NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 Progress Report

September 2012 New York Regional Economic Council Members

Chair Dr. Marcia V. Keizs Matthew Goldstein President, York College, CUNY Chancellor, The City University of Kenneth Knuckles New York President & CEO, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Representatives Corporation Stuart Appelbaum Gary LaBarbera President, Retail, Wholesale and President, New York City Building and Department Store Union Construction Trades Council Wellington Chen Nick Lugo Executive Director, Chinatown President, New York City Hispanic Partnership Local Development Chamber of Commerce Corporation Ashok Nigalaye Marlene Cintron President & CEO, Epic Pharma LLC President, Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation Kevin Ryan Founder & CEO, Gilt Groupe Cesar J. Claro President & CEO, Staten Island Economic Speaker Sheldon Silver Development Corporation State Assembly, 64th District Carol Conslato Steven Spinola President, Queens Chamber of Commerce President, Real Estate Board of New York Mike Fishman Executive Vice President, SEIU Douglas C. Steiner Chairman, Steiner Studios Martin Golden State Senate, 22nd District Marcel Van Ooyen Executive Director, Grow NYC Monique Greenwood Owner, Akwaaba Mansion Peter Ward Bed & Breakfast President, Hotel & Motel Trades Council Gail Grimmett Sheena Wright Senior Vice President for New York, President & CEO, Abyssinian Delta Airlines Development Corporation Steve Hindy Kathryn Wylde President, Brooklyn Brewery President & CEO, Partnership for New York City Contents

4 Introduction

6 Overview Strategy Overview 6 Progress Overview 8

10 Implementation Agenda Opportunity Zones — Progress on Implementation 11 Priority Projects — Progress on Implementation 21 Progress on Actions 26

27 Proposed Priority Projects for 2012 Projects Proposed for Capital Funding/ESD Grants 28 Projects Proposed for Excelsior Tax Credits 30 Other Priority Projects 32 Other Notable Projects 35

36 Conclusion Introduction

Development and other government agencies charged with putting New Yorkers back to work and building a stronger, more vibrant economy. Moreover, the council is functioning as a vehicle through which regional interests across the state are commu- nicating with each other and forging new relationships. All of these devel- opments confirm that the governor’s unprecedented approach to inclusive, locally based economic develop- ment is working and will lead to more responsive and successful economic planning and job growth. Priority projects identified in the plan are moving forward with accelerated implementation as a result of the at- tention and focus provided through the regional council process: • The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market redevelopment project has identified all needed funding; it is anticipated that the agreement The New York City Regional Economic and more visible in the city and state, to advance the redevelopment Development Council (REDC) bringing additional transparency and project will be finalized in fall 2012. emerged in 2012 as an open forum “ground up” engagement to local • Food industry partnerships are where community representatives, economic development planning and emerging between upstate government agencies, business, implementation. Council members agricultural groups and local labor, and academic leaders and themselves have become a new and developers, including the potential project sponsors engage in planning, unique point of access for project location of a distribution center discussion and debate over economic sponsors and advocates seeking for Mid-Hudson Valley farmers at development proposals, policies to make the case for projects they Create@Harlem Green. and investment decisions for the five believe will be transformational for boroughs. During the 10 months their communities. • First-round state and city funding since the completion of the Regional for renovation of a green manufac- The council has also become a valu- Strategic Plan for New York City, the turing facility in the Brooklyn Navy able sounding board for Empire State council has become more cohesive Yard is in place and construction

4 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT During the 10 months since the completion of the Regional Strategic Plan for New York City, the council has become more cohesive and more visible in the city and state, bringing additional transparency and “ground up” engagement to local economic development planning and implementation.

