CREW New York holds luncheon: “Reaching New Heights in Brooklyn”

Brooklyn, NY CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) New York brought together a panel of women to its luncheon event, “Reaching New Heights in Brooklyn.” Kristie Maduro, Karen Hu, Sally Gilliland, Lissa So and Tina Isselbacher discussed their backgrounds and careers in commercial real estate and the possibilities for One Clinton.

One Clinton is the condominium portion of the redevelopment of the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Three years after The Hudson Cos.Inc. bought the land from Brooklyn Public Library, demolishing the branch that once stood on the grounds, sales of the condominiums that went up in its place finally launched. 

The 36-story condominium tower will offer residents amenities such as the Sky Lounge with a landscaped terrace, a fitness center, children’s center, private storage and private parking. The redevelopment site will also feature two retail spaces, one of which will be leased by Brooklyn Roasting Co. and the other by Smorgasburg.

Hudson partnered with Brooklyn Public Library to build a new 26,690 s/f library below the residential tower that will contain a reading room, community room and co-working space open to the public. Gilliland, principal of Hudson, Inc., and Hu, director, Hudson, Inc., told the group about this four-pronged approach within the greater whole — the condominiums, the retail space, a new library and offsite affordable housing. During the construction of the new library, set to open in 2020, a temporary library was built within Our Lady of Lebanon Church on Remsen St.

Isselbacher, senior counsel at NYC Law Department, told the group about how the project aims to serve as a model for others. Special districts are often taken advantage of, but this project will bring new life and businesses to the area. So, AIA, partner, Marvel Architects, discussed the 114 units of affordable housing that will be developed offsite at Atlantic and Fulton Sts. This portion of the project came as a result of the large community outreach undertaken. Maduro, vice president of capital finance & real estate initiatives at the Brooklyn Public Library, elaborated and told the group that all funds go back to the Brooklyn Public Library system creating creative financing opportunities to defray deferred maintenance. 

Allison Robin, principal at Levien & Co., president-elect of CREW New York, and the day’s moderator, commented on how impressive it was to see a project where the decision makers were all women.