As I write this note, we are preparing the final details of The Real Deal’s fourth annual New Development Forum, which will be held September 10th at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall.
Each year we gather 3,000 of our subscribers and readers to network and ask questions of our illustrious panel, which this year includes Larry Silverstein, Charles Kushner, Barbara Corcoran, Steve Witkoff, Mark Zandi, Robert Knakal and R. Donahue Peebles. The opportunity to get insights firsthand from leaders in our industry is a true privilege. Their knowledge and unique perspective on the marketplace is invaluable, and so when you get these heavyweights sitting together in a semi-circle discussing the business of real estate, you have an absolutely fascinating and informative evening.
No doubt we have the smartest people in the market reading our magazine, so pat yourself on the back. Smart people have lots of opinions. We’ve found that the questions from our audience members are often as provocative and compelling as anything we’ve thought of, if not more so, and that’s why I encourage anyone who is serious about real estate to attend this forum — and bring your questions.
A lot of developers complain about having to deal with project managers, architects, builders, subcontractors and the city — and deal with all of them simultaneously. So imagine having to deal with this: Six acres in New York City, more office space than all of downtown Atlanta, 33 designers and architects, over 100 construction firms and subcontractors, and 19 state, local and federal agencies. Now you have an idea of what Larry Silverstein is dealing with as he tries to rebuild the World Trade Center site, the largest single project in New York City history.
Silverstein is one of New York real estate’s biggest players, and with the completion of this project he will be a New York real estate legend.
You hear a lot of different news about the rebuilding of Downtown and the conflicts between the architects and the developers and the city and the MTA and so on. I was curious about what was happening down there, so I made a visit to the giant hole in the ground and had the privilege of getting a tour from Silverstein himself.
Almost immediately one thing became apparent: Despite the conflicts, there are thousands of people and hundreds of organizations trying to create something magnificent out of a disaster. That’s why we felt compelled to have Silverstein as our keynote speaker for this year’s forum to address the future of Downtown. Because no one knows what’s going on Downtown better than him, and that’s something important for every New Yorker.
Each month we work to bring you the most up-to-date news and analysis, but the forum is the one time each year when the tables are turned and we get to hear directly from our readers and meet them face to face. The funny thing about being a member of the media is that many readers have no qualms telling you exactly what they think of you as soon as they get the opportunity; whether they love you or hate you.
Either way, I look forward to hearing it all and I hope you can attend.
Amir Korangy