AARON YASSIN
Director of Operations, Design & Planning
Aaron Yassin has over 20 years of real estate experience in the New York City area. He has bought, renovated, developed, rented and sold properties with a current value of over 10 million. He has closed over 20 commercial and residential mortgages including initial purchase, refinance, and construction loans. He has executed a successful 1031 exchange and secured a 421a tax abatement.
He began by purchasing properties in the undervalued market of Downtown Jersey City. First a condo, which was recently sold for over 5x the initial purchase price and then a multi-family. He renovated this property and doubled the rental income. The property was eventually sold in a 1031 exchange for 2x the acquisition cost and replaced with a new construction condo in Brooklyn.
In 2004 Yassin purchased a vacant commercial property on North 3rd Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn one block from the East River for $750,000. At the time the neighbors included a fish warehouse and concrete plant. After the area was rezoned in 2007 Yassin developed the air rights above the commercial space. A unique cor-ten steel facade and refined construction details make the building a local landmark. Now the location is Super Prime and neighbors include Casper, J Crew and Trader Joe’s. Residential units are renting at up to $85 per sqft, and the current value of the property is over 6 million.
In 2016 Yassin set his sights on the emerging market in Bushwick, Brooklyn with the goal to develop new construction condos. He first purchased 112 Cooper St and rented it at a 7% cap rate until 2021 when he partnered with Tal Bloch to form Hive Developers. Now, The Cooper, an eight unit condo building is in process. Then in early 2023 Hive purchased a two parcel development site and began The Josephine, a 10 unit 13,000 sq ft building in a prime location.
In addition to his extensive real estate career Yassin’s broad-based experience also includes architecture, fine art, interior, product, and lighting design. As the Studio Director for Doner Studio he oversaw one of the largest public art projects in the US at the Miami International Airport among many others, produced nearly 1,000 signature lighting fixtures for Tiffany & Co that are installed around the world, and collaborated with major architects including William T. Georgis, Alexander Gorlin, Studio Sofield and Callison.
In 2018 Yassin founded the design firm ATMOS with his partner the architectural designer Armand Graham. The firm has won multiple design awards including a 2019 Architizer A+ Jury Prize. The work of ATMOS can be seen at www.atmosdesign.com
Tal Bloch
Director of Engineering, Construction & General Contracting
Tal Bloch is a highly skilled and in-demand General Contractor who specializes in managing projects from start to finish. He provides comprehensive solutions to ensure successful completion.
In the past six years since founding Bees Construction Services, Tal has completed over 40 buildings, including 1019 President St, 151 Quincy Ave., 1257 Dekalb Ave., 149 Clarkson Ave., 373 Classon Ave., 72 Clifton Pl., 245 Nostrand Ave., 85 Carlton Ave., and many others. The combined value for his buildings is over $100 million, and recent condos he has built have sold for over $1,100 ppsf.
Tal's unique ability to create value is a result of his extensive construction and engineering knowledge and experience gained on projects in New York City and his native Israel, where he studied civil engineering. Before moving to NYC he managed construction projects in Israel, including "LEED" Platinum certified projects including the Google hub and the R&D center for CitiBank — both the first projects in Israel to achieve this prestigious green energy certification. He also completed shopping malls owned by the "Azrieli" group and many other commercial projects.
Tal takes care of all aspects of his projects from an on-site point of view. He ensures that work is being done according to plans, safety is being maintained, and site supervision is present to ensure quality of workmanship and management of the site's day-to-day activities.
Unlike other contractors, Tal provides full engineering services, including surveys, monitoring, engineering reports, engineering drawings and structural plans, special inspections, boring tests, test pits, and many more unique services. Additionally, he handles back-office work, such as invoices, orders, price proposals and estimates, and bank documentation and coordination. Tal understands that this is a critical component of keeping a project on time and on budget.
For Tal, building better is the ultimate goal, and he follows the words of John D. Rockefeller: "Don't be afraid of giving up the good to go for the great." One can see Tal's work at www.beesservices.nyc
Andy Bales
Director of Finance & Technology
Andy Bales has spent the last decade engaged in the study and practical application of advanced engineering concepts within various sectors including technology, real estate, finance, and business. An accomplished graduate of Cornell University, Bales holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the School of Engineering, complemented by a minor from the SC Johnson School of Business.
Throughout his career, Bales has had a primary focus on blockchain technology and its practical applications. Bales contributed significantly to a startup pioneering proprietary blockchain solutions aimed at transforming financial services. Later, Bales joined a blockchain firm where he contributed to emerging protocol acquisitions as a core developer.
Bales has extensive experience acquiring and operating real estate ventures and small businesses across the United States. His first real estate venture was the purchase of a resort & campground. Here he oversaw rapid growth over several years by streamlining operations and integrating the latest technological solutions and processes.
More recently, Bales collaborated with Mokotoff on a multi-family acquisition, renovation, and stabilization project in the New York Metro area. This project was the culmination of years of research and quick execution ultimately resulting in significant increases in key financial metrics.
Having lived in Manhattan for many years and now a resident of Brooklyn, Bales has witnessed firsthand the transformative changes in New York City. As the Director of Finance & Technology at Hive Developers, he is enthusiastic about now actively contributing to the city's continued transformation.
ANDREW MOKOTOFF
Director of Business Development & Investor Relations
Andrew Mokotoff is a seasoned professional, adept at combining his experience in technology, finance, and real estate. His career path began at JPMorgan as a Technology Analyst, where he solidified his technical financial analysis skills. Eager to continue challenging himself, he transitioned to Anchorage Capital Group, stepping into the role of a Quantitative Software Engineer within a credit hedge fund environment.
Driven to diversify his skill set, Andrew moved to Amazon Web Services, stepping into the world of research and development. There he immersed himself in innovative technical projects, applying his strong analytical insights to create groundbreaking cloud technology solutions.
While building his tech career, Andrew also developed a robust interest in real estate. His first project was the acquisition and renovation of a multi-family building in Jersey City. Through strategic renovations, Andrew managed to double the Net Operating Income (NOI) within just a year, displaying his practical and strategic approach to property management and development.
Looking to expand his real estate portfolio, Andrew began focusing on development and syndication. His unique approach, combining his knowledge of technology and finance, caught the attention of accomplished real estate veteran, Aaron Yassin. Seeing this as an opportunity to deepen his knowledge and experience, Andrew joined Hive Developers as the Director of Business Development and Investor Relations. In this role, he aims to use his varied expertise to drive growth, build relationships with investors, and uncover profitable real estate opportunities.
Currently residing in Brooklyn, Andrew often spends his free time exploring the city's varied neighborhoods with his girlfriend. With a keen eye for architecture, he enjoys admiring Brooklyn's beautiful buildings. Apart from his city explorations, Andrew is a dedicated skier and runner. These interests, alongside his professional pursuits, showcase Andrew's balanced approach to life and work.
