T
he 11th Annual "Only Brooklyn Real Estate Conference," presented by TerraCRG and held in partnership with Fried Frank, brought together top real estate professionals to discuss the ever-evolving landscape of Brooklyn's real estate market. The event, held at BRIC Arts Media in Downtown Brooklyn on May 29, featured a lineup of informative conversations and enlightening discussions.

    Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso kicked off the program by highlighting the importance of investing in new and affordable housing. He noted that the city council recently approved the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use plan, which will bring 4,600 new homes, including 1,900 affordable units, to Brooklyn. "Thankfully change is on the horizon," Reynoso said.

    The morning keynote featured a dynamic conversation between Jed Walentas, principal of Two Trees Management and Chair of the Real Estate Board of New York, and David Belt, CEO and co-founder of Newlab. They explored the future of Brooklyn's residential market and innovation ecosystem, emphasizing the need for thoughtful development, creative reuse, and policy reform to create a more vibrant and inclusive borough.

    The afternoon keynote was delivered by Melissa Roman Burch, chief operating officer of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, who shared insights on NYCEDC's vision for inclusive development and the infrastructure priorities reshaping Brooklyn's future. She highlighted the challenges of RFP-led projects in Brooklyn, including the need for flexibility and accountability over a long period.

    The conference also featured panel discussions on "Bridging Brooklyn's Multifamily Landscape" and "Brooklyn's Economic Engine," which explored development trends, investment demand, policy impacts, and the revitalization of Brooklyn's commercial core. Speakers included Jay Martin, executive vice president of the New York Apartment Association; Jesse Terry, CEO of Hubb NYC; Joseph Fingerman, president of Peapack Private Real Estate; Greg Fournier, managing principal of Greenbrook Partners; Randy Peers, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Paul Travis, president of Washington Square Partners; Jim Somoza, managing director of Industry City; and Sarah Lynch, vice president of Acadia Realty.

    Ofer Cohen, founder and chairman of TerraCRG, spoke exclusively to the Eagle after the event, emphasizing the need for more housing in Brooklyn and the importance of breaking the linkage between city legislation and Albany. He predicted that the next five to 10 years will be about creating impactful, transformative housing projects in different neighborhoods.

    The conference concluded with a sense of optimism and anticipation for the future of Brooklyn's real estate market. As Cohen noted, "There will be neighborhoods, projects, and opportunities that 10, 20 years ago would have been unthinkable."