About Last Year's New Jersey Conference
The Newark Real Estate Conference, Sept 27, 2007—A first for both ScheinMedia and the City of Newark
The Newark Real Estate Conference, held at NJPAC on September 27, was a premiere for both ScheinMedia, which launched this magazine and its annual real estate conference series at the event, and Newark, which had previously never hosted a conference devoted to its growth.
The brainchild of Ted Zangari, Esq., of Sills Cummis Epstein & Gross, PC, based in Newark, and Michael Beckerman, president of Beckerman Public Relations, the Newark Real Estate Conference was
designed to provide an opportunity for industry professionals and Newarkers to explore Newark's potential as a city of ports, colleges, prime commercial and residential real estate, history, culture, and development and redevelopment sites—with easy access to every form of transportation and located just minutes from Manhattan.
From genesis to reality, the question behind the conference—"Why Newark, why now?," as ScheinMedia President and CEO Jonathan A. Schein put it in his opening statement—continued to attract an ever wider and more diverse audience. Originally, Schein told the audience, the event was intended to draw a crowd of 150 in NJPAC's Chase Room. "But that turned out to be wrong," Schein said. "So NJPAC generously offered us their lobby, where we thought we'd have 250 to 300 people. But then that turned out to be wrong, too," and the conference was presented in NJPAC's Victoria Theater. Attended by more than 500 people, the event featured six panels of 34 real estate professionals and Newark offi cials, as well as two keynote speakers—the Honorable Cory A. Booker and Lawrence P. Goldman, NJPAC's president and CEO—discussing Newark's economic development and investment potential.
"We were overwhelmed by the size of the audience for this conference," says Schein. "Having over 500 people attend from a multitude of constituencies from across the state, the City of Newark, across the river in New York, and even from different parts of the country—like Michigan, Georgia, and California—was a great indication of how important Newark is as a prime business location. 
From the buzz that the event generated, which has continued afterward, we know that more than discussion of Newark's potential took place. Business transactions got done." "Newark is the most exciting area of the nation right now, pointblank," despite the city's longstanding challenges, announced Mayor Cory Booker as he took the stage. "‘That only which we have within, can we see without,'" he said, quoting Emerson. "If you see no angels," he told the crowd, "it's because you harbor none."
Yet throughout the conference, which was closed by Goldman, it was obvious that no one present was having trouble "seeing angels" in Newark—an idea which was, incidentally, later illustrated by a performance of the Sacred Heart Vailsburg School Choir during the conference luncheon. Citing the city's assets, accessibility, and central location, Star-Ledger publisher George Arwady told the "Building the Sixth Borough" panel, "Newark is the only place in New Jersey like this. There are still challenges, no doubt about it, but we're stubborn enough to deal with them."
"The bones for the city are very good," agreed Martin Dowd of McCarter & English, LLP. "In the '50s and '60s, people came to Newark for its music. The streets were crowded. We can make Newark what it should be again." Jones Lang LaSalle's Peter Riguardi noted that Newark is attracting young workers, artists, retail, and corporations. "The table is set for development," he said.
Stefan Pryor, Newark's Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, acknowledged Newark's crime and infrastructure problems, but noted the city's reinvigoration since Mayor Booker took offi ce in 2006. Now, he said, "even internationally, Mayor Booker is known, and Newark is on the map. If there's a project out there in the room, we will make it happen."
Top Photos: 1) “Building the Sixth Borough” panel (L-R): George Arwady (Star-Ledger), Martin F. Dowd (McCarter & English, LLP), Jonathan A. Schein, Patrick Murphy (CBRE), Peter Riguardi (Jones Lang LaSalle). 2) Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker.
Middle Photos: 1) NREB’s Ed Rytter (center). 2) Newark Real Estate Conference audience. 3) Lawrence P. Goldman (NJPAC).
4) Ruby K. Chambliss with networking attendee. 4) 5) L-R: Michael Beckerman, Ted Zangari,
and Jonathan A. Schein.
Bottom Photos: 1) "Residential/Retail/Entertainment"
panel (L-R): Nick Sakiewicz (Anschutz Entertainment Group), Douglas A. Epstein, Esq.; Lamont Blackstone (G.L. Blackstone & Associates, LLC, and DLC/Urban Core), and Marta Person-Villa (Square Foot, LLC).
2) L-R: Guest of Sheri Isler (General Office Environments) Angelo Genova (Genova, Burns & Vernoia), George D. Warrington (Warrington Fox Shuffler, LLC), and Shawn
Laurenti (Port Authority). 3)“Residential/Retail/Entertainment” panelist John Brandt (Newark Bears).4) Networking conference attendees.
 | "Urban areas and cities are the fastest growing population centers in this country, New Jersey is on the cutting edge of this phenomenon and the New Jersey Urban Real Estate Conference will examine all the aspects of urban growth and its resulting impact. The time is right for all of New Jersey's key constituent groups to assemble for this important discussion." |
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