation of a 308-unit historic apartment building; and 34 Berry St and 250 North 10th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, two rental residential projects with a total of 376 units. He is also directing the firm’s efforts in Cambridge, MA, and Miami, FL, where two rental projects of 500 units each are currently in development.
Previously, Mr. Sigman was associated with Washington, D.C. developer Hoskinson & Davis; he served the firm from 1985 through 1988 as its first commercial real estate project manager responsible for the development of various office and industrial projects in Northern Virginia. In 1988, Mr. Sigman joined the Zeckendorf Company, one of the nation’s largest real estate developers; as vice president, he managed development of several large-scale projects, including the Ronald Reagan Federal Office Building in Washington, D.C., and Worldwide Plaza, a mixed-use complex on Manhattan’s West Side. Mr. Sigman received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Princeton University. He’s a full member of the Urban Land Institute on the New York Infrastructure Council, member of the Board of Governors of the Real Estate Board of New York, and a member of Community Board 5 in Manhattan.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, is a landmark that I’ve been a big fan of for years. What was once a mundane piece of urban infrastructure has since been transformed into a tourist destination, inclusive of the creation of a green trail. Today, guided tours of the complex are given to schools, visitors and Open House New York offered a tour of the facility for Valentine’s Day. Its unique structure is something that isn’t found often.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
Our JFK Terminal 4 project was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and symbolized the important first start to the redevelopment of NYC-area airports through the public/private model that has since been extended to both Newark and LaGuardia. Additionally, experiencing the resurgence being seen in Coney Island through our 1515 Surf Avenue project as well as our expansions into the Cambridge, MA, and Miami marketplaces are ventures we’re currently very excited to be working on.
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
While the residential market has rebounded at a rapid pace as the city has opened back up, the office market will naturally take several years longer to do the same as employers continue to decipher how to best utilize their office spaces, and as employees adjust to a new hybrid work and life balance. Following 9/11, it took three years for the airline traffic at JFK’s Terminal 4 to recover to full capacity and similarly now, New York City will fully rebound from the pandemic, it’ll just take some time to fully adjust back once again.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
In the late 1890s, my father’s family founded a design/build industrial contracting company and my father took over the design portion of the firm in the 1960s, carrying out projects’ industrial design for owners/developers throughout metro New York. Throughout high school and in college, where I pursued a degree in civil engineering, I was tasked with carrying out the measurement of the old industrial buildings in Long Island City, most of which have since been knocked down, replaced or converted into residential properties. The interest in development stemmed from my sister, who worked for Larry Silverstein for several years.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
Throughout my life I’ve lived in three places, Long Island, Manhattan, and Washington DC. I have been back in Manhattan since May of 2019 and stayed throughout the entirety of the pandemic. New York City will forever be the best place to live, work, and play and is currently bouncing back stronger than ever.
Silverstein Properties
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Larry Silverstein, Chairman
Lisa Silverstein, Vice Chairman
Marty Burger, CEO
Tal Kerret, President
Led by founder and chairman Larry Silverstein, Silverstein Properties spent the past 21 years rebuilding the World Trade Center, working with 10 New York and New Jersey Governors and four New York City Mayors to advance the historic project. The company is a leader in sustainable design and green development, having built the first LEED-certified office tower in New York City. Silverstein has expanded nationally and internationally under the leadership of CEO Marty Burger, and currently has $15 billion in development underway.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
I have always been bullish on the future of Lower Manhattan and New York City. Over the past 21 years, many of us worked tirelessly to transform the World Trade Center from the devastation of 9/11 into the pride of New York.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
My company has been intimately involved in the redevelopment of the WTC from day one. We are immensely proud of our contributions, and are grateful for our excellent working relationship with the Port Authority, our local community and other stakeholders.
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
As was the case nearly 20 years ago, there is a chorus of naysayers claiming the city’s best days are behind us. I’ve learned over many years that you should never bet against New York. Never. This town always comes back – stronger than ever.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
My father was a classical pianist who worked as a real estate broker in the rag and woolen district in Lower Manhattan. I grew up with music and real estate at home, and at my father’s suggestion, I tried my hand at leasing.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
When I was young, my family lived in a top-floor apartment in a six-story walk-up on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. Later in life, Klara and I moved Downtown. This neighborhood has emerged as a new model of what is best and most dynamic about New York.
Natalia Sishodia
Managing Partner, Sishodia PLLC
Natalia Sishodia, founder of Sishodia PLLC, is widely recognized as a female leader, New Development Preferred Attorney, and a foreign investor lawyer in New York City. Focusing on high-net clientele, over the years Natalia has helped hundreds of first-time homebuyers purchase their dream homes in New York City. Her practice includes residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, and tax. Natalia advocates for balance in the legal profession where you can lead by example in building a legal career while still having a balanced family and personal life.
What is your favorite landmark in New York State?
My favorite landmarks in New York City are two iconic places that have been featured in dozens of movies and TV shows: Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park. I remember spending most of my lunches by Brooklyn Bridge, peering at the Manhattan skyline and dreaming of making a name for myself in the concrete jungle someday. Central Park is where I’ve spent every winter for the past seven years with my daughter. We’d skate at Wollman Rink together and made it a tradition to skate there every year.
What has been your favorite development project and why?
200 East 83rd Street is, to date, my favorite development project. It offers magnificent views of the city and Central Park, has state of the art amenities which include a seventy-foot swimming pool, sauna and fitness/wellness center, and a winter garden for dining. I also marvel at the architectural design.
What is the current state of commercial real estate in New York? What impact has the pandemic had?
Since the pandemic, commercial office spaces have greatly declined. There simply isn’t a demand for commercial space due to many companies switching over to remote work. A New York Times article published last April reported that office vacancies are the highest they’ve been in decades. This isn’t surprising considering the decrease of interest from investors and a surplus of inventory. The residential market, however, is booming with 98.3% occupancy rate.
How did you become interested in architecture, real estate, or construction?
My first interest in buildings and the creation of structures stemmed from when I was a kid playing with blocks. I dreamt of becoming an architect and while that dream did not exactly materialize, my love for buildings and architecture remained. Over the years that love, paired with my background in the legal field, evolved into a passion for real estate law.
What is your favorite place you’ve ever lived?
Of all the places I’ve lived in, New York City is without a doubt my favorite. It’s a melting pot and a city of opportunities that thrives because of its diversity and amazing dynamic energy. I love traveling and exploring new places, but none compared to New York. I’m always happy to leave New York, but even happier to return.
