News
LAST NIGHT WITH YJP
September 3, 2009
| Last night, just when we thought everyone had disappeared for the long weekend, we found 250 real estate folks schmoozing with the Young Jewish Professionals Real Estate Network’s in Chelsea. |
 |
| First, we heard some retooling tips from three well-knowns: Levine Builders/Douglaston Development’s Jeff Levine, Gotham Developers’ David Picket, and Muss Developers’ Jason Muss. Jeff jokes to the young’uns that if you want a steady paycheck, get a civil job. In reality, he added, this is the best of times because opportunities are abundant. David says that although biz is down, it was from lofty numbers, and we’re back to not-so-bad ’06 figures—look for opportunities in consulting and buying debt and REO properties. Jason says that even though things have slowed, people are staying in contracts. BronfmanHaymes’ Evan Haymes moderated. |
 |
| Online Marketing Group’s Illana Schwartz, owner Jack Cayre, YJP’s Naftali Rotenstreich, and Sperry Van Ness’ Neil Golub. Naftali gave honorary shofars on YJP’s behalf to three young group leaders, including D Ross Real Estate’s Darius Ross and Jack Jaffa & Associates’ Michael Jaffa. YJP’s Real Estate Network launched in July. |
 |
| Corcon’s Brett Gower (center, with Bloom Real Estate’s Elliot Zelinger and Excalibur Group’s Andrew Fein), is up to many retail and restaurant construction projects, including the restaurant inside the Guggenheim, an open-phase renovation of the Old Navy store in SoHo, and a dance studio in FiDi. |
 |
| Columbia grad student Schualita Chong, Orley & Associates’ Ethan Orley, Columbia grad student Kristiana Wilson, and Brown & Brown’s Aaron Lefkowitz. More good news from the recession: Aaron says sales of property and casualty insurance is up, as everyone needs insurance, premiums are coming down, and customers want to save money. |
 |
| SR Capital’s Dan Lustig, Cara Communications’ Maya Milbert, Synchro’s Catherine Chiffert, and Capital One’s Laura Cohen. Catherine, who works with 4D software modeling, recently returned from India, where she went to check out opportunities. Returning to New York was like coming back to “beautiful chaos,” she says. |
 |
| Naftali blows the shofar to signify the upcoming Jewish High Holy Days and to “blow the recession out of New York.” The holidays are still a few weeks away (and the shofar won’t even sound this Rosh Hashanah since it’s on the Sabbath), so we suppose this is the Judaic equivalent of an early contract renewal. L’Shanah tovah! |
