Retail as Placemaking: Leveraging New
Demand and Learning from Successes
Bartos Screening Room 10:00AM - 11:00AM
Beginning in 2017, LIC will see a huge increase in residents, tourists and workers, and several
hundred thousand square feet of retail coming on line. LIC needs the basics: drug stores, more
super markets, hardware stores, and household goods, but LIC’s success depends on much more.
How can we create the social spaces and community infrastructure that provide neighborhood
amenities, support recreation and encourage social interactions? Key to the vibrancy of street life is
its retail mix and critical mass. How do we get there? Hear from local stakeholders and local and
international experts.
Donna Drimer
Matted LIC
Donna Drimer is the founder of MATTED LIC, a
renowned Long Island City-based gallery featuring the
work of local artists, eclectic jewelry, and distinctive
handmade gifts. In 2017, MATTED LIC was recognized
in a TIME OUT magazine readers’ poll as the “Best
Gallery in LIC.” She is proud to be recognized as one
of the founding members of Long Island City Women
in Business. Ms. Drimer is a graduate of SUNY-Buffalo
and resides in Long Island City. She is married with two
daughters.
Amber Jacobsen
Toby’s Estate
In 2011, Amber Jacobsen and business partner Adam
Boyd decided to go on a coffee adventure in New York.
Their vision was for a roasting company that sourced
and roasted quality specialty coffee and delivered
exceptional education and service. After securing a
space in Williamsburg, Adam and Amber opened the
doors to Toby’s Estate Coffee in 2012. Over the past five
years Toby’s has grown to include over 200 wholesale
partners, and four additional retail locations across New
York City with Long Island City being its most recent.
Melissa Burch
Lendlease
Melissa Burch is Executive General Manager for the
Lendlease Americas Development business. She
joined the firm in 2015 and heads all acquisition and
development activities in the New York market. Prior
to joining Lendlease, Melissa served as Executive Vice
President for Forest City Ratner Companies where she
oversaw commercial and residential development. She
led the Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, a 22-
acre site comprised of the Barclays Center and 8 million
square feet of new housing, office, retail space, and an
8-acre park. She proudly serves on the Boards of the
Henry Street Settlement, The Coro New York Leadership
Center and the Citizen’s Budget Commission.
Natalia Macias
Tishman Speyer
Natalia Macias is responsible for Tishman Speyer’s
1.5-million-square-foot retail leasing portfolio in
New York, including Rockefeller Center. Ms. Macias
joined the company in 2004 as part of the Leadership
Development Program, where she was involved in capital
raising and Chicago office leasing efforts. Prior to joining
Tishman Speyer, she worked in the investment banking
division of Merrill Lynch & Co. Ms. Macias received a
BA in economics from the University of Chicago and
an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania.
Patricia Dunphy (Moderator)
Rockrose
Patricia Dunphy is Senior Vice President of leasing
and development at Rockrose Development Corp. and
leads the retail leasing and residential acquisitions
departments, most recently focusing on Court Square.
Patricia pioneered a neighborhood on the waterfront in
LIC, bringing a gourmet grocer, wine shop, pharmacy
and restaurants to the area. Patricia is Second Vice
Chair of the Board of the LIC Partnership.
Aaron Fishbein
Winick Realty
As Director of Retail Real Estate at Winick Realty Group
LLC, Aaron Fishbein specializes in Owner/Retailer
Representation and Advisory Services throughout
Long Island City, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Over the
past several years, Aaron and his team have been
instrumental in growing Winick Realty Group’s presence
in LIC, consulting on and leasing more new development
retail space than any other brokerage firm. Aaron and
his team completed the leasing efforts on behalf of TF
Cornerstone, Related Companies, Lightstone Group,
World Wide Group, Meadow Partners to name a few.
Aaron is a member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New
York City and the Long Island City Partnership Retail
Committee.