On today’s episode of Closed!, Lee is joined by Danny Pearlstein, longtime transit advocate and Policy & Communications Director at the Riders Alliance, to talk about one of the most controversial—and effective—urban policies in New York City: congestion pricing.

Danny breaks down how this decades-in-the-making plan is finally working: reducing gridlock, speeding up buses, and bringing in much-needed revenue to upgrade the MTA. We get into the legal fights, the political pushback (from New Jersey to Washington), and why opponents' arguments just don’t hold up. Danny also shares what’s next for NYC transit, from fare reform to long-term capital investment—and why congestion pricing may just be the beginning.

If you’ve ever taken the subway, sat in Midtown traffic, or wondered what it takes to run a world-class transit system, this one’s for you.

Learn more and get involved at ridersalliance.org

And as always, to learn more about real estate and the law, visit bflawoffice.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

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On today’s episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with Arpit Gupta, Associate Professor of Finance at NYU Stern, to explore how remote work is reshaping New York City’s office market, and where the opportunities might lie amid all the disruption.

Arpit walks us through his research paper, Work from Home and the Office Real Estate Apocalypse (don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom), breaking down why Class A and A+ office space is thriving, while older buildings are being forced to rethink their future.

Together, Lee and Arpit unpack how changing work habits are creating both challenges and new possibilities for landlords, investors, and cities alike. From adaptive reuse and “flight to quality,” to what NYC can learn from other markets around the world, this is a conversation about more than just real estate—it’s about how cities evolve.

If you’re curious about what the next decade of office space could look like, this one’s for you.

For more on Arpit and his research, visit arpitgupta.info or follow him on X @Arpitrage.

And as always, check out bflawoffice.com for more insights on real estate and the law.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of Closed!, we’re diving into the future of cities with one of the leading voices in urban design. Lee sits down with Vishaan Chakrabarti, architect, urban planner, and founder of Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) to discuss his his vision for sustainable, equitable, and vibrant cities.

Listen in to get a glimpse into Vishaan's career in both the public and private sectors—from advising Mayor Bloomberg on post-9/11 urban planning to leading transformative projects like the redevelopment of the Domino Sugar Refinery (one of the coolest developments in the city, from former Closed! guest David Lombino. We also discuss his latest book, The Architecture of Urbanity, which argues that great design is key to solving today’s biggest challenges—social division, climate change, and the affordability crisis.

Join us as we rethink density in urban America, discuss the future of Penn Station, and learn why Vishaan says design matters more than ever in shaping communities. Whether you’re a real estate professional, an urbanist, or just someone who loves cities, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

For more on Vishaan and PAU, visit pau.studio and check out The Architecture of Urbanity on Amazon or Princeton University Press.

And as always, to learn more about real estate and the law, go to bflawoffice.com.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 2025, where spring has sprung, and we’re kicking off a new season of Closed! with a conversation you won’t want to miss. Lee sits down with Joe Tirone, a seasoned real estate broker, community organizer, and the founder of The Joe Tirone Team at Compass Staten Island.

In this episode, we dive into Joe’s decades of experience in NYC real estate and his pivotal role in organizing the Oakwood Beach Buyout after Hurricane Sandy. He shares how he helped Staten Island homeowners secure state-backed buyouts, flood risks to homeowners, and what that experience taught him about resilience, policy, and the future of coastal real estate.

Beyond disaster recovery, Joe discusses his work in waterfront development and how he’s shaping Staten Island’s real estate market for the next generation.

Whether you’re interested in the intersection of real estate and public policy, disaster recovery, or just love a great industry story, this episode has something for you!

For more on Joe and The Joe Tirone Team, visit https://thejoetironeteam.com/.

And as always, to learn more about real estate and the law, go to https://bflawoffice.com/.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's pre-election special of Closed! we talk to The Real Deal Senior Editor Erik Engquist to learn about what both presidential candidates are likely to do in terms of Housing Policy. We hear about incentives for development, what affordable housing can do for a local economy, and how important these policies are to voters.

Erik's publication The Real Deal is the industry standard publication for New York Real Estate news. You can learn more at https://therealdeal.com/

And as always you can learn more about real estate and the law at bfklawoffice.com!

