Event Host

Convene 360

Located in Manhattan's Midtown East neighborhood, Convene 360 Madison Avenue is a three-level meeting and event venue. With 17 meeting spaces spanning 68,000 square feet, the venue is ideal for conferences, company town halls, planning meetings, or any event that requires multiple breakout spaces.

The location boasts a simple and sleek design with a dedicated Welcome Desk and reception area on each floor. Levels four and five are connected by a central staircare and each feature an 11-foot LED wall, offering additional branding opportunities. A full buy-out of all three floors can accommodate approximately 950 guests, and single-floor buyouts have a capacity of 331, 318, and 213, respectively. Convene 360 Madison Avenue provides a white box space allowing for client and event branding opportunities, in-house catering with customization options and dining private to each event, in room A/V technology supported by an on-site team, and dedicated hospitality resources.

The venue is easily accessible via public transportation and is in close proximity to Grand Central Station.

Speakers and Panels

Workforce & Mixed-Income Housing: Complementing Subsidized Housing

Balancing the Mix Between Capital A and Lowercase A Affordable Housing

David Kramer

President, Hudson Companies

James Eisenberg

President, Urban American

Jesse Batus

SVP, Development, The Community Builders

Jonathan Beuttler

SVP of Development, Radson Development

Moderator

Danielle Ash

Partner, Adler & Stachenfeld

New York City Affordable Housing Solutions: Policy Changes & Preservation

Opportunities to Improve Policy & Prioritizing NYC's Housing Communities

Ahmed Tigani

Commissioner, NYC Housing Preservation & Development

Eleonora Bershadskaya

Principal, Vistria Group

Eunice Suh

VP, Planning and Development, Monadnock Development

Susan Connelly

Susan Connelly joined Housing Opportunities Unlimited in May 2020 as Chief Operating Officer and Principal. Working as part of HOU's executive team, HOU is growing nationally with an emphasis on New York City. Now, with 100 employees, HOU continues its 40-year commitment to diversity. Over 80% of HOU's 100-person team are BIPOC. Susan has over 35 years of experience in affordable and public housing. In her roles with private developers, Susan oversaw the permitting, design, finance, and construction of over 4,200 units of new and rehabilitated affordable housing in the greater Boston and Mid-Atlantic markets. She has worked with the multiple regulatory requirements of private, federal, and state finance resources, including HOPE VI, LIHTC, Historic Tax Credits, HOME, and Section 8. Before joining HOU, Susan was the Director of Community Assistance at the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), a quasi-public agency. For 16 years, Susan led and supported a team effort to seed affordable housing across the Commonwealth. She worked closely with the state's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) on several policy issues, including the effort to create a public finance product to leverage private capital to replace state public housing. Susan has supported community input processes as a representative of the state, as a developer, and as an affordable housing manager. She was first introduced to affordable housing in Boston in 1986 as a member of the HOU relocation team at Columbia Point, the first federal public housing development converted to mixed-income, mixed-finance, and privately managed. Today, Harbor Point is a 1,200-unit community, and HOU continues to provide resident services. Susan holds a degree in Economics from the University of Vermont. She is the Treasurer of the Board of Commissioners for the Cambridge Housing Authority, co-chair of the Real Estate Advisory Committee, the Urban Land Institute/Boston, and a founding member of the Women’s Development Collaborative based in San Francisco.

Housing Opportunities Unlimited

Chief Operating Officer

Susan Connelly

Chief Operating Officer, Housing Opportunities Unlimited

Brett Gottlieb

Brett J. Gottlieb is partner in Herrick's Real Estate Department where he represents real estate owners, lessees and developers in the application process for New York City’s real property tax incentives including 421-a, ICIP/ICAP and FRESH. Brett counsels clients regarding their property tax benefit applications with respect to project eligibility, benefit calculation, benefit planning and implementation of the exemption or abatement of real property tax in the City of New York. For the Industrial Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP), Brett counsels owners, developers, architects and contractors on the ICAP Rules and Law pertaining to applications submitted to the New York City Department of Finance. Additionally, he advises on the Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority/Women Business Owned Enterprise (M/WBE) requirements included within Executive Order 50 of 1980, Executive Order 94 of 1986, Local Law 67 of 2008 and Local Law 102 of 2018 as they pertain to ICAP project before the Department of Small Business Services, Division of Labor Services. Brett's experience with the 421-a Partial Tax Exemption Program and its successor Affordable New York (421-a(16)) includes counseling clients on project eligibility, rent stabilization, dwelling unit stacking, affordable unit proportionality, building measurement, benefit planning and calculation. Brett assists owners and managing agents with the submission of initial and annual rent registrations to the Division of Homes & Community Renewal (DHCR). For the FRESH Program, he counsels clients on the tax incentive benefit, core application submission, benefit calculations and various program requirements and restrictions. Brett also prepares attorney opinion letters including tax projections for ICAP, 421-a and FRESH. He also counsels lenders and purchasers as part of the due diligence and underwriting and underwriting requirements. He counsels both landlords and tenants with regards to property tax incentive clauses in leases. Before joining Herrick, Brett was a partner at Tuchman, Weiss, Liebman & Lindemann, LLP.

