Urban League Empowerment Center wins ULI 2026 Award for Excellence in Mixed-Use Development

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Tenth annual awards for excellence in development gala celebrated seven projects and Scott rechler as this year’s visionary leadership in land use award honoree

Fulton Community Reentry Center, SoMA at 25 Water Street, One Madison Avenue among this year’s winners

NEW YORK – APRIL 30, 2026 – The Urban Land Institute New York (ULI New York) celebrated the tenth annual Awards for Excellence in Development on April 29, 2026, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom, presenting Scott Rechler with the 2026 Visionary Leadership in Land Use Award in recognition of his work as a transformative leader in New York City real estate, renowned for leveraging public-private partnerships to advance large-scale development.

The evening also recognized seven category-winning projects across New York State selected from a competitive field of finalists representing transformative work across housing, mixed-use development, adaptive reuse, office, infrastructure, and community-focused initiatives. Together, this year’s honorees reflect the creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking leadership redefining neighborhoods and strengthening communities across the state.

“We are proud to honor Scott Rechler and this year’s seven outstanding development projects, each of which demonstrates how thoughtful design, innovation, and community collaboration can transform New York’s built environment,” said Helen Hwang, current ULI New York chair and senior executive managing director at Meridian Investment Sales. “Scott’s visionary leadership and longstanding commitment to partnership-driven development, alongside the achievements of this year’s project winners, reflect how bold ideas and strong collaboration can create more resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking communities.”

“The Awards for Excellence in Development showcase the ingenuity, collaboration, and resilience shaping New York’s neighborhoods today,” said Rachel Loeb, founder and managing partner at Muse Partners and ULI New York’s 2026 gala co-chair. “This year’s winners reflect the breadth of what’s possible, from adaptive reuse and sustainable housing to cutting-edge office and mixed-use projects. Scott Rechler’s leadership similarly exemplifies how vision, partnership, and long-term commitment can advance our city’s built environment while creating lasting value for the communities it serves.”

As chairman and CEO of RXR, Rechler has played a central role in shaping major urban projects, including the redevelopment of Terminal 6 at JFK Airport, the downtown New Rochelle master plan, and a 1,100-acre mixed-use project in Raleigh, North Carolina. Through these efforts, Rechler has brought together government agencies, local communities, and private stakeholders to create projects that balance economic growth with public benefit. His collaborative, strategic approach to complex development challenges has made him a trusted figure in both civic and real estate circles, demonstrating how thoughtful partnerships can transform neighborhoods and set a model for sustainable urban growth.

“I’m honored to receive this recognition from the Urban Land Institute, which has long played an important role in shaping thoughtful, forward-looking development. New York has always evolved through moments of change, and the common thread is partnership between the public and private sectors and across communities. I’ve been fortunate to work alongside people who are committed to building places that expand opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and stand the test of time,” said Scott Rechler, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of RXR.

The announcement of the seven Awards for Excellence in Development category winners marks the culmination of a process that began in September 2025, when ULI New York opened the submission window for projects. Fifteen finalists nominated across seven awards categories were announced in January, and a jury comprised of prominent development and land use professionals representing all major segments of the real estate industry selected the winners in March. Nominations were open to public, private, and nonprofit projects from across the state, and a wide array of submissions were considered. The prestigious development awards were presented across seven categories comprising 15 extraordinary nominees that placed innovation, responsible land use, sustainability, and best-in-class practices at the forefront of their respective development projects.

Jury members weighed each development team’s project leadership, innovation, market success, sustainability, and resiliency. Special consideration was given to how each project meets the current and future needs of its respective community. Jury members also conducted comprehensive site tours of the development projects to ensure all criteria were met throughout the development process.

