Building Knowledge

The ongoing efforts to expand affordable homeownership opportunities in Yonkers are the focus of Episode 140 of Building Knowledge. Our guest is Yonkers City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, who also serves as Counsel to the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY).

In her first appearance on Building Knowledge, Collins-Bellamy discusses MHACY’s September 15 announcement seeking a development team to help launch an ambitious homeownership initiative that would bring affordable housing to several neighborhoods throughout the city.

Topics covered during the episode include:

1. An overview of the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY) and its role in the community.
2. Details of MHACY’s proposed affordable homeownership initiative and its September 15 announcement seeking a development team to help bring the program to fruition.
3. An overview of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and the types of organizations and professionals encouraged to participate, including development teams, nonprofit housing organizations, architects, contractors, and financial partners.
4. The extension of the deadline for interested parties to express their interest in participating in the initiative.
5. The proposal submission process and the requirements for prospective participants.
6. MHACY officials’ reactions to the number of proposals received for the initiative.
7. Collins-Bellamy’s perspective on whether local and state lawmakers in New York have gained a greater understanding of the state's affordable housing and workforce housing shortages.
8. How to contact Lakisha Collins-Bellamy and the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers.

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Episode 139 of Building Knowledge features “A Conversation with Congressman Mike Lawler.” Congressman Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes all or portions of Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. In his first appearance on Building Knowledge, Congressman Lawler discusses the policy challenges affecting the Hudson Valley’s housing market, business community, workforce, and residents.

Topics discussed include:

1. Affordable and Workforce Housing: The shortage of affordable and workforce housing throughout the Hudson Valley and New York State, along with potential solutions.
2. Housing Policy and Legislative Priorities: Whether local and state legislators have developed a greater understanding of the region’s housing challenges in recent years.
3. Challenges Facing the Building and Realty Industries: The most significant issues confronting the Hudson Valley’s building, real estate, and construction sectors, as well as the broader business community, and potential solutions.
4. Tax Policy: Congressman Lawler’s positions on tax cuts.
5. Cost of Living: The continued rise in living costs and potential approaches to addressing affordability.
6. Energy Issues: Key energy challenges facing the Hudson Valley.
7. Workforce Development: Concerns about younger residents not entering the region’s workforce and the implications for the local economy.
8. Healthcare Coverage: Congressman Lawler’s views on the importance of reliable healthcare coverage for Hudson Valley residents.
9. Senior Advocacy: His commitment to addressing the needs and concerns of seniors throughout the region.

Tune in to Episode 139 of Building Knowledge for a conversation about the policy issues shaping the Hudson Valley’s housing, business, and economic future.

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Episode 138 of Building Knowledge, “The Anatomy of a Successful Remodeling Project,” explores the award-winning renovation of LMC Media’s Studio on the Avenue in Mamaroneck, Westchester County—the very studio where Building Knowledge is recorded.

The episode features three professionals who brought the project to life: Sarah Dirsa, Architect and Principal at KG & D Architects in Mount Kisco; Matt Sullivan, Executive Director of LMC Media; and Michael Murphy, Director of Business Development at Murphy Brothers Contracting in Mamaroneck and current President of the Building & Realty Institute (BRI).

Together, they offer three distinct perspectives on what it takes to make a remodeling project successful: the architect’s vision, the contractor’s expertise, and the client’s goals and priorities.

Topics discussed include:

1. Defining the Vision: Matt Sullivan explains his vision for the studio and the key goals the renovation needed to accomplish.
2. Turning Ideas into Design: Sarah Dirsa discusses how she translated the client’s vision into a functional design while addressing the space’s technical challenges.
3. Bringing the Design to Life: Michael Murphy shares the construction team’s perspective, including the importance of early coordination and collaboration.
4. Building Strong Partnerships: Sarah and Michael discuss the relationship between architects and contractors, what each brings to a project, and how they can work together to achieve the best results.
5. Balancing Budget, Schedule, and Details: The guests examine how effective communication, planning, and decision-making help keep a project on track.
6. The Client’s Role in Success: Matt Sullivan reflects on the importance of remaining involved throughout the remodeling process and what clients can do to help ensure a successful outcome.

Whether you’re an architect, contractor, property professional, or someone planning a renovation, this episode offers valuable insights into how teamwork, communication, and a shared vision can turn a remodeling project into an award-winning result.

