Name: Queens & Long Island City Boom
Start: 2021-10-27T07:30:00-04:00
End: 2021-10-27T11:30:00-04:00
Location: The Woodworks

Event Host

The Woodworks

The Woodworks is a large-footprint, full-block mixed-used industrial and office development in Hunters Point, Long Island City. Named in honor of the site’s 40-year history as a cabinet and fine millworks factory, The Woodworks blends a historically tailored outer façade with a modern and capable inner core. The Woodworks is the first spec office and industrial project to be built in Long Island City in over 30 years and is designed to serve the small-to-mid-sized business that make up the backbone of NYC’s workforce.

Ground floor warehouses featuring high ceilings and an abundance of natural light are topped by two floors of flex space/offices, all of which have private outdoor roof terraces, 14’ ceilings and loft windows. A thoughtfully designed wood paneled lobby greets entrants, and all of the tenants have access to an expansive public roof terrace with pergolas, lounge style seating areas, and a bocce ball court.

Construction was completed in March of 2021, and the property is currently in lease-up. For further information, please see the attached marketing materials.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR SAFETY

We have experienced the enthusiasm of returning to live in-person events this year, having safely and successfully hosted more than 10,000 executives to date. While we are thrilled to convene together to propel growth within CRE, COVID-19 remains a worldwide concern and Bisnow is committed to practicing safe protocols at our events. You can expect the following:

Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-test result from the past 72 hours will be required as a condition of entry to this event. Proof of vaccination or negative test results can be shown via a physical card or a digital image of your records.
In accordance with CDC guidelines, we are recommending that all participants wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will be made available at the door.
Temperature checks will be conducted at entry.
Attendance at the event will be capped and no tickets will be sold at the door.
Contact tracing procedures will be employed for any reported exposure.
Socially distanced seating will be available in the main event space.
Enhanced sanitization protocols will be adhered to throughout the event space including regularly disinfecting surfaces throughout the event and hand sanitizer provided to all attendees.

As local regulations and guidance evolve, the CRE industry continues to lead the way forward. We look forward to gathering safely to do what we do best: network, connect, and engage to do more business. We look forward to hosting you soon.

Speakers and Panels

Moderator

Brendan Leavy

Business Development Manager, Queens Chamber of Commerce

Opening Remarks with Deputy Commissioner Rhonda Binda

Rhonda Binda

Rhonda Binda, raised in Southeast Queens, is a visionary leader with a passion for social and environmental justice. In her youth, Rhonda successfully lobbied the New York City Council for New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG) to shut down Fresh Kills, the largest toxic site in the country. As an attorney, she represented and released wrongly detained clients before the US Immigration Court of Appeals after 9/11 pro bono and broke up internet and cable monopolies. In government, she served in both the Obama-Biden and Clinton-Gore Administrations as a US Diplomat and in the West Wing. Inspired by her love for her hometown, Rhonda returned to Queens as the Executive Director for the Jamaica BID, the borough’s largest business district where she took action against stark inequality of resources and investments made in the Borough. Under her leadership, Jamaica remarkably rose through the ranks to be named the #1 neighborhood in the city, won #1 awards from the NYC Department of Small Business Services (NYC SBS) and #1 in the state for downtown revitalization, raising Jamaica’s profile as a unique, vibrant multicultural center for retail and tourism. She continued to serve her community as Chairwoman of South Asian American Voice, Vice President of the Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation High School Women’s Leadership Academy and on the boards for The Boys and Girls Club of Metro Queens, The New York Hall of Science and Positive Women United. Rhonda is an internationally recognized People’s Choice leader in building smart cities and connected communities. She is an Adjunct Professor at Medgar Evers College at the City University of New York and served on both the 21 Century Government and Foreign Policy teams for the Biden-Harris 2020 Presidential campaign. Rhonda attended Queens public schools in District 29 and, because of her academic potential, was recruited for the prestigious Prep for Prep program, which provided her a path to scholarships to The Lawrencevill School, Duke University, Georgetown University and Oxford University. Rhonda has traveled to 6 continents, 40+ countries and hundreds of cities working with state and local leaders, and lives in Jamaica Estates, Queens.