Additionally, ULI New York’s Awards Leadership and the Awards Committee oversaw the submission and nomination process, the planning of the gala, and raised proceeds that will help sustain ULI New York’s mission. Winners received distinctive trophies designed to evoke New York’s skyline that were specially crafted by SITU Studio, an unconventional architecture practice located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Highlights include the Fulton Community Reentry Center, developed by the Osborne Association in partnership with NYC HPD and HDC, which received the award for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse for transforming a 110-year-old former prison into a first-of-its-kind reentry hub with transitional housing and comprehensive support services. SoMA at 25 Water Street, developed by GFP Real Estate and Metro Loft Developers, earned the award for Excellence in Market-Rate Housing Development and is the largest completed office-to-residential conversion in the country, delivering an all-electric residential tower with 441 apartments, including affordable units, powered by renewable energy and shaped by extensive community input.

One Madison Avenue, developed by SL Green Realty Corp. and Hines, received the award for Excellence in Office Development for its transformative reimagining of a landmark Midtown South site, seamlessly fusing a historic limestone base with a modern glass tower to create a next-generation workplace defined by light-filled spaces, expansive terraces, and best-in-class sustainability and design innovation. Full ist of winners below:

2026 Awards for Excellence in Development Winners

  • Fulton Community Reentry Center (Excellence in Adaptive Reuse) – New York, NY
    Developer: Osborne Association in partnership with NYC HPD and HDC
  • SoMA at 25 Water Street (Excellence in Market-Rate Housing Development) – New York, NY
    Developer: GFP Real Estate and Metro Loft Developers
  • One Madison Avenue (Excellence in Office Development) – New York, NY
    Developer: SL Green Realty Corp. and Hines
  • The Eliza + Inwood Library – Joseph and Sheila Rosenblatt Building (Excellence in Affordable Housing Development) – New York, NY
    Developer: Ranger Properties; Housing Workshop; Community League of the Heights; The Children’s Village; Alembic Community Development; with NYC partners and the New York Public Library
    Description: Delivers 174 affordable housing units alongside a public library and community space, setting a new standard for sustainable, mixed-use development rooted in community needs.
  • Delta’s Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport (Excellence in Civic & Institutional Development) – Queens, NY
    Developer: Delta Air Lines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
    Description: A $4 billion project unifying Terminals C and D into a seamless, state-of-the-art facility that redefines the passenger experience and establishes a modern, accessible gateway to New York City.
  • Urban League Empowerment Center (Excellence in Mixed-Use Development) – New York, NY
    Developer: BRP Companies; L+M Development Partners; The Prusik Group; Taconic Partners; with public partners
    Description: A 17-story project delivering affordable housing, office space, and community retail, anchoring the National Urban League’s return to Harlem while fostering economic opportunity and neighborhood growth.
  • East Midtown Greenway (Excellence in Urban Open Space) – New York, NY
    Developer: NYCEDC; owned by NYC Parks
    Description: An in-water public park extending the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway along the East River, providing resilient, climate-forward open space while expanding public access to the waterfront.

For more information about the Awards, visit https://nygala.uli.org/home/

For images and to learn more about the people behind the 15 outstanding finalist projects visit https://nygala.uli.org/2026-five-minutes-with/

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About the Urban Land Institute New York

The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. ULI New York carries out this work in the greater New York area by promoting an open exchange of ideas, information, and experience among industry leaders and policy makers dedicated to creating sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities. Our volunteer experts also serve local communities through simulated urban planning workshops in classrooms, and by providing pro-bono expert guidance to city agencies prior to complex zoning, mass transit, and community revitalization projects. The organization invests in the professional and personal development of the next generation of community and real estate industry leaders. ULI is a global non-profit headquartered in Washington, D.C. with more than 48,000 members in 84 nations worldwide. For more information, visit https://newyork.uli.org/.

Taconic Partners Sets Sights on the Sun Belt

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Taconic Partners, a vertically integrated real estate development firm based in New York, is making the move to the Sun Belt. The firm has tapped Sheldon Pariser as executive vice president to lead its expansion into acquiring multifamily assets in the Southeast and Texas.

This expansion builds on Taconic’s track record in New York and the tri-state area, where it has developed or repositioned over 7,300 units. 

“Taconic’s track record in the residential and multifamily sector puts the firm in an advantageous position to deliver on long-term, sustained rental demand across the Sun Belt,” says president and chief operating officer Colleen Wenke. 