is under way. This project demon- Poly in Downtown Brooklyn, and • Reduction of barriers to business strated the unique capacity of the the third a significant expansion of development and expanded sup- Navy Yard to serve as a model for Columbia University’s engineering port for entrepreneurs, both immi- a new kind of New York industrial school. The Applied Sciences Cen- grant and native born, who are the park featuring advanced manu- ter on Roosevelt Island is moving major generators of new jobs and facturing and high-tech jobs. As a ahead with development plans of innovation result, three additional projects in and, in the interim, has announced • Enhanced development of human the Navy Yard are being proposed a fall 2012 start, utilizing a tem- capital to achieve a more diverse, for 2012–13 funding: the New Lab, porary campus provided within highly qualified, fairly compen- an advanced manufacturing de- Google’s New York City headquar- sated and inclusive workforce sign, education and prototyping ters. center, the Steiner Studios-Carne- Improving the competitiveness, acces- gie Mellon Media Campus, provid- The regional council regards its Strate- sibility, and human capital of New York ing state-of-the-art post-produc- gic Plan as an evolving document, but City will spur its growth and progress, tion facilities and training in one of its vision for the future of New York strengthen its role as a global leader, New York’s key creative industries, City remains constant: and economically benefit the entire and Duggal Visual Solutions, which To retain its status as a global eco- Empire State. The city is, after all, the is expanding its print, computer nomic powerhouse and to maximize largest market and source of private imaging, wide-format graphics and its contributions to New York State, capital for business throughout the display services operations. New York City seeks to reinforce its state. By leveraging its singular assets, • In November 2012, applications historic strengths, generate improve- New York City will ensure that the five will open for SeedStart, a high- ments in the quality of life for its boroughs and all 10 regions of New tech accelerator program that will residents through the creation of York State are in the best position to select entrepreneurs from across good jobs, and better leverage its flourish and be open for business. New York State to participate in an academic and corporate assets in the early stage, 12-week program to technology-driven growth sectors of refine their product offerings and the 21st-century economy. This will gain access to venture funding and require significant public and private the New York City market. investment focused on: • Three breakthrough innovation • Modernization of aging infrastruc- economy projects have been an- ture (transportation, energy, and nounced under the city’s Applied the built environment, both com- Sciences Initiative — one a part- mercial and residential) and recap- nership between Cornell University ture of lost assets such as the 520 and the Technion-Israel Institute of miles of city waterfront and thou- Technology, to be located on Roo- sands of acres of contaminated sevelt Island, another a consortium brownfield sites of universities led by New York University, to be located near NYU-

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 5 Overview

• Interregional cooperation: In new jobs are entry level and relatively STRATEGY OVERVIEW addition to emphasizing multi- low-wage and yet are oversubscribed During the first three quarters of 2012, region economic impact, the by job-seekers. For example, in July, the NYC Regional Economic Develop- council is seeking proposals some 36,000 people lined up for 2,000 ment Council has updated its Strate- that contribute toward building mostly part-time, $12-per-hour posi- gic Plan in order to be responsive to industry clusters across multiple tions at the new Barclays Center arena Regional Council Guidelines and to regions of New York State. in Brooklyn. the team of reviewers, led by Bruce • Partnerships between business Conversely, employers often have Katz of the Brookings Institution, and institutions of higher educa- difficulty filling the large numbers which assessed the region’s original tion: The council is prioritizing of available jobs that require signifi- Strategic Plan submission. Key adjust- business-higher education part- cantly greater skill and experience. ments include: nerships that would capitalize on Adequately preparing individuals for • Amplification of the commitment the state’s higher education assets higher paying jobs, and meeting the to workforce development and in research, workforce develop- demands of the growth industries of training as a critical factor in eco- ment, education and training in the 21st century, requires the city to nomic growth and inclusiveness; ways that directly contribute to have a long-term strategy of improv- creating jobs, developing new • More highly focused attention to ing education and training for both businesses and hiring local resi- the current and future workforce. New measurable accomplishments to dents. be achieved in “opportunity zones,” York City is taking on this challenge in those formerly distressed commu- • Private sector investment and its public schools and universities and nities that the council has targeted engagement: Projects designated through publicly supported workforce for priority investment in redevel- as “priority” by the council must development and retraining pro- opment; have substantive partnerships with grams. businesses and/or private sector Through its Department of Small • A refined implementation program employers. in which council members are Business Services (SBS), which is actively engaged in outreach to responsible for workforce develop- the broader community to iden- New/Updated Strategies: ment activity in the five boroughs, the tify and gather information about Focus on Education and city has established Workforce1 Career important economic development Workforce Development Centers focused on key industries projects and to secure community where there is a mismatch between and project sponsor feedback on While unemployment — particularly employer demand and the skills of progress and challenges. in certain boroughs and within certain the available workforce. For example, demographics — continues to be in the healthcare sector, SBS and the Finally, the council adopted three ad- unacceptably high, New York City’s Partnership for New York City have ditional criteria for identifying priority economy has outperformed the rest joined with the New York Alliance for projects for funding or other state of the country’s, adding more than Careers in Healthcare and the State assistance as part of the second com- 200% of the jobs it lost during the Department of Health to develop petitive round of project funding: recession, compared to recovery of “stackable credentials” to prepare just 40% nationwide. Many of these healthcare workers and home health

