Cohen is the founder of TerraCRG, a commercial real-estate brokerage (Photo by Michael Weschler Photography)
Ofer Cohen, founder of a pioneering Brooklyn real-estate brokerage, has been elected chairman of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, the group announced today. Cohen succeeds MaryAnne Gilmartin, founder and CEO of the development firm L&L MAG. The partnership is a coalition of leaders in business, real estate, academia, and culture who work to improve the borough’s downtown.
Cohen is the CEO of TerraCRG, a brokerage and advisory firm focused solely on Brooklyn commercial transactions, which he launched a decade ago. The firm, which now has a staff of 30, has handled more than $2 billion worth of transactions in Brooklyn. He’s known as well for his annual real-estate conference, Only Brooklyn, which convenes the borough’s power players.
“Ofer is a proven leader in Brooklyn with an incredible passion for Downtown. He joins us at an exciting and pivotal time as we embark upon a number of important initiatives focused on improving Downtown Brooklyn for businesses, residents and visitors,” said the partnership’s president, Regina Myer, in a press release.
“Downtown Brooklyn is the beating heart of the borough and, with all the infrastructure put in place by both the public and private sectors, is well positioned to become the bloodline for New York City’s continued growth trajectory,” stated Cohen in the announcement. “The Brooklyn renaissance has ushered in a new wave of opportunities and I look forward to working with Regina and the team as we continue to transform Downtown Brooklyn into a true global business district.”
Cohen has been a board member of the partnership since 2014. As chairman, Cohen will draw on his Brooklyn business and real-estate expertise to continue to establish Downtown Brooklyn as one of New York’s fastest-growing business centers and hubs of innovation, the partnership said, adding that his understanding of the neighborhood will serve as a resource for the partnership as the organization focuses on creating a more hospitable environment for businesses, meeting the demand for Class A office space, and attracting new companies and amenities to the area.
Prior to founding TerraCRG, Cohen was a senior broker at Massey Knakal’s Brooklyn office. Before his work in real estate, Cohen was involved with a number of tech-startups, including an internet firm that was later acquired by MTV Networks. Cohen also serves on the board of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the Brooklyn Hospital Foundation.
Cohen, who lives in Clinton Hill and has twin daughters, recently launched a podcast called HeyBK, where he hosts conversations with the people behind Brooklyn’s transformation.