From left: Christopher Schlank and Nicholas Bienstock of Savanna, David Von Spreckelsen of Toll Brothers, Drew Anderman of Walker & Dunlop and Shimon Shkury of Ariel Property Advisors

From the February issue: Membership at the industry’s leading trade group, the Real Estate Board of New York, is at an all-time high, but outside of public view there is a constant turnover of its ranks.

This month, The Real Deal did a first-ever analysis of REBNY membership, comparing the Class of 2012 to the Class of 2011 to see who joined — and who dropped out — this year. [more]

Mary Ann Tighe and Mayor Michael BloombergFrom the February issue: Hollywood is gearing up for the Academy Awards this month, but the New York City real estate industry has its own glamorous red-carpet event. Some 2,200 industry stars attended the Real Estate Board of New York’s 116th Annual Banquet at the New York Hilton last month. The crowd included real estate royalty like REBNY Chairman Mary Ann Tighe and developer Douglas Durst, along with politicos Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn. [more]

Clockwise from left: Council speaker Christine Quinn; Peter Riguardi and John Ryan of Jones Lang LaSalle; Mayor Michael Bloomberg with CBRE's Mary Ann Tighe; Joseph Aquino and Faith Hope Consolo of Prudential Douglas Elliman

The Real Estate Board of New York’s annual dinner often tracks the mood of the real estate business as a whole, and this year was no different. The dinner last night was well-attended and lively, yet like the market itself, appeared relatively tame and lacked a certain exuberance.

In fact, when builder Douglas Durst addressed the audience, famous for ignoring those on the podium, and said, “I hope you keep silent for the rest of the speakers,” the assembled real estate professionals kind of did. He was given the Bernard H. Mendik lifetime leadership in real estate award, one of six honorees of the evening. [more]

From left: Steven Spinola, president of REBNY and 16 Court Street

The Real Estate Board of New York has pumped up its efforts to block the landmark designation of a swath of 21 commercial building in Downtown Brooklyn, Crain’s reported.

Last September the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the landmarking, known as the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District; it includes 16 Court Street, 191 Joralemon Street and 75 Livingston Street.  [more]

From left: Pam Liebman, president and CEO of the Corcoran Group, Douglas Durst, president of the Durst Organization, REBNY's Steven Spinola and the protesters at last year's event

Real estate professionals are looking ahead to the industry’s most high-profile night of the year, the Real Estate Board of New York’s annual banquet, scheduled for tomorrow evening. More than 2,000 guests are expected to attend this year’s gathering at the New York Hilton Hotel at 1335 Sixth Avenue between 53rd and 54th streets, according to a REBNY spokesperson.

Now in its 116th year, the night is billed as a prime networking opportunity that attracts big-name developers, brokers and politicians. Last year’s attendees included Mayor Michael Bloomberg; William Rudin, CEO of Rudin Management; Dottie Herman, the CEO of Prudential Douglas Elliman; Senator Charles Schumer; Bruce Mosler, chairman of global brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield; and many others. [more]