Close to 1,000 members of Long Island's real estate business community attended the Long Island Commercial Real Estate Expo (LICREE), on March 12 at the Hilton Long Island, to listen to industry leaders discuss the future of real estate development on Long Island. Kenneth Adams, commissioner, New York State Department of Economic Development, and president and CEO, Empire State Development, provided the keynote address in which he discussed the changing ways in which New York State is doing business in an effort to save taxpayer dollars.
The executive business luncheon also was highlighted by a panel discussion featuring industry leaders: Michael Maturo, president and CFO, RXR Realty LLC; Russell Matthews, EVP, The Albanese Organization; Donald Monti, president and CEO, Renaissance Downtowns; David Pennetta, owner, Oxford & Simpson Realty; and Matthew Whalen, SVP, AvalonBay Communities, Inc. The panel spoke about the need for Long Island's numerous zoning districts to shorten the time frames for approving development projects and to recognize that the time has come for the housing mix to change on Long Island to help stem the exodus of our youth and workforce. Commercial businesses will not stay on/come to Long Island unless they have employees and these workers will continue to leave unless they have affordable and enjoyable places to live, work and play. LIBN Real Estate Reporter David Winzelberg moderated the panel.
LICREE began the day with a kick-off breakfast highlighted by opening remarks from Hon. Frank Petrone, Huntington Town supervisor, and a presentation by Andrew Lieb, MPH, managing attorney, Lieb at Law, P.C. The expo also featured a trade show featuring approximately 100 exhibitors in addition to several well attended educational seminars on various topics related to the commercial and residential real estate business on Long Island.
"I was impressed with the 2nd Annual Long Island Commercial Real Estate Expo," said Michael Maturo, president and CFO, RXR Realty. "This will continue to be an important event in the years to come."
Shown (standing from left) are: Donald Monti; Mark Neuwirt, LICREE producer and president, Expos Your Business; Michele Michael, LICREE concept creator; and Kenneth Adams. Shown (seated from left) are: Matthew Whalen; Russell Matthews; David Pennetta; and Michael Maturo. Tags: