Matt Hopkins and Toby Rappaport started ACONA Real Estate Advisors to provide comprehensive support for all of our client’s space needs from the initial property search to the final construction punchlist. Based in Brooklyn, ACONA works with businesses, institutions and non-profit organizations throughout the greater New York area, helping them find unique real estate opportunities and manage complex capital projects. Whether you are looking to buy, sell, lease, construct or build-out space, trust ACONA Real Estate Advisors to work tirelessly on your behalf. Find out more about our services here.
As lifelong friends, Matt and Toby grew up on the same block in Park Slope. In addition to their passion for real estate and construction, they both share a strong connection to Brooklyn, the arts and their favorite sports teams. The name ACONA stands for the first initials of their five respective children (Aaron, Caroline, Olivia, Natalie and Adrienne).
Matthew Hopkins, Principal
As a lifelong Brooklynite and the son of a contractor and cultural leader, Matt brings a breadth of experience finding creative leasing solutions for a wide range of businesses and is especially passionate about projects involving not-for-profits, arts organizations and maker manufacturers.
Prior to co-founding Acona Real Estate Advisors, Matt was a Managing Director at Vicus Partners, a boutique tenant rep commercial brokerage, where he closed over 50 leasing transactions ranging from 500 to 50,000 square feet for clients, including innovative startups to large health care organizations. Matt’s career has spanned both the public and private sectors, where he has served as a VP at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Assistant Director with affordable housing developer L&M, and as an NYC Urban Fellow with the Department of Small Business Services. His path reflects his vision of the city’s landscape as an inspiring canvas for entrepreneurs & mission-driven organizations and he is a strong believer in the importance of adaptive reuse and sustainable development.
Matt earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Georgetown University and Master’s Degrees in Urban Planning and Real Estate Development from NYU and Columbia University. Matt was recently named a 2020 Crain’s Rising Star in Real Estate and a Schnepps Media King of New York. He resides in Park Slope with his wife and three daughters, has run a dozen marathons and is a Board Member of Groundswell Community Mural Project.
Toby Rappaport, Principal
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Toby is passionate about helping mission-driven organizations accomplish their project goals through creative problem solving, team building, effective resource utilization and rigorous project management. He is a diligent and proactive leader with high ethical standards and a proven track record of delivering impressive results.
Prior to forming ACONA Real Estate Advisors, Toby managed capital projects for a number of prestigious institutions and non-profit organizations throughout New York City. His career started at Brooklyn Academy of Music where he managed over $90 million in capital projects ranging from small infrastructure projects to the new Fisher Building. This provided Toby with a solid foundation in project management and delivery and a thorough understanding of the city funding process, code and approvals, master planning, historic preservation, sustainability initiatives and executing successful project amidst ongoing operations.
Toby went on to work for other organizations, including Congregation Beth Elohim, Kaufman Music Center and Central Synagogue, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations in addition to managing capital projects. He brought this experience to Zubatkin Owner Representation, where he progressed to the level of Senior Project Manager and led all aspects of projects, from planning and design through construction and close-out, and gained expertise in budget development, contingency management, risk assessment, cash flow analysis, team selection, contract negotiations, approvals strategies, scheduling and start-up support.
Toby earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Skidmore College. He lives in Park Slope with his wife and two children and enjoys cooking, street art, golf, tennis, music and the arts.
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