Data shows that from 1996-2021, the Hudson Valley region lost a net total of 146,763 people to out migration, which calculates out to 5% of the Hudson Valley’s population.
Elected officials, seeking to appease vocal constituents, frequently uphold restrictive zoning laws that favor single-family residences over more diverse housing options.
In 2023, the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection investigated 617 complaints and returned $66,000 to homeowners.
NEW YORK—Commercial development plays an imperative role in the success and longevity of a community. However, the road to its execution can be riddled with legal, ethical and environmental hinderances. Real estate experts joined leading development and public policy professionals to discuss commercial development complexities and their resolutions in a virtual panel Nov. 18 hosted by Fordham University’s Real Estate Institute, the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors, Inc. and OneKey MLS.
“Breaking Down Roadblocks in Commercial Development” featured Noam Bramson, the Mayor of the City of New Rochelle; Arthur Collins, Principal and President, Collins Enterprises LLC of Old Greenwich, CT.; Rella Fogliano, Founder and CEO, MacQuesten Development LLC and MacQuesten Construction Management LLC of Pelham.; and Eon Nichols, Partner and Vice-Chair, Real Estate, Corporate, Finance and Non-Profit Groups, Cuddy & Feder LLP of White Plains.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors and its Commercial Investment Division for today’s event,” said Andrea Marais, Associate Dean, Strategic Marketing and Enrollment, School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Fordham University. “REI has a strong focus on commercial real estate, which comes through in our curriculum for our Master’s in Real Estate, RE Development and Construction Management, in our professional certificate programs, and in our undergraduate degree for professionals in real estate.”
“This is such an important topic for our colleagues in the commercial market and it’s a pleasure to partner with Fordham’s Real Estate Institute,” said Richard Haggerty, CEO, HGAR, and President/Chief Strategic Growth Officer, OneKey MLS. “We believe in collaborating and sharing best practices for conducting business. Together, we can all work smarter.”
New Rochelle Mayor Bramson took a historical angle to his observations, highlighting the region’s surge of growth in the 1980s and 1990s as a result of vehicle accessibility and usage. Now, the commercial development focus has changed as “people rediscover the virtues of compact, walkable transit-served neighborhoods where goods and services are all readily accessible, where transportation costs are somewhat lower,” Bramson said, and emphasized the future of commercial development looks bright. “The change, which may have created some challenges for our region in the post ‘80s, ‘90s period, is now opening up new opportunities for urban centers that have the infrastructure to support growth but which have not been previously seen as ripe for it.”
He noted that the zoning changes implemented by the City of New Rochelle now allow projects that conform to the zoning to get to the site plan approval process in 60 days to 90 days.
“The predictability and the speed are absolutely essential and the results have been remarkable,” he added. “Since adoption of that framework we have adopted 30 significant projects, six of them are completed and are leasing up at a rate exceeding expectations, 11 of them are under construction” and a number of others will begin construction in a few months.
“It has been a flood of investment of a kind that we have never experienced before,” Mayor Bramson said.
The discussion was moderated by John Barrett, Managing Director/Investment Sales Division, RM Friedland, and President, Commercial and Investment Division of HGAR. The hour-long session identified key areas for commercial development focus, including zoning and zoning adjustments, construction and property costs, PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) programs, and how to effectively communicate plans to both the public and governing municipalities.
“When it comes to the process of entitlements for all these municipalities—essentially the developer has become conversant with every element of the project,” said Collins. “Density, school-children generation, parking, traffic impact, building height, sun and shadows—all of this comes into play and we know by virtue of doing it a number of times what we are generating.”
Nichols agreed, saying increased transparency will improve efficiency and productivity across the board in commercial development. “Having clarity and being able to communicate to the developers exactly what they can get in terms of a PILOT really helps and gives certainty to folks who want to develop there. When I look at other municipalities where there’s no clarity in terms of a PILOT, the deals linger for years, months.”
Barrett asked the panel to share advice to Fordham University real estate students on how to excel in commercial development. “In today’s world, to start on your own is extremely difficult,” said Fogliano, who noted as an impediment the high cost of land. “Work for a developer first and absorb as much as possible. Learn about the current landscape and its intricacies.”
Data shows that from 1996-2021, the Hudson Valley region lost a net total of 146,763 people to out migration, which calculates out to 5% of the Hudson Valley’s population.
In 2023, the Rockland County Office of Consumer Protection investigated 617 complaints and returned $66,000 to homeowners.
Located at 23 Mulberry St. in the Hollow neighborhood of South Yonkers, the $48 million, four-story building has 60 energy-efficient, affordable apartments for seniors.
“Today marks a significant milestone on the path to ensuring the success of our nation’s most vital infrastructure project,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.
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