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Closed! we're joined by NYC Council Member Keith Powers for a very special episode! Council Member Powers asked his constituents what he could do to improve their quality of lives, and the result is our most requested, long-awaited episode on Sidewalk Sheds!

We talk about the plethora of sheds on the streets of our city, covering everything from their obvious benefits and drawbacks to the unintended side effects. . How do sheds protect the populace? How do they harm local business? How does Local Law 11 contribute to an endless cycle of scaffolding going up and down in NYC?

All this and more on this week's episode of Closed! NYC's Real Estate Podcast!

You can learn more about Council Member Keith Powers at https://council.nyc.gov/district-4/

And as always, for all things real estate and the law go to bfklawoffice.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of Closed! Mike and Emily have the opportunity to speak with Gerard "Jerry" Nocera of Resolution Real Estate. In our wide-ranging discussion we learn about a lifetime of efforts in the real estate industry, hearing how Jerry has leveraged his experience in all aspects of the field to forge Resolution Real Estate into a full-service company. Jerry tells of his time being mentored by industry powerhouses and leading SL Green, one of the largest property management companies in the world.

Whether you're interested in asset acquisition, development, management, or sales, there's something to learn in today's episode of Closed! NYC's Real Estate Podcast!

For more on Jerry and Resolution Real Estate, you can go to https://resolutionrealestate.com/

And as always to learn more about real estate and the law, go to https://bflawoffice.com/

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BFKP is proud to present the Closed! podcast's interview with the cast of Owning Manhattan, Netflix's peek behind the curtain into the fast paced world of Serhant Real Estate, just in time for the announcement of Season 2!

Lee and Mike headed down to the Serhant office in Soho for a roundtable conversation with Jordan March, Tricia Lee, Jade Shenker, Jeffrey St. Arromand, and Genesis Suero. In our wide-ranging discussion we touch on topics from the challenges of filming a long-term reality show, to maintaining a personal and professional brand, and a look into the skills and knowledge that makes the Serhant team of brokers so effective.

We were entertained, engaged, and informed from start to finish, and we know you will be too!

For more on Serhant and how they're shaking up the world of NYC real estate, check out https://serhant.com/ and watch Owning Manhattan on Netflix!

To learn more about each of the cast members check them all out on instagram:

Jordan March - https://www.instagram.com/itsjordanmarch/?hl=en

Genesis Suero - https://www.instagram.com/genesissuero/?hl=en

Tricia Lee - https://www.instagram.com/lovetricialee/?hl=en

Jeffrey St. Arromand - https://www.instagram.com/jsa_sells_nyc/?hl=en

Jade Shenker - https://www.instagram.com/jadeshenker/?hl=en

And as always, check out bflawoffice.com to learn more about real estate and the law.

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of "Closed!" we talk to NY State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Chairman of the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering. Sen. Addabbo has a 20+ year career as an elected official representing New Yorkers as both a city council member and a state senator for Queens' 15th State Senate District, and we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to speak about his service and his expertise.

It seems to many that the project to license casinos in Manhattan has been on our horizon for years, so take this chance to learn about the lengthy processes for both legislators and businesses. From passage of the gaming bills to rezoning struggles and (ideally) breaking ground on massive capital investments, it takes a lot to build a casino! We even play a game of Six Degrees of Lee Bergstein and find an unusual connection between host and guest.

Check out this week's episode of Closed! to learn more!

For more info on Senator Addabbo and the 15th State Senate District of NY you can go to https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/joseph-p-addabbo-jr/about.

And as always, to learn more about real estate and the law you can check out https://bflawoffice.com/

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of Closed! Lee sits down with Dan Marks, CEO of premier Brooklyn real estate brokerage TerraCRG, to talk about Lee's favorite borough. We learn about the strengths of the Brooklyn market over the last decade and the opportunities for growth in the next, as well as the changing development incentive landscape following the demise of 421a and the birth of the new 485x tax abatement program. We even touch on producer Conor's favorite topic: tax assessments on developed land!

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the Brooklyn development market, or anyone who wants a clear understanding of how tax abatements impact development (without speaking Serbian).

You can learn more about the exciting projects Dan and the TerraCRG team are working on at www.terracrg.com

And as always for all your legal real estate matters, go to bfklawoffice.com

To find out more about Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit our website at bfkplaw.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.