Building Knowledge

Episode 70 of “Building Knowledge with The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” dives into the current state of the remodeling market—locally and beyond.

This episode offers a comprehensive look at remodeling activity in Westchester County, the Mid-Hudson region, and the broader New York metropolitan area, while also forecasting what may lie ahead for the industry.

Joining us for the conversation:
🔹 Michael Murphy, President of the BRI and member of the Building and Allied Construction Industries (BACI)
🔹 Michael Kowgios, member of BACI and the BRI
🔹 Daniel Dawkins, member of BACI and the BRI

Topics covered include:
1️⃣ The impact of President Trump’s tariffs on building and remodeling
2️⃣ Ongoing workforce shortages—especially among younger tradespeople
3️⃣ Real-world remodeling scenarios and client relations
4️⃣ What’s happening in commercial remodeling—from office spaces to multifamily buildings
5️⃣ Key concerns for the building and remodeling sectors in the coming months

Tune in to stay informed and ahead of the curve in a changing market.

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“A Review of Westchester County’s Commercial Real Estate Market in the First Quarter” was the topic of this episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” The guest for this segment of our series was Garry Klein, the Regional Manager of Houlihan Lawrence Commercial. Houlihan Lawrence Commercial’s recent report on the conditions of the Commercial Real Estate Market in Westchester County (N.Y.) during the first quarter was analyzed by Garry Klein during this episode. Garry Klein was a regular guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). This episode marked his third appearance on “Building Knowledge.” Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) How Westchester’s Commercial Real Estate Market finished the first quarter with generally positive results, according to the Houlihan Lawrence Commercial report; 2) An evaluation of Westchester’s Residential Apartment Sector in the first quarter; 3) What the Houlihan Lawrence Commercial report said about the performance of Westchester’s Office Market in the first quarter; 4) How Westchester’s Retail Sector fared in the first quarter, according to the Houlihan Lawrence Commercial analysis; 5) Garry Klein’s review of first-quarter conditions in Westchester’s Industrial and Flex Sectors; 6) Garry Klein’s comments on the assessment of the Houlihan Lawrence Commercial report on why transactions in Westchester County’s Commercial Real Estate Market have remained subdued; 7) The three factors, according to the Houlihan Lawrence Commercial report, that are needed before a meaningful increase in investment transaction volume is seen in Westchester’s Commercial Real Estate Market.

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Episode 68 of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” examined the importance of the Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill to housing cooperatives in New York State. Our guest was Geoffrey Mazel, Legal Counsel for The Presidents Co-op and Condo Council (PCCC) of New York, which is also known as the PCCC. Geoffrey Mazel is also an attorney with Hankin and Mazel of New York, N.Y., and Great Neck, N.Y. Geoffrey Mazel was a guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). This episode marked his first appearance on “Building Knowledge.” Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) A full explanation by Geoffrey Mazel on why the proposed Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill is a crucial step forward for protecting cooperative housing in New York State; 2) Geoffrey Mazel’s explanation on the benefits that the Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill provides to cooperative housing and the reasons of the building and realty sectors on why it must be supported; 3) How the need for the Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill arises from a recurring problem; 4) How the Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill provides much-needed clarity on behalf of the co-op sector; 5) A full explanation by Geoffrey Mazel regarding what The Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill is not about; 6) Geoffrey Mazel’s explanation on how 

The Permanent Co-op Carve-Out Bill is essential to protecting the unique and democratic nature of cooperative housing in New York State; 7) The biggest challenges currently facing Co-ops and Condos in New York State.

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What Property Owners In New York State Should Do As the Deadlines for Property Tax Challenges Approach” was the topic of this episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI).” Our guest was Kevin Staudt, a partner with McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP, Attorneys at Law. McCullough Goldberger and Staudt is based in White Plains in Westchester County in New York State. The firm has been a member of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) since March of 1977. Kevin Staudt was a guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Episode 67 marked his first appearance on “Building Knowledge.” Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) If the deadlines for Property Tax Challenges by Property Owners are different in each municipality of New York State; 2) If municipalities notify Property Owners of the deadlines for Property Tax Challenges, or if it is up to Property Owners to obtain the information on the deadlines; 3) The first steps involving Property Tax Challenges; 4) The time processes involved in the early, middle and latter steps of a Property Tax Challenge; 5) The waiting periods before a judicial decision is reached on a Property Tax Challenge; 6) Examples of significant victories for Owners and Entities who became involved in Property Tax Challenges.

