Author: Steven Llorens

June 27 marks a critical milestone—the deadline for submitting casino applications. After that, Community Advisory Councils will officially form, hold public meetings, and gather input from residents. The race to secure one of New York’s three coveted downstate casino gaming licenses is nearing a pivotal phase: a high-stakes bet on the future of New York City’s commercial real estate. 

The Midtown core’s recovery—especially the standout performance of Sixth Avenue/Rockefeller Center—demonstrates the power of strategic reinvestment and prime location in reviving demand for commercial office real estate. As of early 2025, leasing activity remains robust, Better Buildings are outperforming, and key tenant sectors are committing to long-term leases. The steep investments made over the past 15 years are clearly paying dividends, not only in terms of occupancy but also in tenant quality and long-term value. 

Manhattan’s retail sector is experiencing a cultural renaissance in 2025, driven by a new wave of tenants rooted in fine arts and immersive entertainment. As New York retailers and landlords seek to deepen consumer engagement and drive foot traffic, artistic and interactive experiences are redefining the role of retail spaces—not just as storefronts, but as destinations. 

The Trump administration’s aggressive push to reduce government spending through real estate cuts is sending ripples across the commercial real estate (CRE) landscape. Spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the initiative includes canceling or restructuring 98 federal leases covering over 2 million square feet and proposing the sale of hundreds of federally owned buildings. Cities like New York are beginning to feel the impact, particularly as iconic federal properties are flagged for potential divestiture. 

As of 2025, President Trump has reimposed aggressive tariffs—up to 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on goods from China. While designed to support domestic industries, these policies could profoundly alter the commercial real estate (CRE) landscape, particularly in major urban centers like New York City. There are 6 major positive impacts and challenging repercussions that these policies bring to the CRE market.

Another successful real estate partnership! Thank you, Ellen, for trusting NYCCREA to help sell a great property in Queens! ​
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New York City’s life sciences sector is fast becoming a transformative force in the city’s commercial real estate landscape. Traditionally dominated by financial services and tech tenants, the city’s office market is now seeing a surge in demand for specialized lab space — the cornerstone of biotech and biomedical research operations.

Marking a cautious pace for 2025, the Northeast U.S. Industrial & Logistics (I&L) sector closed out 2024 on a mixed note, showing resilience in rent growth despite clear signs of a market slowdown. In the fourth quarter, leasing activity dropped significantly, marking the sharpest quarterly decline in recent memory. Yet, amid the regional softness, the New York metro and its neighboring New Jersey markets maintained a level of stability thanks to continued demand from third-party logistics (3PL) and key retail tenants.

Manhattan’s office market is experiencing a strong resurgence in early 2025, with leasing activity off to its best start since 2014. Downtown recorded its best leasing performance in 5 years while Midtown South marked its best net absorption in 10 years. Top lease transactions include renewals and expansions of a trading firm, clothing brand, and healthcare provider.

Landlord-backed groups claim that rent stabilization laws, particularly the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA) of 2019, have caused widespread vacancies by making it economically unfeasible to renovate and re-rent units. A report by the NYC Comptroller Office debunks this claim, showing that fewer than 1% of rent-stabilized apartments are unavailable for rent. Instead, targeted solutions can address the small number of units that remain vacant while preserving tenant protections.