Articles 09.21.09

OK, so it has nothing to do with real estate. This list of the best 1000 rock songs, as voted on by the listeners of 101.9, is a treasure trove of songs to be downloaded into your iTunes library. It is not the top 100 songs that is so interesting (although the selection of "London Calling" as the top song is a little bit puzzling) -- it's all the rest. Feel free to share this list with others. Rock on!

Sierra in the News

Crain's New York Business has published my letter, Wal-Mart Debate Rages. Read it here. Thanks, Crain's!

Articles 09.16.09

The recent issue of CHIP (Community Housing Improvement Program) has published my article, "The Apartment Inspection Checklist." Recent court decisions, as well as proposed legislative changes, should serve as wake-up calls to those of us who own and/or manage multi-family properties. Read the whole article here.

Articles 09.08.09

"We are not alone" is an article I wrote describing my experience of discovering my alter ego on the Internet.

Our friends in the city Council are once again contemplating a system of regulations for small retail stores in New York. I discovered this while reading a newsletter from Councilwoman Gail Brewer. I sent her a response -- read it here: "Commercial Rent Regulation."

One sign of a stumbling economy is the proliferation of burger joints throughout the city. For those of you taking Lipitor, check out the best burgers in the article "Burger Kings."

The article "Bronx Burning Failed Deals" describes the bloodbath that is occurring in the Bronx. As those of us who have been in this business over several real estate cycles recognize, marginal neighborhoods are the ones that get hit hardest during economic downturns.

Looking for opportunities buying distressed debt? Check out the article "Mezzanine Lenders Swoop in."

Sierra in the News

Our friends at Real Estate Weekly mention that we've been appointed managing and leasing agent for 648 Broadway, ten stories and 50,000 square feet of cast iron -- it's an amazing space. The landmark 19th building is at the convergence of the most vital downtown neighborhoods: SoHo, Washington Square, the East Village, and NoLiTa. Thanks, Real Estate Weekly!

Articles 08.24.09

In my 6/6/09 blog posting, I mentioned that the average retail space per capita in the United States is 20 ft” per person, while in the outer boroughs of New York it is only 6 ft” per person. The suggestion was that the outer boroughs of New York are under retailed. However, the article "Repurpose-Driven Life" argues that the opposite is true. Compared to our our European -- and other -- counterparts, the United States is grossly over retailed.

"Where New York Ranks" provide some very interesting statistics and facts. New York, for instance, has the highest worker productivity among states but also suffers from the highest income inequality.

Lesson learned: hipsters are not a sound foundation on which to rebuild a new neighborhood. The bloodbath occurring in Williamsburg certainly attests to that.Not exactly a shock. A doff of our porkpie hat to the article "Billy Burg Bust."

A detailed description of how changes in federal policy has benefited, or will benefit, New York is explained in the article "Obama six months later."

Want to know what stores will be filling up all our vacant retail space? Check out the article "Return of the Chains." Coming to Madison Avenue: "Dunkin' Doughnuts" and "Subway"? That's an image: social x-rays (remember that term from Bonfire of the Vanities?") marching down the Avenue in their Jimmy Choos, cockadoodle in tow, chowing down on jelly doughnuts and Double Stacked Subs, between Pilates classes and Botox injections.

Some of New York's best sandwiches are described in "Heaven on Bread." Having tried several of the sandwiches, I have to agree that they are truly wonderful. Just make sure you wipe the crumbs off of your shirt when you're done.

The editorial "Meaning of Life" answers all our questions. It's all about the trade-off between longevity and quality of life. Would you rather be fat and happy but live a shorter life, or thin and miserable but live to be 120? If you want to live to be a ripe old age, skip the article "Meaning of Life." It might make you happy but it may also kill you. Some choice!

Sierra in the News

We wanted to point you to Christine Haughney's article from July's New York Times -- about how wealthy (and not so wealthy) people in TriBeCa are dealing with the recession. Read the whole piece here.