Hey Bk The Brooklyn Podcast With Ofer Cohen

In this episode, Ofer sits down with Karen Auster, a key force behind the new Brooklyn experience. During the past two decades, Karen’s Dumbo-based marketing firm, Auster Agency, has helped launch some of Brooklyn’s most exciting projects, including Brooklyn Bridge Park, 1 Hotel, the new Atlantic Antic and now Domino Park. Karen fell in love with Brooklyn after having an ice cream in Brooklyn Heights but it was her role as a mom that helped her find find her path. 

Eran Chen, Founder of ODA Architecture, speaks with Ofer Cohen about his humble beginnings in Israel to becoming one of NYC’s most renowned architects with an expanding international clientele. Beginning his career designing McDonald’s restaurants, to eventually starting O.P.E.N and creating a mega-museum of street art, he believed that he could bring new architectural perspective to Brooklyn. Eran and his company have experienced unexpected new heights over the years, and have some of Brooklyn’s most iconic projects under their belts including 10 Jay Street, 51 Jay Street, 1040 Dean Street, 416-420 Kent, and 140 Vanderbilt.

Born and bred Brooklynite, Dave Maundrell, chats with Ofer Cohen about growing up in Williamsburg and witnessing, first-hand, the changes throughout Brooklyn over the last two decades. Dave has great respect for the history of the neighborhood. He's watched it evolve from its industrial and gang-ridden past in the 70s and 80s, to an artist-driven hub in the 90’s, to what is now a vibrant artful, family-oriented and high-end residential haven. In 2002, Dave founded aptsandlofts.com, a successful online platform that was meant to compete with shady brokers on the market. Since selling the company in 2015, Dave has been heading up New Developments for Brooklyn and Queens at Citi Habitats.

Ofer Cohen talks to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams about his concerns, goals and vision for the ever-changing communities throughout Brooklyn. A born and bred Brooklynite, Eric Adams started his career as a police officer, serving 22 years on the force. He began his political career as a State Senator representing Brooklyn districts. To say Adams has experienced the transformation of Brooklyn first-hand would be an understatement. They talked a lot about real estate, but during their conversation, Adams told Cohen about his passion to apply his views on health and mindfulness to city government and education and his dream to one day become the Mayor of New York City. 

Jersey-born real estate developer turned fully-immersed Brooklynite, Doug Steiner, meets with Ofer Cohen to share his story about developing Brooklyn, and the creation of Steiner Studios, the largest movie studio outside of Hollywood. The state-of-the-art film and television studio at the Brooklyn Navy Yard opened six months after Doug advocated for film tax credits in New York City and helped create a boom for production on the East Coast. In their conversation, Doug is thoughtful about his contributions, including the Hub, the tallest residential skyscraper in Downtown Brooklyn, which was a dream project of his father.

Ever since he moved to Brownstone Brooklyn in the early 2000s, Jonathan Butler's entrepreneurial projects have fostered a unique Brooklyn brand, which has since spread to other cities. He's the creator of some of the borough's most transformative projects, including 1000 Dean, and co-founder of the Brooklyn Flea and the food market Smorgasburg. The blogger who started Brownstoner, shares his story with Ofer Cohen as they reminisce about the early days of Brooklyn's transformation. In their conversation, Jonathan talks about leaving Wall Street to become a Brooklyn blogger, his love for flea markets, and the unique energy of Brooklyn’s creative community.

David Ehrenberg is the President and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In his conversation with Ofer Cohen, he shares his excitement about the Navy Yard’s mission and his experiences while managing some of the most complex and important revitalization projects in America.

On the sixth episode of Hey BK, Ofer Cohen catches up with Jacqui Williams, a real estate lobbyist working on some of Brooklyn’s biggest projects. Jacqui lets us into her remarkable life story - from some dark moments in her past, living homeless on the streets of New York City, to becoming a power player in some of the most important approvals of real estate projects across the city. This is a true New York come-back story at the forefront of Brooklyn’s renaissance.

Regina Myer is President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a local development corporation that is tasked with supporting Downtown Brooklyn's emergence as a center for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, as well as a world-class cultural, education, residential destination. Regina moved to Brooklyn in 1991 and over the last two decades was instrumental in the growth and transformation of Brooklyn. She spearheaded the rezoning of neighborhoods like Greenpoint and Williamsburg, and led the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park. Tune in to hear Ofer Cohen and Regina discuss how her career has truly been a labor of love to the transformation of Brooklyn.

David Belt, Co-Founder and CEO of New Lab, speaks with Ofer Cohen about the path that led him to the aspirational real estate development work he is involved with, in the intersection of art, technology and architecture. From his early years touring with a punk rock band, through the idea of converting dumpsters into swimming pools, to creating the largest, advanced tech hub on the East Coast, David is a true example of how, and why, it is an inspiring time to be in Brooklyn.

Hey BK Host, Ofer Cohen, chats with Toby Moskovits, President of Heritage Equity Partners. Toby speaks about growing up in Brooklyn and how she was able to “beat the odds” to gain success and credibility in the commercial real estate industry. She also touches upon her interest in the Williamsburg and Bushwick markets, and what drives her to continue investing and developing in Brooklyn.

MaryAnne Gilmartin graduated from university and was given an Urban Fellowship, an opportunity in NYC to experience public service. It was here that Gilmartin realized her passion for real estate and development. Very early in her career, MaryAnne met some of NYC’s most powerful developers. While balancing parenting and running some of Brooklyn’s most complicated projects, Gilmartin proved to be a true force and visionary. Shortly after this podcast was recorded, MaryAnne, the developer that spearheaded the development of Barclays Center, announced her next big move, starting a company of her own, L&L MAG.

David Kramer, a true Brooklynite and President of Hudson Companies, speaks with Ofer Cohen about his path to becoming a developer in New York City and more specifically, Brooklyn. Tune in to hear why David moved back to NYC from L.A. to follow his dream. The conversation touches on how he started in the business and was able to build such a diverse mix of projects, to completing five New York City marathons while tossing a Nerf football and how his team celebrates office victories.