Kelly Mack, 36, is president of Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group.
Specializing in the planning, design, marketing, and sales of luxury
residential developments, the company has generated over $9 billion in
sales since she became president in 2006. Mack earned her MBA at New
York University before joining Corcoran Sunshine, where she became
executive vice president in 2004. Last year, Mack was named the
first-ever Distinguished Young Alumna by New York University.

Which amenities are popular in new buildings today, and how has that
changed over the past year?
Amenities still create value — that
hasn’t changed. The strength of sales at a building like the Rushmore,
one of the most amenitized buildings in Manhattan, demonstrates that new
development buyers still want the complete package. That being said,
are there other developers who are scaling back on amenities during
predevelopment? Some are. 

Compiled by Candace Taylor. [more]

Architects had even less work to do in January, according to the American Institute of Architects, whose Architecture Billings Index dropped three points during the month to 42.5, down from 45.4 in December. The index, on which scores above 50 indicate an increase in the demand for design services, is an indicator of construction activity; there is a lag time of nine to 12 months between architecture billings and construction spending. Inquiries about new projects dropped more than seven points to 52.5. “Projects are being delayed or canceled because lending institutions are placing unusually stringent equity requirements on new developments,” Kermit Baker, chief economist at AIA said in response to the data. “This is even happening to financially sound companies with strong credit ratings,” he said. He added that a decrease in tax revenues for publicly-funded projects and declining property values were other contributors to the low demand for design work. The design and construction industry has an unemployment rate of more than 20 percent, he said. TRD

Renderings of three versions of the winning design.

A new sidewalk shed design was unveiled today by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with Robert LiMandri, city buildings commissioner, and Anthony Schirripa, president of the New York Chapter of the American Insittute of Architects. The new proposed sidewalk structure marks the first time in approximately 60 years that the protective structure between pedestrians and construction was redesigned for New York City. The design was chosen from the “urbanSHED International Design Competition,” a competition sponsored by the AIA that drew more than 164 submissions. The wining designer, Young-Hwan Choi, a 28-year-old student at the University of Pennsylvania, had pitched the “Urban Umbrella” design to the competition, a structure that utilizes an arch-like frame (see accompanying renderings). Bloomberg emphasized how the new design would fuel the “entrepreneurial spirit” of the city. “Sidewalk sheds are a part of New York life, reflecting the face of a city that is constantly changing,” Bloomberg said. “Yet the sheds themselves haven’t evolved at all during the past four decades and its time to bring them into the 21st century.” The Department of Buildings will approve the design, according to a statement from the Mayor’s office, and will then promote the design to real estate and construction professionals for future use. TRD [more]

From the September issue: As the downturn continues, work has fallen off even for some of the most celebrated architects working in New York City.
In a widely reported move this June, Frank Gehry was booted from
the Atlantic Yards arena job in favor of an architectural firm that
would save the project money. And last month, Robert A.M. Stern told The Real Deal that his firm has seen projects put on hold because of the economy (he declined to give specifics).
In response to the slowdown, some starchitects are scaling back
their office operations and shifting to more institutional work to deal
with the drought of new development projects.

Rendering of 93 Nevins Street

The City Planning Commission voted unanimously today to approve the new Food Retail Expansion to Support Health zoning amendment. Meanwhile, sales have launched at 93 Nevins Street, an environmentally friendly townhouse development in Boerum Hill, and at at Seven Dutch Street in the Financial District. Click here for more. [more]