Michael Cohen on Williams Equities' 100-Year Legacy, the Flatiron Building, and the Rise of Nomad

Season 5, Episode 10: On this episode of the No Cap Podcast, hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik sit down with Michael Cohen, Principal at Williams Equities and a key figure in the Flatiron NoMad Partnership. Drawing on his family’s nearly 100-year history in Manhattan real estate and his leadership within the brokerage world at Colliers, Michael shares how New York’s real estate ecosystem has evolved from family-run ownership models to today’s era of institutional capital and global brokerage consolidation. Michael also breaks down the strategic thinking behind some of Manhattan’s most recognizable assets and neighborhoods—from the transformation of NoMad and the role of Business Improvement Districts to the redevelopment of the iconic Flatiron Building. The conversation explores how policy shifts like the City of Yes initiative, along with advances in technology, finance, and AI, could shape the next chapter of New York office and urban development. Shoutout to our sponsor, Bracket. The AI platform transforming how we underwrite deals. TOPICS 00:00 – Introduction 01:55 – The Many Michael Cohens & Williams Equities History 07:05 – Globalization and the Consolidation of Brokerage 11:51 – Public Models vs. Partnership Structures in CRE 19:01 – New York's Current Market State: A Virtuous Cycle 26:38 – The Rise of NoMad and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) 37:21 – The Future of the Iconic Flatiron Building 40:31 – Portfolio Strategy: 1031 Exchanges and Value-Add Upside 55:01 – Institutional Capital and IRR vs. ROI Investing For more episodes of No Cap by CRE Daily visit https://www.credaily.com/podcast/ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoCapCREDaily About No Cap Podcast Commercial real estate is a $20 trillion industry and a force that shapes America’s economic fabric and culture. No Cap by CRE Daily is the commercial real estate podcast that gives you an unfiltered ”No Cap” look into the industry’s biggest trends and the money game behind them. Each week co-hosts Jack Stone and Alex Gornik break down the latest headlines with some of the most influential and entertaining figures in commercial real estate. About CRE Daily CRE Daily is a digital media company covering the business of commercial real estate. Our mission is to empower professionals with the knowledge they need to make smarter decisions and do more business. We do this through our flagship newsletter (CRE Daily) which is read by 65,000+ investors, developers, brokers, and business leaders across the country. Our smart brevity format combined with need-to-know trends has made us one of the fastest growing media brands in commercial real estate.