6 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT aides for emerging positions such as high schools” to help at-risk young education referral system to help community health workers. In 2013, adults earn high school degrees as individuals find open slots in local pro- the NYC Regional Council will seek well as college credit and even associ- grams; and developing an information to identify other industries where ate degrees simultaneously. The most outreach strategy in partnership with there are education and credentialing recently opened school, Pathways in the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs gaps, particularly those in which state Technology (P-TECH), is a partnership regarding the potential implications licensing requirements need to be ad- between the two systems and IBM, of the new federal policy on “Deferred justed to reflect 21st century industry which is providing substantial re- Action for Childhood Arrivals.” and labor market realities. The Depart- sources to support the school and has In September 2012, the city also ment of Small Business Services and pledged to hire successful graduates. opened a new Career & Technical the State Department of Labor have CUNY and the DOE are working to Education (CTE) high school focused begun a collaborative effort toward open three additional career-focused on computer science — the Academy this end. early college high schools over the for Software Engineering — with next three years. While high school graduation rates significant support from the private have increased from 51 percent in In 2012, Mayor Bloomberg created the sector and philanthropic leaders. More 2002 to 68 percent in 2009, only 21 NYC Office of Human Capital Develop- than 800 applications were received percent of New York City public high ment (OHCD), a new entity to oversee, for the slightly more than 100 slots school graduates are rated college support, and strengthen the City’s in the opening class, and the City has or career ready. In turn, a remedia- range of workforce development, announced that it will seek additional tion challenge is passed along to The skills training, and adult education private funds to open more of these City University of New York (CUNY), activities. Among its responsibilities, types of schools in 2013 and develop where 71 percent of first-time fresh- OHCD provides oversight of the NYC curriculum for high schools through- men in 2011 were graduates of city Workforce Investment Board. Selected out the City. public high schools. Community current OHCD initiatives include: coor- In October 2011, CUNY was awarded colleges saw the largest increase in dinating the city’s preparation for the a three-year $19.86 million grant from student enrollment from the city’s new national GED exam; encouraging the U.S. Department of Labor as part public schools, from 53 percent in fall New Yorkers to make informed choic- of the Trade Adjustment Assistance 2002 to 72 percent in fall 2011, and es around education and training Community College Career Training the great majority of these college through the “Know Before You Enroll” program to prepare adult workers at students need remediation in math, campaign; launching a real-time adult reading and/or writing before starting college-level academic work. The New York City Department of Education (DOE) and CUNY have joined together in a Gates Foundation-funded project called “GraduateNYC! College Readi- ness and Success,” to greatly improve college and career readiness among high school graduates, and to support their successful transition to college. In 2013, the Regional Council will seek to create linkages between these programs, Workforce1 Career Centers and the new jobs being generated through the economic development activities in the region. Another critical priority is to bring industry knowledge and resources into public education at the high school and college levels. For ex- ample, the city and CUNY are working together through 12 “early college

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 7 eight CUNY colleges to enter both ment, NY Works, etc.), in coordination The most immediate and significant jobs and degree programs in health- with ESD programs, will result in a breakthrough triggered by the REDC care, education, green manufacturing, more comprehensive approach to plan and subsequent state funding is food services and hospitality, and economic development and a new the model 21st century industrial park entrepreneurship. The program is model for coordination of city and being created at the Brooklyn Navy projected to serve 3,000 adults. This state investment. In total, $51,012,865 Yard. A city-owned facility, the Navy is the type of model that the Regional of CFA funding has leveraged a total Yard languished for years until new Council will encourage and work with investment of $554,151,247 in the Op- leadership and a series of public and industry groups, educational institu- portunity Zones. private investments in Steiner Studios tions and the State Department of and green, advanced manufacturing Labor to replicate. First-Round Priority facilities combined to achieve a critical Projects mass of modern production activ- ity. Selection of the Navy Yard as a The New York City Regional Economic transformational project in 2011 was a PROGRESS OVERVIEW Development Council Strategic Plan catalytic event that resulted in imme- identified one transformational proj- diate job creation and an explosion of Opportunity Zones ect in each borough, plus one city- interest and investment in the entire wide Applied Sciences Initiative and Brooklyn “Tech Triangle.” The upshot The Strategic Plan identifies 15 Oppor- one inter-regional project, the Seed- is that the area anchored by the Navy tunity Zones across the five boroughs. Start Accelerator. The largest funding Yard, Downtown Brooklyn, the Brook- These are formerly distressed or un- request was for the redevelopment lyn Academy of Music, and Metrotech derutilized areas that have undergone of the Hunts Point Terminal Produce has become the “hottest” location in major rezoning, planning and public Market in the South Bronx, shoring New York State for emerging tech tal- investment during the past decade up a critical hub of economic activity ent and entrepreneurship. and are now poised for accelerated in the state’s most impoverished bor- and sustainable growth. The coun- The fifth transformational project, NYC ough and initiating development of a cil has asked New York City Deputy SeedStart, requested modest state food industry cluster that will create Mayor Robert Steel, the NYC Economic funding to expand a successful high- jobs and a supply chain of agricultural, Development Corporation and the tech business accelerator program to processing and retail activity across Department of City Planning to care- serve a statewide constituency of digi- the entire state. Harlem is the location fully track progress in these zones tal media and software entrepreneurs. of a second transformational project, and to provide regular updates to the This inter-regional strategy is de- Create@Harlem Green, where a former council. The first update is included signed to connect top entrepreneurs factory is being transformed into an in this report and will be presented at from across the state with the venture artisanal and entrepreneurial center the council’s public meeting in Sep- capital, business expertise and major of sustainable business and creative tember 2012. market opportunities of New York enterprise. The Green Zone on Staten City, while at the same time bolster- Island is the third transformational The Opportunity Zone strategy grew ing tech-industry clusters within the project, using a comprehensive and out of a recognition that New York five boroughs. The first round of the coordinated approach to develop- City’s size and diversity require that statewide program starts in November ment in a large and underutilized resources be concentrated in priority 2012, and there is already excitement geographic area. In Queens, the locations in order to generate mean- building around the state to compete council identified a long-sought-after ingful results: accelerating redevelop- for placement in the program. ment, generating private investment, convention center and casino as the and allowing the state to expand its transformational project that would Finally, the citywide transformational economic stimulus focus into new capitalize on the airport assets of the program that has generated the great- areas of need. The council hopes to borough and create thousands of jobs est excitement in the business and demonstrate that this strategy will and a tourism destination. No specific academic communities is the city’s drive job creation and provide the city site was identified by the council, Applied Sciences NYC Initiative, a and state with significant leverage which awaits city and state decisions project designed to build the density and high returns on relatively limited on where a new convention/casino and diversity of engineering talent in investments. Concentration of invest- facility might best be located, and the city and enable it to rival Silicon ment from all state sources (affordable continues to support this as a critical Alley as a national and global center housing, parks, workforce develop- asset for Queens and the city. of science and technology innova-