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This episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” featured thorough discussions on 1) The Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) Freshwater Wetlands Regulations that were recently amended in New York State. The amendments of the regulations have produced big issues for the building and construction sectors; and 2) Some of the challenges currently facing the building and construction industries in Westchester County, New York. Seth Mandelbaum, the Managing Partner of McCullough, Goldberger and Staudt, LLP, Attorneys at Law, was our guest. McCullough Goldberger and Staudt is based in White Plains in Westchester County. The firm has been a member of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) since March of 1977. Seth Mandelbaum was a guest on the former radio shows of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). This segment marked his first appearance on “Building Knowledge.” Topics covered in this episode included: 1) The background on the creation, and the eventual amendments to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) Freshwater Wetlands Regulations in New York State; 2) The concerns of the building, realty and construction sectors regarding the amendments; 3) Seth Mandelbaum’s opinions on the calls of The New York State Builders Association (NYSBA) for revisions to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC’s) recently amended Freshwater Wetlands Regulations in New York State; 4) A look at the issues that members of the building and construction industries in Westchester County face regarding the Pre-Construction Approval Process; 5) The vital importance of documentation for Westchester County’s Builders and Developers through the Pre-Construction Approval Process; 6) What conditions are currently like for Builders and Developers in Westchester County regarding financing.

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Episode 65 of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” featured a discussion on The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) of The Business Council of Westchester (BCW). The Business Council of Westchester (BCW), according to officials from the organization, began the inaugural year of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC), that year being 2025, with a transformative initiative designed to accelerate the adoption of Clean Energy Technologies across Westchester County in New York State. Three members of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) were the guests for this segment:

**Ron Kamen, the Director of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) and the Principal of Earth Kind Energy of Rhinebeck, N.Y.

**Michael Murphy, a member of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC), the President of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI), and the Business Development Manager for Murphy Brothers Contracting of Mamaroneck, N.Y.

**Daniel Singer, a member of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) and the President of Robison, which is based in Port Chester, N.Y.

The guests for this segment of “Building Knowledge” are very active members of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). Each were guests on the former radio shows of the BRI. Michael Murphy and Dan Singer have been guests on “Building Knowledge.” Episode 65 marked Ron Kamen’s first appearance on our series. Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) A discussion on the mission of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC); 2) The attempts of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) to drive the transition to Clean Energy Solutions in three critical segments - Electricity, Thermal Energy, and Transportation; 3) If moving all of Westchester County’s communities to greener and cleaner energy technologies is a big challenge for the coalition; 4) The ambitious agenda of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC) - nine workgroups providing the framework for legislation that facilitates the deployment of Clean Energy Infrastructure by county and municipal leaders); 5) The Clean Energy Action Coalition’s (CEAC’s) series of ambitious goals for 2025, focusing on Coordinated Outreach, Education, and Advocacy to support a series of areas; 6) Ron Kamen’s assessment that Westchester County and New York State are at the forefront of climate leadership, his belief that the private sector has a critical role to play in achieving the goals of The Clean Energy Action Coalition (CEAC), his additional beliefs that, together, the involved parties will make Clean Energy Adoption more accessible and impactful than ever, and his opinions on if the involved parties have gotten off to a good start in those areas.

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This episode of “Building Knowledge With The Building and Realty Institute (BRI)” reviewed how Boards of Directors of Co-ops and Condos should prepare for - and conduct – their respective Annual Meetings. Our guest was David Amster, Chairman of The Advisory Council of Managing Agents (ACMA) of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI), which is known as “ACMA.” ACMA is an affiliate association of the BRI and is composed of some of the largest property management companies in the New York metropolitan area. David Amster was a regular guest on the former radio shows of the BRI. This episode marked his second appearance on “Building Knowledge.” Topics covered during the segment included: 1) An explanation on the purpose of Annual Meetings for Co-ops and Condos; 2) The first steps that Boards of Directors of Co-ops and Condos should take in preparing for Annual Meetings; 3) The typical Notification Periods for Annual Meetings to Shareholders and Unit Owners; 4) How the Proxy Process for Annual Meetings works; 5) How a typical Annual Meeting should begin; 6) The importance of having consultants for buildings at Annual Meetings; 7) The need for Board Members to prepare for Annual Meetings by reviewing each other’s committee reports and the building’s budget (so that they can discuss the documents at the Annual Meeting); 8) The importance of boards following the procedures for Annual Meetings that are set forth in the By-Laws of their buildings. The episode also featured a tribute to the late Leah Caro, a well-known Realtor in the New York metropolitan area. Leah Caro was a regular guest on “Building Knowledge,” as well as on the former radio shows of the BRI. She was the BRI’s “go-to source” on its programs for evaluations of the real estate markets of the New York metro area.

