Developer Branching Out From Brooklyn
For Roland Dib, real estate was a passion he developed early in life. He was only a young teen when he first started working in construction alongside his uncle. “I have always loved real estate and the value of it,” Dib added.
Today things are going well for Dib and the company he heads: DIB Development, a growing real estate development company he started in 1987 that focuses on property acquisition and development, construction, asset management, investment sales and engineering services.
Under Dib's direction, the Brooklyn-based company has completed in excess of $100 million dollars in commercial and residential projects throughout the United States, the New York City metropolitan area and Europe.
Dib explained that as DIB Development grew, the firm vertically integrated into assets management, property management and consulting services. Dib's in-house construction and environmental capabilities have created a competitive advantage for the company that utilizes its long-standing relationships with sellers, brokers and financial institutions to create value.
Before going into real estate, Dib launched Air Tech Labs, an environmental remediation company that successfully completed thousands of environmental jobs that involved asbestos abatement, lead removal, underground fuel tanks, contaminated soil and PCB cleanups. “That hands-on experience gave me the strength to deal with acquiring properties that may have had some environmental issues,” said Dib. “It's easier for us to understand and assess such issues and to work with clean up.”
Today, as head of new business development and acquisitions for DIB Management, Dib spearheaded many of the company's largest projects. He is presently transforming a 1917 landmarked building into a new luxury rental at 37 Great Jones Street in NoHo, 37greatjones.com, that features a spectacular three-bedroom, four-bath penthouse with 12-foot ceilings, two outdoor entertainment spaces, in addition to three full floor apartments and ground floor retail space.
DIB Development recently completed a seven-story, 24-unit rental building opposite Lutheran Medical Center in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn as well as several industrial and office projects throughout Brooklyn neighborhoods like Sunset Park, Red Hook, Gowanus, East New York and South Brooklyn. DIB Development is gearing up for its next deal, a property on Fourth Avenue near the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Born and raised in Lebanon, Dib came to the United States in 1984 as a young man to attend college and pursue an education. He and his family settled in Brooklyn, where his extended family lives today.
Dib's “American” journey has been an impressive one. He worked hard to put himself through school. “My first job was pumping gas at the corner of Bowery and 3rd Street in Noho, down the block from 37 Great Jones where I am building our latest project,” said Dib.
While attending the New York Institute of Technology where he earned an engineering degree, Dib waited tables at the Rockefeller Center restaurant. He later went on to earn an MBA from Columbia University, where he is a member of the University's Real Estate Circle of Leaders. In addition, he took business courses at Harvard Business School.
Roland Dib
CEO, DIB Development
251 53rd Street, Brooklyn, New York 11220
Tel: 718-439-8190
roland@dibmanagement.com