8 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT tion. Since the REDC Strategic Plan Other Strategies in economic development funding identified Applied Sciences as a prior- from agency programs through ity project, this initiative has made Public Engagement one application for the second substantial and impressive progress. round of Governor Cuomo’s Re- It was announced in December 2011 • The NYC REDC held meetings open gional Council initiative to stimu- that Cornell University and the Tech- to the public on the following late job creation and economic nion-Israel Institute of Technology will dates in 2012: February 7, May 4, growth. A total of 413 people rep- build a $2 billion, two-million-square- June 26, and September 12. resenting various businesses and foot applied science and engineering • On June 26, 2012, the NYC REDC non-profit organization attended campus on Roosevelt Island. In part- held a public forum at Borough of the five CFA workshops. nership with Google, Technion-Cornell Manhattan Community College at • On September 5, 2012, a draft ver- will open an interim program in the which it solicited proposed priority sion of this progress report was city this fall. In addition, the city and projects for the current round of made available to the general pub- the MTA announced an agreement competitive capital and tax credit lic through the NYC REDC website, with an NYU-led consortium to build funding from the general public. followed by a public forum held at the Center for Urban Science and Thirty-three projects were pro- The City College of New York on Progress (CUSP) campus in the former posed, and the final list submitted September 7, 2012. Comments and MTA building at 370 Jay Street, and as part of this progress report was suggestions made at that hearing, just recently announced support for largely drawn from these propos- at which 22 individuals testified, an expansion of Columbia University’s als. were incorporated into the final engineering school. Together these • The NYC REDC also held training document. projects will more than double the workshops in each of the city’s five number of both graduate students boroughs to provide an overview and faculty in engineering in New York of the Consolidated Funding Ap- City over the next several years, posi- plication (CFA) process, as well as tioning New York City to outperform how to access up to $750 million in the information economy.

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 9 Implementation Agenda

The council’s expanded implementa- prioritize and monitor progress agencies to inform elected officials, tion program includes the following: on relevant proposed or pending project sponsors and community infrastructure and development representatives about the role and • Creation of a council executive activity in targeted Opportunity responsibilities of the council and committee that includes Co- Zones, including affordable hous- about CFA funding opportunities. chair Matthew Goldstein, Steve ing and community development; Council members have also begun Hindy (chair of Regulatory & parks and recreation projects; to solicit ideas and facts about Legislative Committee), Kenneth energy and telecommunications potential projects and policies that Knuckles (chair of CFA Scoring infrastructure; and environmental are consistent with the priorities Committee), Stuart Appelbaum, mitigation measures. The Infra- for the regional economy spelled and Kathy Wylde (chair of Writing structure Committee is responsible out in the Strategic Plan. Council Committee). This committee has for review of progress on Opportu- members are making site visits held regular calls and meetings nity Zones and for recommending and establishing open lines of to consider and act on ESD and to the executive committee when communication with community other state funding requests and the council should take a formal representatives and project spon- to identify projects for inclusion advocacy position on land use or sors to ensure that the “ground up” in the council’s priority project funding actions (city, state and fed- goals of the governor’s Regional pipeline. The executive committee eral) and advising on which proj- Council initiative are fully realized. has established a procedure for ects should have priority for CFA This included successful efforts to determining the 2012–13 priority funding. This committee will also mobilize support for the Brooklyn project pipeline for both CFA identify, review and monitor Navy Yard Green Manufacturing applicants and for other projects status of other public infrastruc- Center. that are critical to the regional ture projects that are deemed economy. Committee members • Creation of a process for monitor- critical to the regional economy review details on potential priority ing progress of priority projects, and involve approval or funding projects, including site visits and including submission of regular through government agencies and discussions with relevant state status reports by project sponsors authorities, including airports and agencies and project sponsors, to the council at public meetings, airport access; bridge and highway then vote on a draft priority list in addition to ongoing project projects; ferry, bus and subway ser- that is circulated to all council management and monitoring by vice; and intermodal connections. members, published on the council staff at ESD. Status reports council website, made available • Strengthening of the public par- are published on the council for public comment and ultimately ticipation process for purposes of website. The mayor’s office and voted on by the entire council. gathering more input into the CFA NYCEDC have taken responsibility review process and establishing a for tracking and reporting to the • Appointment of an Infrastructure 2012–13 Priority Project Pipeline. REDC the status of priority projects and Capital Improvements Com- This has involved public forums and Opportunity Zone activities. mittee, co-chaired by Steve Spi- as well as public outreach by indi- Discrepancies in timing, financing nola and Gary LaBarbera. This com- vidual council members and state or feasibility of priority projects will mittee was established to review,