Herrick Feinstein

Partner

Moderator

Brett Gottlieb

Partner, Herrick Feinstein

Creative Financing Strategies: LIHTC, Bond Financing & Other Funding Vehicles

Investment, Tax Credits, Funding, Financing & Incentives

Kimberly Darga

Deputy Commissioner for Development, NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

Jessica Yoon

Managing Director, L+M Development Partners

Liz Oakley

Executive Vice President, Affordable Development, Douglaston Development

P.J. McDevitt

Managing Director, Multifamily Finance, Walker & Dunlop

Tim Cantwell

CEO, Tailorbird

Moderator

Russell Kivler

Partner, Hirschen Singer & Epstein

How to Leverage State & City Developer Incentives (City of Yes, 485x) to Increase Affordable Housing

Utilizing Recent Policies to Increase Development Pipelines

Sen. Brian Kavanagh

Chair, Housing,Construction & Community Dev.Committee, New York State Senate

Derek Marcus

VP, Acquisitions & Development, TF Cornerstone

AJ Pires

President, Alloy Development

Brian Loughlin

Principal, Magnusson Architecture and Planning

Christine O’Connell

As Senior Director of Capital Investments & Housing, Christine Retzlaff O’Connell leads Local Initiative Support Corporation (“LISC”) New York’s capital investment strategy and market expansion statewide by developing and executing a program of strategic housing, community, and economic development investments to advance the objectives of LISC NY’s platform. In partnership with her team, she structures, negotiates, and originates a robust pipeline of transactions that facilitate the deployment of LISC capital and technical assistance resources. She also leads technical assistance initiatives and housing programs focused on building capacity and project access to ensure developers become more competitive as the state's affordable housing project pipeline grows and more market opportunities arise. Christine has over 10 years of experience in housing finance, community development, and public affairs. Prior to joining LISC, Christine held multiple roles in the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) including Director and Deputy Director of the Affordable Neighborhood Cooperative Program and Project Manager for the Participation Loan Program. In these roles, Christine led teams in underwriting and developing financing strategies and led efforts to establish a homeownership, shared equity, and Community Land Trust agenda for the agency. Additionally, she led various partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders including NY City Council, community boards, the Mayor’s office and community advocacy groups focused on affordable housing. Prior to working at HPD, Christine worked for the New York City Housing Authority in the Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Applied Social Relations from Eastern Connecticut State University and a Master of Science in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School.

LISC

Senior Director, Capital Investments & Housing

Christine O’Connell

Senior Director, Capital Investments & Housing, LISC

Moderator

Daniel Bernstein

Member, Rosenberg & Estis

What to Expect from the Event and Panels

What you'll learn:

Hear the latest from developers, government officials, NYC's housing organizations and more about increasing the development pipeline with 485-x and other development tools.
Panelists will discuss the latest on the City of Yes, including how the updated zoning policies will allow for increased housing development.
Gain insights into how affordable housing is being prioritized (or not) in these office to residential conversion projects.
Banks, lenders, debt funds and other capital providers will opine on how affordable housing deals are penciling amidst capital market pressures, LIHTC and other credit options.
Hear how the City of New York is looking to enhance existing infrastructure with capital projects to incentivize additional development activity.
Better understand the keys to successful affordable housing preservation and what impact this has on the housing market.
Hear how New York City's housing crisis compares to other markets nationally.
Better understand which boroughs are producing the most affordable units and which communities are in highest need for these units.
Hear from owners and industry experts on the importance of AMI and how this correlates with rent regulations.
Panelists will discuss how the development slowdown is impacting rent growth and the ability to have enough affordable housing in New York.

How you'll do more business:

Enhance your business and network by hearing from New York City's top affordable housing developers, city officials, affordable housing advocates and lenders. Gain insight into the future of 485-x, financing strategies, good cause eviction, rent control and more. Additionally, hear more about how the commercial real estate industry is leveraging the City of Yes and the new 467M Conversion Program to spur additional development activity.

Who attends: Developers, city officials, housing advocates, landlords, investors, housing organizations, lenders, banks, brokers, lawyers, accountants, and consultants.

