Agency + rennie Debuts in NYC with Visionary Panel

Lucía Torres · 2026-05-21

The Agency and rennie have officially landed on the East Coast. Their New York City launch wasn't just another industry party—it was a deep dive into the future of new development, led by some of the sharpest minds in real estate. Fresh off a smaller kickoff at The Agency's Beverly Hills office, founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky and rennie President Greg Zayadi flew east. They were joined by rennie founder Bob Rennie and The Agency's President Rainy Hake Austin on the 63rd floor of Hudson Yards. That view alone set the tone for big thinking. ### What This New Partnership Actually Means The Agency + rennie isn't just a branding move. It's a fusion of market intelligence, award-winning marketing, and five decades of new development know-how—all wrapped into one platform. For developers, that means less guesswork and more clarity. "With all of the consolidation going on in the industry, we really believe that now is the time for innovation in the new development space," Umansky said. "There is an opportunity to change and collaborate—to reach loftier goals and usher in better resources for this sector of our industry."  ### The Panel That Steered the Conversation Lucy Blatter, Editorial Director of Dow Jones, moderated a panel that didn't shy away from hard questions. Three industry leaders took the stage: - **Bob Rennie** – Vancouver-based founder of rennie, with 50 years of experience redefining real estate through data-driven intelligence and risk management. - **Jaime Fasja** – CEO of Thor Urbana and LIFE Properties International, reshaping luxury residential with purpose-driven lifestyle communities in places like Riviera Nayarit and Belize. - **Young Woo** – founder of Youngwoo & Associates, a force in urban innovation with landmark projects across New York and beyond. They tackled the big stuff: how developers should rethink risk, why real-time market intelligence matters more than ever, and what luxury even means to the next generation of ultra-high-net-worth buyers. > "What we have found is that, amidst turmoil, there is opportunity. If we are going to stay in business, we have to find these alliances. Now is not the time to retreat—it's the time to reset." — Bob Rennie ### What Developers Need to Know Right Now The conversation shifted from theory to real-world strategy. One key takeaway? The rise of membership-based residential models. Think less about selling units and more about creating ecosystems where people want to stay. Another big theme was placemaking. Cities like New York are evolving fast, and developers who ignore that shift will get left behind. The panel made it clear: the old playbook won't cut it anymore. ### A Night of Connection (and Cocktails) After the panel, things loosened up. Wells Fargo hosted and sponsored the event, and guests enjoyed light hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. The room buzzed with energy as speakers, guests, and press mingled. Also in attendance were Tony Chen and Rick Stack, the developers behind one of The Agency x rennie's first projects: Kaliʻu Ala Moana in Honolulu. That boutique condominium, developed by ProsPac Holdings, features 285 residences designed by Olson Kundig, plus a health and wellness club and commercial space. ### The Takeaway The evening wrapped with a toast at Zou Zou's inside Hudson Yards. The Agency + rennie is built for the ambitious. And if this launch is any sign, the best is still ahead. To learn more about The Agency + rennie, visit TheAgencyrennie.com.