Fordham Real Estate Institute, Columbia University, the Counselors of Real Estate and Professional Women in Construction co-host “Urbs or Burbs?” breakfast panel

Manhattan, NY Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI), Columbia University, the Counselors of Real Estate and Professional Women in Construction co-hosted the forum Urbs or Burbs: Where are the Best Investment and Development Opportunities? The breakfast panel took place on Wednesday, October 3 at the University’s Lincoln Center campus. 

The first component of the Urbs or Burbs program involved a fireside chat with Hugh Kelly (director of graduate programs, Fordham REI, and president, Hugh Kelly Real Estate Economics) and special guest John Kessler (president and COO, Empire State Realty Trust). The two discussed the factors influencing major investors as they assess where to allocate funds, especially at this point in the industry cycle.

“In New York, we have transformed our portfolio to attract better tenants,” said Kessler. “The growth has been strong and the tendency has changed over time as technology businesses come to the city. As new buildings transform to lure high-quality tenants, older buildings can compete by delivering great location, convenient access and quality accommodations for a low rate. When looking to the suburbs, location is a major asset. For example, our property in Stamford is very specifically located across from the train station into the city. For the suburbs, it’s about location and convenience. For Manhattan, it’s about expansion.”

“The state of national real estate is in a transitional period,” said Kelly. “Gateway cities have a lot to offer and they have attributes that people desire – places that produce urban vibrancy: the ‘live, work and play.’ Cities no longer have to have a New York City-scale population density.”

The second half of the event touched on topics such as relative economic strengths and weaknesses, demographic trends, infrastructure, government policy, construction issues, building technology, capital flows, and other key variables that play into overall prospects for development. Patrice Derrington, director, Real Estate Development Program, GSAAP, Columbia University, moderated the discussion. Featured panelists included:

• George Kok, managing director at Morgan Stanley;
• Bill O’Connor, CEO at O’Connor Capital Partners; and
• Chris Mills, CEO at Plaza Construction.

Of note, during the conversation, the experts honed in on growth markets and smaller urban locations like Austin, Tx., North Carolina and Florida. As the state of adaptive reuse brings a rise of new development formats, millennials are seeking all things urban–even outside of the true urban city. Mixed-use buildings/shopping centers have changed the makeup of the city “core.” The trend of retail, food and entertainment in one convenient and accessible location provides incentive and attracts people. Even with multi-family housing, developers have found a trend in smaller rooms and larger common areas, as residents seek collaboration and are more open to sharing resources.

“New York City may be the real estate capital of the world, but it is important to look at the industry as a whole; the trends in suburban areas and smaller markets can have big impact across the board,” said Anthony Davidson, Ph.D., MBA, dean of Fordham’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies. “As we start looking ahead to 2019, the expert insights shared today gave attendees a strong look at what we can expect in our cities and suburban areas moving forward. We thank our esteemed speakers and co-presenters for a truly insightful morning.”

Urbs or Burbs: Where are the Best Investment and Development Opportunities? was sponsored by First American Title, Plaza Construction, the Mortgage Bankers Association of New York Inc. and Co-Communications Inc.