The Postgraduate: Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s Brian Waterman
By Billy Gray January 24, 2013 7:00 am
reprints“We always saw 100 Church Street as part of Tribeca,” Mr. Waterman said of the property just north of Ground Zero. “And we saw a trend—even before Condé [Nast] announced [its move to 1 World Trade Center]—that the area was potentially going to be a hub for new media.”
Mr. Waterman’s tenant clients have also included media corporations and the occasional tabloid darling. He represented Universal Music and Bad Boy Records, and brought Rocawear—the clothing line co-owned by Jay-Z—to 1441 Broadway. (Mr. Waterman’s own musical taste runs the gamut from Bruce Springsteen to Jay-Z, and the father of two is familiar with an impressively eclectic lineup of youth favorites, including the crunk rapper Pitbull and trance deejay Tiesto.)
“Representing Jay-Z and Morgan Stanley are different,” Mr. Waterman said. “Entertainment clients are looking for unique products and the ability to really brand their buildings.”
When asked if he would pick landlord or tenant representation if confronted with the broker’s version of Sophie’s choice, Mr. Waterman said, “I’m fortunate in that I don’t have to choose.” He added that the two sides of the commercial real estate coin are complementary.
“On the tenant end, you have to understand client needs,” Mr. Waterman said. “The building either meets them or it doesn’t. And if it doesn’t, a landlord background allows you to develop and structure that deal.”
In addition to nearly 30 years of work on behalf of building owners and tenants, Mr. Waterman has been a consistent advocate for a number of philanthropic causes. “My father died in March of last year, and my brother died two months after that,” he said. “My father never had a colonoscopy and my brother, who received a stem-cell transplant, had lymphoma. Raising money for leukemia and lymphoma treatment is a very big cause of mine.” Mr. Waterman also sits on the boards of the New York City Police Museum and the New Renaissance Basketball Association, which instills a rigorous student-athlete ideal in underprivileged kids.
“That’s one thing you learn at Newmark (NMRK): be charitable, give back,” Mr. Waterman said.
Mr. Waterman has learned a lot during an adult life spent entirely at the firm. But he remains an eager student. “Working with Jeff and Barry over the last 27 years has been an amazing thing,” he said. “It’s an ongoing postgraduate degree.”