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The Many Negatives of Good Cause Eviction” was the topic of this episode of “Building Knowledge.” Good Cause Eviction is a New York State law that affects the Landlord/Tenant Sector. The law went into effect on April 20th, 2024. The building and realty sectors in New York State are seriously concerned about the many negatives of the Good Cause Eviction Mandate. Two well-known representatives of the building and realty industry reviewed those concerns in this segment of “Building Knowledge” - Ann Korchak, the Board President of The Small Property Owners of New York (SPONY), and Lisa DeRosa, Chair of The Building and Realty Institute (BRI). The episode  featured: 1) A complete definition of the Good Cause Eviction law; 2) A discussion on units that are exempt from the Good Cause Eviction Mandate; 3) How the Good Cause Eviction law has affected members of The Small Property Owners of New York (SPONY) in negative ways; 4) Lisa DeRosa’s thoughts on what she would say to officials in Westchester County municipalities that are considering opting-in to the Good Cause Eviction Mandate; 5) A discussion on how many in the building and realty sectors feel that the Good Cause Eviction Mandate will discourage investors from other areas throughout the U.S. from investing in New York State; 6) A discussion on the biggest challenges facing Owners and Managers of multi-family buildings and complexes in New York City and in Westchester County; 7) What Ann Korchak and Lisa DeRosa would say to local and state legislators about the negatives of Good Cause Eviction, and the struggles of Owners and Managers of multi-family buildings, if they had the opportunities to speak with them.

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Episode 62 of “Building Knowledge” provided a thorough discussion on Sprinkler Systems. Our guest was Miguel Quintanilla, the Principal of Collado Engineering. Collado Engineering is based in White Plains in Westchester County in New York State. It was the first appearance of Miguel Quintanilla on “Building Knowledge.” The segment featured: 1) Miguel Quintanilla providing a history of Sprinkler Systems and how those systems have evolved into their current forms; 2) A summary of how sprinklers work; 3) Miguel Quintanilla’s opinions on the misconceptions about sprinklers; 4) A discussion on the effectiveness of sprinklers regarding saving lives, the overall reduction of property damage, and the savings of total water used to put out fires; 5) An examination of Code Requirements regarding Sprinkler Systems; 6) Miguel Quintanilla’s opinions on the recent statements from The New York State Builders Association (NYSBA) and The Building and Realty Institute (BRI) on scenarios involving Sprinkler Systems.

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Reducing Energy Costs In Sustainable Housing Facilities” was the topic of this episode of “Building Knowledge.” Our guest was Wilson Kimball, the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers (MHACY). Wilson Kimball is also the Executive Director of the New York State Public Housing Authority Directors Association (NYSPHADA). It was the second appearance of Wilson Kimball on “Building Knowledge.” She was the guest on Episode 11 of our series. Topics discussed during the segment included: 1) A full definition of “Sustainable Housing” for listeners who may not be familiar with that type of housing; 2) The opinions of Wilson Kimball on if “Sustainable Housing” in the New York metropolitan area, and across the U.S., is here to stay; 3) A recent example regarding the reduction of energy costs in a sustainable facility; 4) How the use of small units in windows to provide heating and cooling is a trend for sustainable facilities; 5) Energy Efficiency and how the use of specific features can help reduce energy costs in sustainable facilities; 6) How the implementation of Water-Saving Fixtures, Rainwater Harvesting Systems, and Efficient Irrigation Practices can help reduce Energy Costs in sustainable buildings; 7) How the use of Sustainable Building Materials can help in the reduction of energy costs in sustainable facilities; 8) The importance of conducting Regular Energy Audits in sustainable buildings to identify areas for improvement and for optimizing energy usage.

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