Back in 1981, New York City was a very different place. We were emerging from the 70s financial crisis; violent crime was at a record high, the subways were covered in graffiti, and the average asking price for a one-bedroom condo on the Upper West Side was around $98,000. 

In the 45 years since then, the city has seen enormous economic and demographic shifts. It’s become one of the safest big cities in the world for both visitors and investors; that Upper West Side apartment today lists for around $1.175 million—an appreciation of over 1,000%. 

Through all those changes, this publication has evolved as well. The Manhattan Cooperator published its inaugural issue in 1981 with the mission of informing, educating, and supporting the boards and managers of Manhattan’s co-op and condo buildings. In 1986, with co-op conversions and new condo developments springing up rapidly across the five boroughs, The Manhattan Cooperator became simply The Cooperator, expanding our coverage to serve co-op and condo communities across the broader metropolitan region. 

Over the ensuing years, we grew from one publication to seven, serving not only New York, but also New Jersey, New England, Chicago, South Florida, Las Vegas, and most recently, Philadelphia. Our annual and biannual Expos in each of these markets have become landmark industry events, connecting community leaders with the educational resources and service providers they need to run their buildings more smoothly and harmoniously.

As the pace and complexity of governing and managing multifamily buildings has increased, we have kept adapting, expanding our coverage to keep readers abreast of the issues and challenges that  continue to define—and redefine—community governance. In 2021, The Cooperator became CooperatorNews, continuing our coverage of everything from statutory changes to emerging tech in print, online, in-person, and virtually. 

The People 

The scope and continuity of CooperatorNews over the past four-and-a-half decades is thanks to the literal hundreds of people who have contributed to our mission. From our editorial staff and writers to our production and art direction teams, sales and marketing department, and all of our administrative and event support staff, as well as all the professionals across dozens of industries who have shared their time and expertise with our readers, it’s truly been a collaborative effort. 

And that effort is what has made CooperatorNews an essential chronicle, trusted advisor, and invaluable forum for the board members, property managers, residents, and industry professionals navigating this complex, ever-evolving ecosystem that so many of us call home. 

Looking Ahead

As we look toward the next 45 years, we know that the job of governing and managing our communities will continue to evolve. In addition to the everyday rewards and challenges, boards will be faced with decisions unique to our time—and CooperatorNews will be right alongside you with detailed journalism, educational opportunities, and expert commentary to help you stay informed about everything from precedent-setting court decisions to environmentally friendly lobby design. 

From the start, our mission has always been to explore, explain, and demystify the complex issues that impact the city’s multifamily communities, and we look forward to doing just that for many years to come.