Leslie Himmel.
Leslie Himmel
Co-Managing Partner at Himmel + Meringoff Properties
In 2021, will you buy or sell any real estate? What kind?
We tend to buy and hold. We are currently active in the office and industrial sectors, and will remain so.
How f@*$ed is retail?
Retail is in transition and needs to be reimagined. New uses, like cloud kitchens, will emerge, and we will see the convergence of retail with logistics continue to accelerate. Retailers who take advantage of the current crisis to focus on supply-chain resiliency and omnichannel fulfillment will emerge stronger.
How flexible are you with negotiating rents?
We are, and have always been, committed to supporting our tenants and maintaining high building occupancy.
Has your “dead to me” list grown?
Part of the reason we have been able to grow and sustain a business over the years is that we seek and nurture collaborative relationships.
Are you in the market for financing?
Interest rates are at an all-time low. We are certainly paying attention…
What would be the signs that things are NOT going to improve in 2021?
While the challenges are real, we believe in the vibrancy of New York City in the long term.
What do you think will NOT go back to normal?
Business travel will be down, at least for a while. And many traditional 9-to-5, in-office work arrangements will change shape. Look for more flexibility going forward.
Who do you like for mayor in 2021?
Mike Bloomberg.
What do you think the city and/or state should do to help both real estate and the city?
New York needs to see the zoning and infrastructure initiatives that were underway to be accelerated and expanded to stimulate critically needed economic and business development, particularly in hard-hit neighborhoods, such as the MTA’s commitment to construct four new train stops in the Bronx connected to Penn Station.
How do you think the November election will affect real estate? How do you see a Trump win? How do you see a Biden win?
My crystal “apple” doesn’t say.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Where’s your apocalypse bunker? My NYC apartment.
Favorite at-home quarantine foods? I am a healthy eater, and my meals are extremely boring. That never changed.
Did you gain or lose weight during quarantine? No change. The fact that I walked a lot for exercise helped.
Sourdough bread, banana bread, other? Seven-grain. How’s that for a walk on the wild side?
Which TV show have you binged? Michael Jordan documentary “The Last Dance.”
What restaurant did you go to when restaurants reopened? I was most excited about ordering from Sweetgreen upon returning to the office!
Mayor de Blasio: Best Mayor or Best Mayor EVER? N/A
Best work-from-home hack? Leaving the apartment once in a while. I returned a lot of calls this year from a park bench.
Where did you quarantine? New York City, through and through.
Biden, Trump or Kanye? Mike Bloomberg.