10 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT be reviewed by the Infrastructure substantial forward progress. This tunities in opportunity zones. There and Capital Improvements Com- progress was in part supported by is currently $5.7 million allocated to mittee and, if necessary, referred to important investments made in these support BOA projects in nine of the the council executive committee communities through the 2011 CFA fifteen opportunity zones. In addition, for discussion with appropriate funding process. Charts detailing the council-identified priority projects are state officials. degree to which CFA funds went to part of several of the BOA-supported opportunity zones follow. local economic development plans, indicating as well that council priori- In addition to these investments, OPPORTUNITY ties are in line with planning at the prior investments in communities local community level. ZONES — through the Brownfields Opportunity PROGRESS ON Areas (BOA) program, in which local community organizations undertake IMPLEMENTATION and lead area-wide planning efforts, Each of the opportunity zones desig- have also played an important role nated by the council in 2011 has made in advancing development oppor-

2011 CFA Awards in NYC Total: $66,164,721

In an Opportunity Zone 23% $15,151,856 Outside an Opportunity Zone

77% $51,012,865

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 11 Following are updates on recent activ- Victoria Theater and the upgrade of space to a Hudson Valley farm group ity in each of the opportunity zones: the Apollo Theater will be catalysts and GrowNYC. A similar project is for the further economic resurgence being planned for East Harlem by 125th Street (Manhattan) of Upper Manhattan. The transforma- the Harlem Community Develop- tion of the Taystee Bakery factory into ment Corporation, which proposes to 125th Street is Harlem’s “Main the CREATE@Harlem Green center for establish a 22-block, open-air market Street.” The New York City Economic entrepreneurial activity (described known as “La Marqueta Mile.” This Development Corporation (EDC), in the 2011 priority project update would accommodate approximately together with the Upper Manhattan section below) will provide a critically 900 artisans and food-related and Empowerment Zone (UMEZ) and its important transitional facility between other small businesses and create an Harlem Business Assistance Fund, the historic retail and entertainment estimated 4,000 jobs. are implementing a plan to help district of Central Harlem and the strengthen 125th Street’s reputation growing university facilities of Colum- Update as a world-class arts, cultural, and en- bia and City College in West Harlem. • NYCEDC and ESD jointly issued a tertainment destination and regional With support from ESD, the center Request for Proposals (RFP) in June business district. Construction of the will provide affordable commercial 2012 for the redevelopment of a Manhattanville campus of Columbia and industrial space for artisans, art- 42,000-square-foot site located University and initiatives such as ists and nonprofit organizations. It is in the heart of Harlem’s commer- the redevelopment of Mart 125, the also negotiating to lease distribution cial and cultural core at 121 West

Total 2011 CFA Awards in New York City: $66,164,721

44.59% Hunts Point, $29,500,000

22.90% Outside an Opportunity Zone, $15,151,856

15.11% 125th Street, $10,000,000 44.59% 4.15% Jamaica/ Southeastern Queens, $2,743,468

3.97% South Bronx, $2,624,997 22.90% 2.86% Brooklyn Navy Yard, $1,890,000

1.59% Downtown Brooklyn, $1,050,000

1.28% West Shore Staten Island, $850,000

0.81% Long Island City, $534,400 4.15% 15.11% 0.79% South Bronx, Coney Island, & 3.97% Lower Manhattan, $520,000 2.86% 0.68% Flushing/ Willets Point, $450,000, 0.08% 0.60% 1.59% Greenpoint/ Williamsburg, $400,000 0.11% 1.28% 0.11% 0.38% Southwest Brooklyn, $250,000 0.81% 0.38% 0.11% Coney Island/ Rockaways,$75,000 0.79% 0.60% 0.68% 0.11% North Shore Staten Island, $75,000 0.08% Lower Manhattan, $50,000