Pariser joins Taconic from real estate investment manager Prospect Ridge, where he was a principal. In his decade there, he oversaw acquisitions and asset management across a range of property types and equity strategies. Prior to that, he served in Cantor Fitzgerald’s real estate CMBS group.

MFE caught up with Pariser to learn more about his new role and Taconic’s expansion into the Sun Belt.

Why is now the right time for Taconic Partners to expand outside of New York and the tri-state area?

Read more on multifamilyexecutive.com

A Return to New York Was a Much-Delayed Dream

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Daira Jackson loved growing up in New York City. Her family lived in Queens, and she has a trove of memories from her earliest years, attending P.S. 148 and going on field trips to marquee destinations like the Bronx Zoo and Chinatown.

But when she was 8, her parents divorced and she moved to Miami with her mother and two younger sisters.

“It was so different,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘Where are the skyscrapers? We need a car all the time — what?’ Everything was just different. Ever since then, I’ve been trying to get back to New York.”

It turns out you can go home again but sometimes it takes a very long time. In Ms. Jackson’s case, it was nearly 40 years before she returned.

Read more on nytimes.com

Inside an Inwood rental with lush green space and a performing arts center

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A huge mixed-use development in Upper Manhattan brings together mixed-income housing, a new performing arts space, and lots of green space to a single project. Taking up a full block on West 206th Street in Inwood, the Miramar is home to nearly 700 apartments, 85,000 square feet of amenities, and the future permanent home for the immigrant-centered People’s Theatre. As leasing continues for the building’s 417 market-rate apartments, 6sqft got an exclusive peek at Miramar’s beautiful amenities, which include two landscaped courtyards, a meditation garden, terraces, and a rooftop with skyline views.

Developed by LMXD, MSquared, and Taconic Partners and designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, Miramar offers 698 apartments, with 40 percent designated affordable for households earning 40, 60, or 80 percent of the area median income. An additional 10 percent of units are set aside as workforce housing for those earning 120 percent of the area median income.

Pricing for the market-rate apartments starts at $3,125/month for studios, $2,950/month for one bedrooms, and $4,450/month for two bedrooms. After three months, the building is over 30 percent leased, and move-ins have begun.

“Each detail at Miramar is meticulously crafted to ensure residents have a premier living experience,” Katherine Kelman, managing director of LMXD, said.

“With thoughtful layouts, modern amenities and several stunning outdoor spaces to enjoy, Miramar offers a tranquil retreat while still providing easy access to the neighborhood’s revered cultural institutions, dining establishments and some of the best parks and recreational activities in the city.”

Read more on 6sqft.com

Aldi Times Square Store Set To Open Next Year Amid Further U.S. Growth

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German discount grocer Aldi is to open its first central Manhattan location, slated to open in 2026 at The Ellery, a new 32-story luxury residential tower near the city’s famous Times Square.

The retailer has signed a lease for a 25,000-square-foot flagship store at 312 West 42nd Street, at the edge of Hell’s Kitchen and Times Square, in partnership with developer Taconic Partners and National Real Estate Advisors.

The news comes amid a wave of development in Midtown, following the New York City Council’s adoption of Mayor Eric Adams’s Midtown South mixed-use rezoning plan, which is expected to help create nearly 10,000 new apartments through new construction and office-to-residential conversions.

Read more on forbes.com

The Ellery Reaches Fully Leased Milestone in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan

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After launching leasing in the summer of 2024, The Ellery at 312 West 43rd Street is now officially fully leased. Developed by Taconic Partners and National Real Estate Advisors, the 32-story building in Hell’s Kitchen features a rooftop pool with expansive views, a range of amenities, and 330 residences. Compass Development Marketing Group is the building’s exclusive leasing and marketing partner.

Read more on newyorkyimby.com

JP Morgan Chase Lends $57M on Taconic’s N.J. Industrial Acquisition

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Taconic Partners has landed $46.6 million of acquisition financing to purchase a New Jersey industrial asset, Commercial Observer has learned.

