NEW YORK CITY—After almost 30 years of running REBNY, president Steven Spinola announced his retirement on Monday. He has extended his contract through the end of 2015, he says, and that will be his last agreement to serve at the organization.

Spinola has consented to continue serving REBNY in an advisory capacity, he says. And chairman Rob Speyer has said an executive search for a new president already has begun.

Says Spinola, “I look forward to the next 18 months and beyond of serving the most important industry in New York.  At the end of 2015, I will celebrate nearly 30 phenomenal years at REBNY. I have had the great honor of working alongside many giants of the real estate industry—owners, brokers, developers, architects, managers, attorneys, and a dedicated, talented and underappreciated staff. 

“Since I arrived in 1986,” he continues, “not only has REBNY tripled its membership, but it has worked hard to address issues and identify solutions to improve New York. Be it the terror attacks of 9/11, serious economic downturns, Hurricane Sandy or the recent 116th Street building explosion, time and again REBNY, along with its members, has played an important role in helping our great city and State. The remaining year and one-half will be no different.  I look forward to the continued partnership with Rob Speyer, our extraordinary chairman, and thank him and all my past Chairs for their trust and confidence.”

Notes Crain's New York Business, Spinola will be stepping down at the midpoint of Mayor Bill de Blasio's first-term. After much publicly-expressed trepidation over candidate Mayor de Blasio, the real estate industry—led by REBNY—has toned down its rhetoric against him. And de Blasio met with REBNY in the first few weeks in office to pitch the organization on his plan to build and preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing.

More recently, Spinola and de Blasio came together in the aftermath of a gas explosion in East Harlem in March to provide housing for people displaced by the accident.

Last year, Crain's notes, Spinola made a big push to influence the outcome of over two dozen City Council races through a political action committee called “Jobs for New York.” The group spent nearly $7 million, the most of any independent PAC that year. It had limited success in winning races but did get candidates' attention.

Spinola also is credited with understanding Albany better than most lobbyists. His organizations' members donated heavily to state legislators and built a particularly strong relationship with Senate Republicans, helping REBNY to secure Albany's support on a variety of issues, including tax abatements for development projects.