Category : REBNY Watch

New York City on the cutting edge with WEDG

REW Staff March 5, 2015 March 5, 2015

by REW StaffMarch 5, 2015March 5, 2015200

By Steven Spinola New York has always been a city of water, and now there’s an important initiative to establish and promote best practices at the water’s edge. For the last fifteen years, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification has been the world’s most widely recognized and used...

REBNY Watch

Stop with the cheap shots at 421a already

REW February 18, 2015 February 18, 2015

by REWFebruary 18, 2015February 18, 2015

By Steven Spinola There have been a few recent calls for the elimination of the 421-a tax exemption program, an important incentive that helps create … Continued

REBNY Watch

Plenty of moving parts to Mayor’s bold affordable housing plan

REW February 11, 2015 February 11, 2015

by REWFebruary 11, 2015February 11, 2015785

By Steven Spinola Mayor de Blasio made both affordable and market-priced housing a focal point of his second State of the City address at Baruch College last week. The Mayor’s call for an additional 160,000 new market-rate units, above and beyond the 200,000 affordable units the administration plans to build...

REBNY Watch

REBNY in right hands for facing challenges of the future

REW January 20, 2015 January 20, 2015

by REWJanuary 20, 2015January 20, 2015845

Statement of Real Estate Board of New York President Steven Spinola on receiving The Harry B. Helmsley Distinguished New Yorker Award – January 15, 2015 Thank you for this wonderful honor tonight. To receive an award in the name of Harry Helmsley is an extraordinary recognition. To have had the...

Featured REBNY Watch

REBNY reign coming to an end with a burst of energy initiative

REW January 7, 2015 January 7, 2015

by REWJanuary 7, 2015January 7, 20151013

By Steven Spinola Next week, our industry will convene for what is always one of my favorite nights of the year, the REBNY Annual Banquet which will take place at the New York Hilton on January 15. Tickets are still available, but they won’t last. In between meeting new contacts,...

REBNY Watch

Riverside South provides pathway to housing New Yorkers

REW December 23, 2014 December 23, 2014

by REWDecember 23, 2014December 23, 20142581

By Steven Spinola Construction is nearing completion at Riverside Center, and with it marks the end of the Riverside South mega-project. Originally conceived over 50 years ago, this exciting plan has transformed a 77-acre former rail yard into a series of condominium buildings between 59th and 72nd street. Once completed,...

REBNY Watch

Real Estate winners who are leading by example

REW December 16, 2014 December 16, 2014

by REWDecember 16, 2014December 16, 2014929

By Steve Spinola As 2014 draws to a close, I want to highlight a few of the REBNY members who were singled out this year for their achievements and contributions to our industry. This year, our Deal of the Year Awards once again went out to industry professionals who went...

REBNY Watch

New directors will strengthen real estate board

REW December 10, 2014 December 10, 2014

by REWDecember 10, 2014December 10, 2014716

I want to congratulate REBNY’s newly elected Commercial Board of Directors. After serving for five years as the chairman of REBNY’s Commercial Board of Directors, William Montana will be succeeded by James P. Nelson, Partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services, following Friday’s elections. The Commercial Board of Directors reviews the...

REBNY Watch

Don’t let Airbnb and its ilk blow off the rules

REW November 19, 2014 November 19, 2014

by REWNovember 19, 2014November 19, 20141354

By Steven Spinola While rental sites and apps such as Airbnb are well-intentioned, lately they have been criticized by City officials due to their potential threats to the affordability, safety and residential character of the communities they affect. Recently, the office of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman released...