PWC National Developers Forum asserts that NYC is still a strong real estate market

"Yes, there is activity in the N.Y. real estate market," said Professional Women in Construction (PWC) National president Lenore Janis as she introduced the speakers at the recent PWC Developers Forum. Janis credited the series' moderator, NY Post columnist and real estate maven Lois Weiss, with always having "her pulse on this market." Peter Fine, principal of Atlantic Development Group, a major NYC real estate firm, has developed more than 6,500 mid-market and affordable housing units throughout NYC and regularly partners in social service, education and government-sponsored efforts. The company also hosts a substantial amount of prime retail space within its portfolio of mixed-use developments. Asserting that "New York City will continue to be a strong real estate market" with an attractive global profile, Fine noted that he strongly believes that demand for Atlantic's properties will continue to increase. Greg Cuyjet, chief small business with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said, "We want to bring you in as a prime or subcontractor to team with us." He outlined opportunities in a variety of current projects including work at West Point; a N.J. firing range; dam repair at Pompton Lakes, N.J.; and renovations in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Cuyjet noted too that the Corps' will be upgrading security bridges for the NYC Dept. of Transportation., a $500 million project that will have "significant subcontracting opportunities." Joel Bergstein, president of Lincoln Equities a firm with a global portfolio of several hundreds of million dollars, noted that "To be a developer, you have to be an optimist." He discussed his firm's planned work to redevelop Halletts Point, located on a peninsula in Astoria, Queens that is currently "an unbalanced community, isolated from the rest of the borough." Aiming "to reconnect the area to the community," Bergstein said rezoning will bring area residents to the new LEED certified residential complex which will include 20% affordable units. A new park created by Lincoln will extend the existing Waterfront Esplanade Park; service retail and restaurants will be built and bus service expanded. Kevin Bunker, P.E., director design & construction, Region 2, USGSA, outlined a $5.5 billion national American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) program with major renovations planned in Puerto Rico and New Jersey. He noted, "Tailor your proposals to the project and remember that all contract awards are competitive." Photographs by Marc Becker.