Ones To Watch: Innovators In Commercial Real Estate: Gene Goldstein-Plesser, Denham Wolf Real Estate Services

Innovation Highlight:
Some of my most meaningful work involves finding creative ways to help nonprofits develop a clear vision for their real estate and unlock its potential. Many land-owning nonprofits hold significant unused development rights but lack the capital, alignment, or expertise to determine how best to use them. We evaluate opportunities from multiple angles that might otherwise be overlooked and identify strategies that generate monetary value and further their mission. This approach allows them to engage with the market from a much stronger position.

Industry Outlook:
I’m excited about the new BSA fast-track process for publicly financed affordable housing, which gives eligible projects a faster path to seek relief from zoning requirements without going through the full ULURP process. This creates meaningful opportunities for affordable and supportive housing developers to pursue sites that previously may not have been feasible—and to compete more effectively with market-rate developers. I’m loo