MacQuesten Development, LLC recognized as 2025 Developer of the Year Award by Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Bronx, NY According to The Bronx Chamber of Commerce, MacQuesten Development, LLC will be honored with the 2025 Developer of the Year Award at its annual gala: Illuminating Success, to be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Marina del Rey waterfront venue.

The Developer of the Year Award recognizes a firm that exemplifies excellence in real estate development, from bold urban visioning to innovation in design and construction, with a deep commitment to equity, quality, and community growth. 

Reflecting on the honor, Rella Fogliano, founder and CEO of MacQuesten Development, said “This recognition from the Bronx Chamber of Commerce is deeply personal to me. The Bronx is where my family planted its flag, where I took my first steps ever on East 233^rd St.! Subsequently, as a business owner, where I’ve poured my heart into creating housing that changes lives. Every foundation we pour is part of a larger story, about access, dignity, and belonging. I’m grateful to our dedicated team, our visionary public partners, and the communities that inspire our work every day. This award belongs to all of us.”

“We are honored to celebrate MacQuesten Development’s incredible legacy of community-centered development,” said Lisa Sorin, president of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. “Rella Fogliano is a force in this industry. She builds with integrity, purpose, and a deep understanding of how great design can uplift communities. Her leadership has reshaped neighborhoods and created lasting opportunities for Bronx families.”

The company’s legacy is inseparable from the life story of its founder and CEO, Rella Fogliano. Born into the business, Fogliano spent her childhood walking construction sites with her father, Sabino Fogliano, a well-known general contractor who founded his own firm in 1960. By the age of 17, Fogliano was working part-time in the family business, and after graduating from Fordham University, she joined the company full-time. When her father retired in 1988, Fogliano launched MacQuesten General Contracting, Inc., carrying forward her family’s mission and values. Over the next decades, she expanded the business to include MacQuesten Construction Management, LLC and MacQuesten Development, LLC, vertically integrating the firm across financing, design, development, and construction.

From the start, Fogliano set her sights on creating affordable, high-quality housing in neighborhoods too often overlooked by conventional developers. Her first major success was Hughes Ave. Crescent, a 63-unit affordable housing project completed in 1996, financed through a mix of New York State Housing Trust Funds, tax credits, and private lending. That project, still thriving today, became a model for future initiatives.

MacQuesten continued to push boundaries with projects like Palmer Court Homes, one of the first developments completed under the NYC Housing Development Corporation’s (HDC) then-new New Housing Opportunities Program (NHOPS). The firm’s Tony Mendez Apartments, located in East Harlem, became a landmark in public-private housing finance, developed using NYS HCR’s Homes for Working Families Program and tax-exempt bond financing through HDC. That project also involved the successful ULURP process and disposition of city-owned land to a MacQuesten affiliate, demonstrating Fogliano’s acumen for navigating complex approvals with public benefit at the forefront.

The 2025 Annual Gala is the Bronx Chamber’s signature celebration of civic leadership and business excellence. Each year, it attracts over 600 executives, entrepreneurs, government officials, and community leaders for an evening of awards, networking, and inspiration.

This year’s Gala theme, Illuminating Success, celebrates the bold vision and vibrant energy that define the Bronx. Honorees will be recognized in four prestigious categories: Champion in Government, Business of the Year, Developer of the Year, and The Joseph P. Kelleher Award, presented in memory of the Chamber’s longtime Board Chair.

The Gala will also feature an \ entertainment lineup designed to honor the Bronx’s unique cultural legacy. Steve Maglio will open the evening with classic elegance. Renowned for his Saturday night residency at The Carnegie Club, Maglio will perform Frank Sinatra hits with signature charm. Bronx-born comedian, actress, and writer Tara Cannistraci will emcee the event. A Pelham Parkway native, Cannistraci is known for her sharp wit and Bronx authenticity. Grammy-nominated Latin pop icon Brenda K. Starr will close out the celebration with a powerhouse performance. Known for her crossover hits like “I Still Believe”, Starr’s high-energy set promises an unforgettable finale to the evening.