By Phil Corso
It would be hard to walk the streets of Bayside without seeing the Briarwood Organization’s work. The real estate firm announced its 100th-year celebration, which coincides with the construction of a new office building on Bell Boulevard.
“Our first office building, Briarwood Plaza, at 36-35 Bell Blvd., has been a successful amenity for the Queens community for more than a decade,” said Vincent Riso, president and a third-generation principal of the group. “It was apparent that the timing was right for additional office space to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities at large.”
The new 24,000-square-foot Briarwood Plaza II, at 36-29 Bell Blvd., will include on-site parking among several modern features, Riso said. He said the building would have several green features, including insolated glass, LED light fixtures and water-saving devices in the bathrooms.
“This building’s going to be used for general office space and medical office space,” Riso said.
The state Senate officially commemorated the Briarwood Organization for its 100th anniversary in March. James Riso, vice president and fourth-generation principal in the firm, said the group enjoyed a significant history in New York City and was marking its centennial with a state-of-the-art facility.
“For more than a century, Briarwood has played a key role in New York City’s development and we are perfectly positioned to help shape its future as a developer and third-party general contractor,” nephew James Riso said. “Future tenants of Briarwood Plaza II will enjoy the convenience of area restaurants, banking institutions and other services, in addition to a central location near mass transit and major thoroughfares.”
When asked about the effect a new office building might have on Bayside’s business district, Vincent Riso said there was nowhere to go but up.
“There are a number of people who are new to Bayside and have moved here looking for new places to work,” Vincent Riso said. “Our building will afford them some new features that the area deserves. Bayside is a nice place to both live and work.”
The building will be rented out entirely to new tenants, Vincent Riso said, although none have officially signed leases for the space yet. He said he expected them to sign on once the building is more completed by the end of the year.
“We’re looking forward to continuing our real estate life in Bayside,” Vincent Riso said. “We’ve been fixtures in Bayside since the early ’60s.”
The Briarwood Organization was founded in 1912 and is a privately owned and family-operated real estate firm engaged in the development, construction and management of residential and commercial properties.
It has erected office buildings throughout Queens and Bayside, including its office building on Bell Boulevard in the 1960s.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
