Project of the Month: Briarwood Organization celebrates 100th anniversary with ground breaking of 24,000 s/f Briarwood Plaza II

Highlighting a century of progress, the Briarwood Organization continues to innovate New York City's commercial and residential real estate landscape with important new projects. To mark its first 100 years, the fourth-generation, family-owned company has begun construction on Briarwood Plaza II, a class A office building located at 36-29 Bell Blvd., with 24,000 s/f of prime space. "Our first office building, Briarwood Plaza at 36-35 Bell Blvd., has been a successful amenity to the Queens community for more than a decade," said Vincent Riso, president and third generation principal. "It was apparent that the timing was right for additional office space to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities at large." The facility features floor sizes ranging from 4,800 s/f to 6,650 rentable s/f, plus on-site parking and carries a 15-year ICAP tax abatement. Its construction and design are bolstered by environmentally forward measures such as water conserving fixtures, low/no VOC paints and primers and LED lighting with motion sensors. In addition, Briarwood Plaza II is close to the Long Island Railroad, as well as express and standard bus-service, and offers excellent access to Manhattan, Queens and Long Island. Briarwood's in-house property management team is spearheading the marketing and leasing efforts. "One of the most important aspects of this building is its versatility. The building was conceived and designed to accommodate tenants for office and community facility use. The interior offers an easy flow to and between spaces. It provides ample parking, state-of-the-art equipment, and a look that blends in with the surroundings. I believe that The Briarwood Plaza II will be a great addition to the neighborhood," said project architect Marcelo Kohan, R.A., of Delargent Design Architecture, P.C. In March 2012, a resolution was adopted by the New York State Senate officially commemorating the Briarwood Organization for its 100th Anniversary. "For more than a century, Briarwood has played a key role in New York City's development and we are perfectly-positioned to help shape its future as a developer and third-party general contractor," said James Riso, vice president and fourth generation principal of the firm. "Future tenants of Briarwood Plaza II will enjoy the convenience of area restaurants, banking institutions and other services, in addition to a central location near mass transit and major thoroughfares." Founded in 1912, The Briarwood Organization is a privately-owned and family operated real estate firm engaged in the development, construction and management of residential and commercial properties. Over the years, Briarwood has developed in excess of 5 million s/f of mixed-use, residential, retail and office space throughout Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Past achievements include "The Best American Living" award from the U.S. Housing & Urban Development Department (HUD), "Outstanding Landscape Design" from the New York Landscape Industry Association, and numerous "Excellence in Design and Construction" awards from the Queens & Bronx Building Association and Queens Chamber of Commerce. Briarwood Plaza II Project Team: Developer: The Briarwood Organization, LLC Construction Manager: L. Riso & Sons, Co., Inc. Architect: Delargent Design Architecture P.C. Structural Engineer: De Nardis Engineering, LLC Environmental Consultant: Tenen Environmental, LLC