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Survey: Majority of Real Estate Firms Remain Optimistic, Evolving Technology Still a Challenge

March 6, 2019

WASHINGTON—The evolving technological landscape, competition from non-traditional market participants and housing affordability continue to be among the biggest challenges facing real estate firms in the next two years, according to a report by the National Association of Realtors. NAR's 2019 Profile of Real Estate Firms released on March 6 found that commercial real estate firms…

Experts Say Westchester Natural Gas Moratorium is a Long-Term Problem

March 6, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—A real estate attorney speaking before a group of Westchester County commercial brokers said the moratorium on new natural gas connections slated to go into effect on March 15 “is here to stay.” Officials with Con Edison—the utility that is imposing the moratorium—who participated in the discussion did not disagree. More than 100 attendees…

Business Coalition Pushing Lawmakers to Fund a $500M Expansion of Route 17

March 6, 2019

ALBANY—A coalition consisting of more than 100 business, civic, political and labor industry interests are calling for New York State to spend a total of $500 million to expand the existing Route 17 in Orange and Sullivan counties. Specifically, the organization is calling for a multi-year plan to construct a third lane in each direction…

Veteran Realtor and Association Executive James G. Houlihan Passes Away at the Age of 95

March 6, 2019

James G. Houlihan, a real estate industry veteran of 69 years, who served as president of the Bronx Board of Realtors and the New York State Association of Realtors, passed away at the age of 95 on March 2. Houlihan, a longtime resident of Bronxville, NY and Palm Beach, FL, started his first job in…

Regional Plan Association Paints Grim Picture if Gateway Project Fails to Move Forward

February 27, 2019

NEW YORK—The Regional Plan Association released a report on Tuesday that put a hefty price tag—$16 billion—if the controversial Gateway Rail Tunnel project fails to secure the necessary financing to move forward. The RPA in its report entitled “A Preventable Crisis: The Economic and Human Costs of a Hudson River Rail Tunnel Shutdown” calculated that…

Gov. Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio Proposed 10-Point MTA Reform Plan

February 27, 2019

NEW YORK—Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who have historically been at odds on a host of issues, agree on one thing—the Metropolitan Transportation Agency needs to be reformed. On Feb. 26, Cuomo and de Blasio released a 10-point plan to reform the MTA and to create sustained funding streams…

Nyack College Postpones Rockland Campus Shutdown

February 27, 2019

NANUET—Nyack College has announced it will postpone the planned relocation of its undergraduate programs from its campus in Rockland County to Lower Manhattan until early 2020. In an announcement to students on the college’s website, Nyack College President Michael G. Scales stated that the college had delayed the planned relocation of its undergraduate program to…

Entergy Looking to Sell Indian Point by End of 2019

February 25, 2019

BUCHANAN—Until recently, the major energy issue facing Westchester County and the Hudson Valley/New York City region was the impending closure of the nuclear reactors at Indian Point in the next two years. However, that was before Con Edison announced its plan to impose a moratorium on new natural gas connections for most of the county…

Local Mortgage Firm Has Grand Expansion Plans

February 21, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—A.S.A.P. Mortgage, which is headquartered in Cortland Manor, has embarked on a significant expansion effort of late that has included the opening of new offices in New York City and White Plains and the launch of a new commercial finance division. In addition, the company reports its intent to open additional locations in the…

GUEST VIEWPOINT: Natural Gas Supply Crisis Poses Threat to Region’s Economic Health

February 19, 2019

Editor’s Note: The following was the testimony given by John Ravitz, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Business Council of Westchester, at a hearing of the New York State Public Service Commission at a hearing at the White Plains Library on Feb. 13. Good evening. My name is John Ravitz. I am…

City, State Officials Differ on Reasons Why Amazon Abandoned NYC for HQ2

February 19, 2019

NEW YORK—If a post mortem were to be done on the failed Amazon HQ2 deal in Long Island City, Queens, the cause of death for the $4-billion deal that was to bring in excess of 25,000 high-paying jobs to the region would no doubt be from multiple causes. The reactions from the governor of New…

Politicos, Business Leaders Detail Dramatic Economic Impact of Natural Gas Moratorium on Westchester

February 14, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—In two separate hearings on Wednesday, county, city and business leaders bemoaned the potential economic impact of Con Edison’s moratorium on new natural gas connections for most of Westchester County scheduled to begin on March 15. Some described the current situation as “a full-blown crisis” with the potential to bring new commercial, multifamily and…

Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation’s ‘Project Beauty’ Event Draws Nearly 200 People

February 14, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—The Hudson Gateway Realtor Foundation’s first event of 2019 drew almost 200 people to Neiman Marcus at The Westchester in White Plains for a “Project Beauty” event. The luxury department store closed early for the special event that featured champagne, wine, hors d’oeuvres, make-overs, professional headshots, and a “What’s New for Spring” runway show…

Meet the Sellers of the Bronx Merges with ERA Insite Realty

February 12, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—ERA Insite Realty Services, a full service, family owned and operated residential real estate firm with offices in White Plains, Bronxville, Yonkers and Pleasantville, has reported that Meet the Sellers of the Bronx has merged with the White Plains based firm. Meet the Sellers was founded and owned by broker Irene Guanill Elukowich. Louis…

PSC Schedules Hearings on Con Edison Natural Gas Connection Moratorium; Approves $223M Smart Solutions Program

February 8, 2019

ALBANY—The New York State Public Service Commission has scheduled public hearings in White Plains next week to solicit public comment on the impending moratorium on new natural gas connections by utility Con Edison set to begin on March 15. The PSC will hold meetings at the White Plains Library at 100 Martine Ave. on Wednesday,…

Clarkstown Forms Committee to Develop Pro-Growth Plan

February 6, 2019

NEW CITY—Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann announced on Feb. 4 the creation of the Clarkstown Business and Economic Development Advisory Committee that is now charged with developing a strategic, pro-growth plan for the town. The committee will focus initially on studying continued shifts occurring in the town’s vitally important retail sector and ways the town can…

Rep. Maloney Warns Trump Fund Diversion for Border Wall Could be Costly for Hudson Valley

February 6, 2019

WASHINGTON—As the battle for funding for President Donald Trump’s southern border wall continues with the possibility of another federal government shutdown or the declaration of a national emergency to free up funding, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18) warns that federal funding for projects at West Point could possibly be walled off. Rep. Maloney says…

Westchester Looking to Have Con Edison’s Natural Gas Connection Moratorium Delayed

February 5, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—Westchester County Executive George Latimer said at a press conference on Monday the county is hopeful Con Edison will delay the implementation of its moratorium on new gas connections for most sections of the county that is set to begin on March 15. Fearing the potential dramatic impacts the moratorium could have on the…

Commercial Brokers Expecting Another Good Year for Region

February 4, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—A record crowd of approximately 150 real estate professionals attended the annual Commercial Broker Roundtable presented by the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors’ Commercial Investment Division on Jan. 23. The panel of veteran commercial brokers who do business in the lower Hudson Valley and New York metro region, were upbeat at the session held…

PSC, County Holding Meetings on Con Ed New Gas Hookup Moratorium in Westchester County

January 31, 2019

WHITE PLAINS—Westchester County Executive George Latimer, along with a number of state and local officials, are scheduled to meet with Con Ed officials sometime today regarding the impending new natural gas connection moratorium set to begin in March that could impact a host of major projects in the pipeline in the county’s major cities. The…