J.P. Morgan Chase provided the loan on Taconic’s $74.3 million acquisition of a 360,000-square-foot Class B logistics facility at 1735 Jersey Avenue in North Brunswick, N.J., in a deal that closed Monday afternoon. The property was previously acquired for $18.9 million in late 2017 by a private investor as part of an off-market transaction.

JLL (JLL) arranged the financing with a capital markets team led by Evan Pariser and Aaron Niedermayer. The acquisition was brokered by JLL’s investment sales team of Jordan Avanzato, Marc Duval, Nicholas Stefans and Jason Lundy. 

Located on 17 acres about six miles west of the New Jersey Turnpike, the fully leased property has anchor tenants that include pallet distributor Kamps and furniture rental company Luxe Living Design. The facility is within the Central Jersey industrial market, which has experienced leasing momentum of late thanks to its access to ports, highways and major cities, according to Taconic. 

Read more on commercialobserver.com

Would-Be Buyers Picking High-End Rentals Over Starter Homes

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Do you know one or more of the many would-be buyers who can’t afford to enter the housing market? Given still-high interest rates and a dearth of existing homes, they are in a tough spot. But for some of these people, there’s an offsetting upside.

They might be able to justify an amenitized, higher-end apartment community, and wind up enjoying a superior quality of life than they might in a for-sale first home.

A study out today from CBRE revealed what the authors described as “a significant affordability gap” between homeownership and renting. There exists a yawning gulf of 35% between average monthly mortgage payments for new homes and rents for apartments, fueled by the 75% surge in average mortgage payments since late 2019. That wave, CBRE stated, has created “a steep financial barrier to homeownership for many households.” The premium to buy a home is expected to fall in coming years due to interest rate and home price changes. But, CBRE reported, “is it expected to remain wide enough to keep many people in the rental market for longer.”

This reality hasn’t been lost on apartment building developers. An increasing number of upper-crust rental buildings in U.S. cities are duking it out to appeal to a renting cohort prizing aesthetics, convenience and distinctive in-house experiences.

Cases in point: The for-rent residential buildings The Ellery in New York City and 2000 Biscayne in Miami, which both quickly topped the half-leased mark. The latter notched the 50% milepost in November, following a June launch, while the former reached that benchmark in late August, not long after inaugurating leasing in May.

Read more on forbes.com

New to New York, and Dazzled by the Energy of Times Square

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When Candice Gwak and David Xie moved from Southern California to New York City, they settled in Hell’s Kitchen, just a block from the chaos and crowds of Times Square, the very place many New Yorkers love to hate.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of their one-bedroom apartment in The Ellery are the upper-level ramps and rooftop parking lot of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The walls of their living room glow with colored light thrown from the ever-changing giant digital billboards nearby.

Their friends who knew New York couldn’t believe they’d live there.

“We’re not really fazed,” Ms. Gwak said. “Maybe it’s because we’re so new here, so everything is great.”

The couple moved in September. Mr. Xie, who works for an executive search firm, is focused on developing a sense of direction to avoid getting lost. Ms. Gwak, a lawyer, is learning to navigate her way through throngs of people, but she’s not annoyed by the slow-moving visitors — in fact, she relates to them.

She and Mr. Xie admitted they have behaved like tourists since they arrived.

“We bought CityPASS as if we don’t live here,” Ms. Gwak said, referring to a ticket that grants admission to several tourist attractions.

They visited iconic spots including Ellis Island, the Empire State Building and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. They also took a guided boat tour around the harbor. They try to jam-pack their weekends with sightseeing and exploration.

On their excursions, they often realized that at the end of the day they’d be going back home, rather than to a hotel. Mr. Xie called that “the best feeling.”

“There were so many times we kept going, ‘Oh my gosh, we live here,’” he said.

Years before they even met each other, they had separately gotten a taste of New York City and wanted more.

Back in 2017, still in college, Ms. Gwak had visited a friend who lived in the East Village. The trip made a lasting impression on her, and she set her sights on moving permanently, at some point, though she couldn’t envision the path.

Read more on nytimes.com