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Episode 137 of Building Knowledge explores current conditions in the Hudson Valley’s real estate sales markets with guest Vlora Sejdi, former President of the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) and a well-known real estate professional in the region.

As a trusted source on local market conditions, Vlora shares insights into home sales, pricing trends, and buyer sentiment across the Hudson Valley. Topics include sales activity and home prices for single-family homes, co-ops, and condos in Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties, as well as market conditions in Orange County, Sullivan County, and the Bronx.

The discussion also examines how prospective buyers are feeling about the market, factors that could slow sales activity during the remainder of 2026, and Vlora’s outlook for the market through the end of 2026 and into 2027. She also shares the reasons for her optimism about the region’s real estate sales markets in the months ahead.

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Episode 136 of “Building Knowledge” features a timely discussion about the commercial real estate market across Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley, as well as the outlook for the region and the nation.

Our guest is Garry Klein, Managing Director and Regional Manager of Houlihan Lawrence Commercial, based in Rye Brook, N.Y. A longtime BRI resource, Garry has previously appeared on “Building Knowledge,” the BRI’s former radio programs, and at BRI Membership Meetings.

In this episode, Garry and host Jeff Hanley discuss:

• The current state of the Westchester office market and office markets throughout the Hudson Valley
• Trends shaping the retail market across Westchester and the region
• The outlook for the residential apartment market
• The growing popularity of Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) throughout the New York metropolitan area
• The latest trends in the industrial and flex markets
• The current landscape of commercial real estate transactions across the New York metropolitan area
• Garry’s biggest concerns for the commercial real estate markets in Westchester and the Hudson Valley through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027
• His outlook and concerns for the national commercial real estate market
• The factors giving him reason for optimism about commercial real estate, both locally and nationally

Tune in for Garry’s insights on where the commercial real estate market stands today — and where it may be headed next.

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Co-ops, condos and rental apartment buildings across the Hudson Valley are facing a range of challenges, from rising operating costs and insurance concerns to fair housing requirements, climate-related risks and resident disputes.

In this episode of “Building Knowledge,” we sit down with Daniel Finger, an attorney with Finger and Finger, A Professional Corporation, which serves as Chief Counsel to The Building & Realty Institute (BRI) and its affiliate organizations.

Daniel discusses some of the most pressing issues facing co-op and condo boards, apartment owners and property managers today, including:

With decades of experience advising the BRI and its members, Daniel offers practical insight into the legal and operational issues affecting residential properties throughout the Hudson Valley.

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Episode 134 of “Building Knowledge” focuses on what building owners, building managers, businesses, and homeowners need to know about preparing for hurricanes and other major disasters during hurricane season.

Our guest is Stuart Betheil, a disaster preparedness expert and former Director of Emergency Services for the American Red Cross in Westchester County. Stuart currently volunteers with the Red Cross Metro New York North Chapter, specializing in Community Preparedness Education. He is also a former board member of the Building & Realty Institute’s Advisory Council of Managing Agents (ACMA) and a longtime guest on “Building Knowledge” and the BRI’s former radio programs.

In this episode, Stuart discusses:

Whether you are responsible for a multifamily building, manage a commercial property, operate a business, or simply want to better protect your household, this episode offers practical information and resources to help you prepare before disaster strikes.

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Episode 133 of “Building Knowledge” provides an update on energy costs and the factors affecting the Natural Gas, Heating Oil, and Electricity markets for building owners, managers, businesses, and consumers. The episode also examines how the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to impact energy markets and prices.

Our guest is Tim Connors, Vice President of Slattery Energy Consulting Group, Inc.

Topics discussed during the episode include:

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Episode 132 of “Building Knowledge” takes an in-depth look at how Sustainable Westchester is helping buildings throughout the Hudson Valley address their energy needs. Our guest is Lauren Kroell, Senior Program Manager at Sustainable Westchester, making her first appearance on “Building Knowledge.”

Topics discussed during the episode include:

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Episode 131 of Building Knowledge takes an in-depth look at the current state of the remodeling market across Westchester County, the Mid-Hudson Region, and the greater New York metropolitan area—and what may be ahead for the industry through the remainder of 2026.

Our guest is Michael Murphy, President of the Building & Realty Institute (BRI) and Director of Business Development for Murphy Brothers Contracting, a Mamaroneck-based construction company serving Westchester County. A regular guest on Building Knowledge, Murphy shares his perspective on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping today’s remodeling and construction markets.

Topics discussed in Episode 131 include:

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