Queens Borough

Deputy Borough President

Rhonda Binda

Deputy Borough President, Queens Borough

Why Queens? What it Takes To Attract (and Grow) Community-Anchoring Tenants

Building for Businesses

Christina Callahan

Deputy General Manager, Laguardia Airport

Scott Barone

Founder & Principal, Barone Management

Suresh Sani

President, First Pioneer Properties

The Queens Investment Agenda: Assessing Investor Confidence

The Value of Queens' Capital Stack

Brian Collins

EVP & Director of Development, Silverstein Properties

Tom Ortinau

Head of Acquisitions, GFP Real Estate

Stefan Sansone

Director of Acquisitions & Development, Seagis Property Group

Morris Betesh

Senior Managing Director, Meridian Capital Group

Stephen Preuss

Vice Chairman, Investment Sales, RIPCO

Moderator

Brian Klansky

Northeast Regional Vice President, VIEW

Creating Community in Queens: Multifamily & Mixed-Use Investment & Development

15-Minute Solutions to Live, Work, Play

Elizabeth Lusskin

President, LIC Partnership

John Petras

Co-Founder and Managing Principal, RockFarmer Properties

Eric Benaim

A sought after voice in Queens real estate, Eric Benaim’s entry into real estate began in 2001, after a successful career as owner of a live event production and marketing firm. Initially concentrating on Manhattan luxury sales, Eric later recognized the untapped opportunity in his own beloved borough, 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, Eric instinctively decided the time was right to launch Modern Spaces, permanently changing the perception and value of real estate in LIC. In just 10 years, Eric’s insightful and personal approach resulted in the swift expansion of Modern Spaces, including opening additional offices in Astoria where 100 agents work, capturing a 70% market share in Long Island City. In 2019, Modern Spaces crossed the river to capture 10% of the burgeoning market share over the next three years, in Jersey City. He is responsible for successfully completing over $7B in sales and is currently responsible for overseeing over $4B in real estate, which translates to over 8000 units. Eric was the first person to be recognized as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star in both Queens and Brooklyn by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz, respectively. Eric has been the recipient of the 2018 Community Impact Award by the LIC Partnership, as well as the Community Hero award by the Long Island City YMCA. Eric is a member of REBNY, and serves on the Advisory Board of Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as the Board of Directors for the Long Island City Partnership. In 2016 the City and State Award honored him for Corporate Social Responsibility. Eric is consistently called upon to speak at a diverse array of events and is frequently featured, quoted, interviewed and profiled in prominent outlets including CNN, Fox Business, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CRAIN’S, The Real Deal, CNBC, and NY1. Eric is an art collector and avid supporter of the arts. As the informal ‘Mayor of LIC,’ it is his passion for building a prosperous community that informs Modern Spaces ‘unparalleled perspective. He currently resides in Long Island City with his wife Stephanie and son Greyson.

Modern Spaces

CEO, President & Founder

Eric Benaim

CEO, President & Founder, Modern Spaces

Moderator

Danny Bloomstine

Strategic Account Director, Juniper Square Investment Management

Venue

The Woodworks
9-03 44th Rd.
Long Island City, NY 11101

Floor: Second Floor

Parking Information:

Parking informations: Options for nearby garages:
Quik Park, 4545 Center Blvd
Queens West Parking, 1-59 47th Ave
Icon Parking, 474 48th Ave
*Public transit is advised
Subway stations
Court Square Station Lines E,M
Court Square Station Line 7
Court Square Station Line G

Get Directions

Agenda

Time	Activity
7:30 AM 8:30 AM	Registration & Networking
8:30 AM 8:40 AM	Opening Remarks with Deputy Commissioner Rhonda Binda
8:40 AM 9:25 AM	Why Queens? What it Takes To Attract (and Grow) Community-Anchoring Tenants How are developers and investors building for industrial, life sciences, healthcare and creative industry sectors in the Queens area? What attracts these industries to the Queens borough? How can investors capitalize on new opportunities in the borough?
9:25 AM 10:05 AM	The Queens Investment Agenda: Assessing Investor Confidence Is Queens a developer friendly borough? What are the incentives and challenges to develop in the area? How can developers partner with the City for continued growth in Queens?
10:05 AM 10:20 AM	Coffee & Networking
10:20 AM 11:00 AM	Creating Community in Queens: Multifamily & Mixed-Use Investment & Development How are developers and investors approaching all aspects of life in Queens, from building better office, multifamily and retail assets to placemake in a burgeoning market? How should each of the unique submarkets of Queens be approached to maximize asset performance? Can the neighborhoods of Queens be transformed into 15-minute, smart communities?
11:00 AM 11:30 AM	Post-Event Networking

Why This Matters

What You'll Learn

How to drive leasing activity by leveraging greater industry knowledge in the outer boroughs
Why healthcare, industrial and creative office tenants are keys to maximizing NOI in your Queens investments
Public-private partnering strategies critical to your development's success
How to capitalize on new industry growth via your multifamily assets
Everything you need to know to attract more tenants and residents to your outer borough properties

How you'll do more business: Stay on top of outer borough developments and industry drivers to identify the top opportunities for your portfolios. Deep dive into the top asset classes and economic drivers reshaping Long Island City and Queens for better uses, and get answers to your biggest questions about developing successful assets outside of Manhattan.

Who attends: Owners, developers, investors, brokers, lenders, architects, lawyers, consultants, general contractors, government officials and anyone interested in breaking into the Queens and LIC markets.

Why should you attend: While Manhattan's recovery is still slow going, Queens and LIC are heating up! Get in on the growth of new industries and booming activity with exclusive insights on what works and what doesn't in the outer boroughs.