It was an elegant gala filled with the city’s most powerful real estate players. They came out to a cocktail reception at The Plaza Hotel to honor the winners of Commercial Observer‘s Power 100 and Mortgage Observer‘s 50 Most Important People in Commercial Real Estate Finance. Jared Kushner, chief executive officer of Kushner Companies and owner of Observer Media Group, which publishes both publications, delivered brief remarks about the essential role of the real estate industry in the city, particularly how it pertains to the mayor’s affordable housing plan, employment and taxes.
He was followed by CO Power 100 winner City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito who delivered a short speech about working with the real estate industry to improve the city, after touting the importance of the Observer newspaper group.
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Some of the winners in attendance were Related Companies‘ Jeff Blau and Bruce Beal (who scored the top spot in CO‘s Power 100 this year), Empire State Realty Trust‘s Anthony Malkin, Blackstone Group‘s Jonathan Gray, Rudin Management‘s William Rudin, CBRE‘s Mary Ann Tighe, Two Trees Management‘s David Walentas, New York City Economic Development Corporation‘s Kyle Kimball, Massey Knakal Realty Services‘ Robert Knakal and L&L Holding Company‘s David Levinson.
Others attendees who made the Power 100 and Top 50 lists were Eastern Consolidated‘s Peter Hauspurg and Daun Paris, Brown Harris Stevens‘ Hall Willkie, Rosewood Realty Group‘s Aaron Jungreis, HFZ Capital Group‘s Ziel Feldman, Landmarks Preservation Commission Chairman Robert Tierney, Himmel + Meringoff‘s Stephen Meringoff and Leslie Wohlman Himmel, MHP Real Estate Services‘ Norman Sturner, Rockrose Development’s Justin Elghanayan and Deutsche Bank‘s Jonathan Pollack (who took the top spot on MO‘s Top 50).
