CIBS hosts panel on adaptive reuse across Long Island

Melville, NY The Commercial Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island (CIBS) hosted its “From Vacancy to Vitality: Adaptive Reuse on Long Island” panel at the RXR Building, where more than 125 members and industry professionals gathered to explore how underutilized and obsolete properties are being transformed into economically productive assets across the region.

The program featured a panel of professionals with expertise in zoning, engineering, and design, moderated by Andrea Tsoukalas Curto, Esq., partner at Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP. Panelists included Kathleen Deegan Dickson, Esq., partner and co-chair of zoning and land use at Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP; Salvatore Ferrara, RA, president of Combined Resources Consulting and Design, Inc.; Christopher Robinson, PE, president of R&M Engineering; and Joe Yacobellis, AIA, partner at Mojo Stumer & Associates.

“The strong turnout today reflects the level of engagement we’re seeing across Long Island around the future of our industry,” said Ralph Benzakein, president of CIBS and senior vice president at Cresa. “At CIBS, our goal is to bring together professionals for conversations like this — to share insights, foster collaboration, and help our members stay ahead of the trends shaping commercial real estate.”

“Adaptive reuse is one of the most important conversations in real estate today,” said panel moderator Andrea Tsoukalas Curto. “Necessity is the mother of invention – and in this case reinvention. We are joined by an exceptional group of professionals who are not just discussing trends, but actively helping to reshape properties and redefine how they serve our communities.”

Panelists discussed how evolving market conditions, changing tenant expectations, and regulatory considerations are driving new approaches to redevelopment across office, retail, and industrial sectors. The conversation highlighted both the opportunities and complexities involved in repositioning properties, as well as the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders.

Through programs like this, CIBS continues to provide its members with timely insights into market trends while fostering collaboration among the professionals shaping the future of Long Island’s commercial real estate landscape.

The Commercial and Industrial Brokers Society of Long Island (CIBS) was formed in 1992 out of a shared belief that the region’s commercial real estate professionals needed a unified voice. Since its founding, CIBS has worked to elevate industry standards by offering educational programs, seminars, and presentations; advocating for professional ethics; providing mentoring and networking opportunities; supporting local charities; and fostering a culture in which colleagues become collaborators and competitors become respected peers.