Why should you attend:

Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network, and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Director of Northeast Events, Chris Picher at chris.picher@bisnow.com.

To request disability-related accommodations, please contact audrey.sullivan@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

Venue

Convene 360
360 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Ballroom: 5th Floor

Get Directions

Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Coffee, Breakfast & Networking
9:00 AM 9:45 AM	Workforce & Mixed-Income Housing: Complementing Subsidized Housing 1. Panelists will discuss when and how to develop fully affordable deals vs. adding in affordable units across mixed-income housing projects. 2. This will discuss all aspects of these housing projects, including designing and financing. 3. Gain insight into the structure of these deals from an incentives and funding standpoint and how they differ from subsidized affordable units.
9:45 AM 10:30 AM	New York City Affordable Housing Solutions: Policy Changes & Preservation 1. Panelists will discuss what policy changes can be made moving forward to allow for more development opportunities. 2. Public-private partnerships to effectively utilize the city and state policies. 3. Community engagement and equitable redevelopment without displacement.
10:30 AM 10:45 AM	Networking & Coffee
10:45 AM 11:30 AM	Creative Financing Strategies: LIHTC, Bond Financing & Other Funding Vehicles 1. Layering federal, state, and local subsidies to close funding gaps. 2. Leveraging private capital and mission-driven funds in today’s capital markets. 3. Navigating regulatory hurdles and compliance tied to financing structures.
11:30 AM 12:15 PM	How to Leverage State & City Developer Incentives (City of Yes, 485x) to Increase Affordable Housing 1. How to effectively utilize "City of Yes" and 485x as both standalone programs and in conjunction with one another. 2. Better understand how to maximize the capabilities of existing development programs. 3. Hear what this will mean for unit size and project type for units that deliver over the next 3-5 years.
12:15 PM 12:30 PM	Networking

Featured New York Affordable Housing Projects and News

Trump administration emphasizes the need to build more affordable housing.

Real estate fund exceeds $2.5 Billion for affordable housing.

Douglaston Development's 277-unit community in Bedford Park is expected to complete in 2027.

One Big Beautiful Bill's Impact on the commercial real estate industry, including affordable housing.

Hudson Companies tops out on Phase Two of the Peninsula, a 100 percent affordable mixed-use development in Hunts Point.

Mayor Adams, BRP Companies and Hudson Companies break ground on 420 new affordable homes in Melrose.

After casino bid folds, Hudson Yards West adds more affordable housing in new deal.

BRP Companies and Hudson Companies close on $343M in financing for Phase II of La Central in South Bronx.

Hudson Companies tops out construction on Hell's Kitchen Affordable

Groundbreaking at public housing project in Yonkers

Nuveen continues to invest in preserving affordable housing and building resilient communities

Developers land $315M loan for 450 affordable unit project at 12020 Flatlands Avenue

Innovative Urban Village project continues to make progress in Brooklyn.

L+M Partners with Sixth Street, forms holding company.

BFC Partners Opens $151M Staten Island affordable community.

TF Cornerstone complete 1,194-unit residential complex in Hunter's Point.

One Third Avenue's Passive House building is coming to Brooklyn.

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Call:	202-684-2034
Email:	eventregistration@bisnow.com

New York Affordable Housing Conference

Development, Mixed-Income Housing, Preserving NYC's in Need Communities, Leveraging Local Policies, Investment & Financing Strategies

Event Host

Convene 360

Speakers and Panels

Workforce & Mixed-Income Housing: Complementing Subsidized Housing

Balancing the Mix Between Capital A and Lowercase A Affordable Housing

David Kramer

James Eisenberg

Jesse Batus

Jonathan Beuttler

Danielle Ash

New York City Affordable Housing Solutions: Policy Changes & Preservation

Opportunities to Improve Policy & Prioritizing NYC's Housing Communities

Ahmed Tigani

Eleonora Bershadskaya

Eunice Suh

Susan Connelly

Brett Gottlieb

Creative Financing Strategies: LIHTC, Bond Financing & Other Funding Vehicles

Investment, Tax Credits, Funding, Financing & Incentives

Kimberly Darga

Jessica Yoon

Liz Oakley

P.J. McDevitt

Tim Cantwell

Russell Kivler

How to Leverage State & City Developer Incentives (City of Yes, 485x) to Increase Affordable Housing

Utilizing Recent Policies to Increase Development Pipelines

Sen. Brian Kavanagh

Derek Marcus

AJ Pires

Brian Loughlin

Christine O’Connell

Daniel Bernstein

What to Expect from the Event and Panels

Venue

Agenda

Featured New York Affordable Housing Projects and News

Sponsors

Unlock Your Career Potential with SelectLeaders

Want to get a recap of everything covered at the event?

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