12 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 125th, near Lenox Avenue. The RFP ing the number of vendors in the ing and a new, state-of-the-art, seeks to transform the site into the front half of the market. The next 44,000-square-foot YMCA. most beneficial use for the com- phase, made possible by a $2 mil- • The summer of 2011 was one of munity as a central retail, office lion investment by New York City the most successful summer sea- and cultural exhibition space with Council Speaker Christine Quinn, sons on record for Coney Island, as much as 363,000 square feet of will include renovating Building 3 with more than 640,000 visitors potential commercial space avail- to develop approximately 10,000 taking over two million rides at able, including possible bonuses square feet of “step-up” space for Luna Park and Scream Zone. It for a visual or performing arts food manufacturing businesses. marked the second season for facility. Currently, the site is unde- Luna Park, which features 19 rutilized as a 160,000-square-foot, Coney Island (Brooklyn) traditional and state-of-the-art 450-space parking garage, with rides, and the inaugural season of some ground floor retail. After many decades of decline, Coney Scream Zone, which features four • An RFP was issued in November Island has begun to experience a cutting-edge thrill rides. This sum- 2011 seeking proposals from indi- resurgence following rezoning in mer saw the continued expansion viduals, organizations and compa- 2009. With the city’s acquisition of of the amusement park with the nies to create a new business incu- property within the amusement area, addition of nearly two acres of new bator or co-working space along and the development of several new amusements to Scream Zone, in- the 125th Street corridor that will amusement parks, new attractions at cluding a 24-cart Go-Kart track and become part of the city’s network the New York Aquarium, and other a 110-foot free-fall ride called the of affordable workspaces designed investments, this historic neighbor- Boardwalk Flyer. to encourage entrepreneurship hood is witnessing new development • This is the third year that the city and innovation. Negotiations are and increased visitors. Over the next has held job screenings in Coney ongoing and the incubator or co- three decades, as the city advances Island; last year, nearly half of all working space is expected to open district infrastructure upgrades that open positions were filled by local in the coming year. will support new housing, hospitality, residents. In winter 2010, the job • In July 2011, 125th Street Equities retail, and entertainment uses in the screenings helped fill the 200 new LLC was selected to redevelop the rezoning area, Coney Island is posi- positions that were created by the Corn Exchange Building, a land- tioned to become a major waterfront opening of Luna Park, the first new mark structure located at 125th destination and support 4,500 new major amusement park in Coney Street and Park Avenue that has units of housing, approximately 25 Island in 40 years. Last year, over been vacant and in severe disre- acres of entertainment attractions, 1,200 job seekers attended three pair for several decades. 125th and more than 25,000 construction job screenings, helping to fill over Street Equities LLC will rehabilitate jobs and 6,000 permanent jobs. 275 full- and part-time seasonal the historic base of the building Update positions at Luna Park, Scream and reconstruct an additional six Zone, and the Cyclone Roller floors for office and retail use. The • There has been significant prog- Coaster. The program has further total development will be approxi- ress on a number of key com- expanded this year, with employ- mately 31,000 square feet, with ponents of the Coney Island ers from the boardwalk participat- 22,000 square feet planned for of- Revitalization Plan this past year, ing for the first time. This year, four fice space and 9,000 square feet for including the groundbreaking pre-screening events were held for retail. Construction on the $16 mil- of Steeplechase Plaza, and the local employers to fill 450 full- and lion development is expected to groundbreaking of Coney Island part-time positions in the amuse- begin by the end of 2012 and will Commons. Steeplechase Plaza, a ment area for the coming season. create approximately 90 perma- 2.2-acre public open space, will These positions are in addition to nent jobs and 60 construction jobs. serve as the western entryway to the 150 employees who return to • NYCEDC has continued its phased the revitalized amusement dis- their posts from last year, for a total approach to the redevelopment trict and be home to the restored of 600 jobs. In the past two years, of La Marqueta. The first phase, B&B Carousel, Coney Island’s last at least half of the available posi- now mostly complete, included remaining historic carousel. Co- tions have gone to men and wom- building a commercial kitchen, ney Island Commons will include en who live in this community. a kitchen incubator, and increas- 195 units of affordable hous-

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 13 port the growth of Downtown Brooklyn and enhance the com- munity with expanded retail and housing options. When complete, City Point will take up 1.6 to 1.9 million square feet and include at least 120 units of new afford- able housing and the first modern retail development on Fulton Mall in decades. The first phase of 50,000 square feet of retail space is complete, and the next phase is scheduled to begin in summer 2012. The next phase will include approximately 600,000 square feet of additional retail space anchored by Century 21 and two residential towers. • The New York Department of State’s Waterfront Revitaliza- tion program awarded $890,000 through the 2011 CFA process to the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and Regional Plan As- sociation to advance the Brooklyn • Significant investments have also hoods in New York City, doubling in Waterfront Greenway, including been made this past winter in population in the last decade. With construction of 1.7-acres of open the restaurants and shops on the the completion of the Barclays Center space with park amenities along Boardwalk. Nathan’s Famous is and several crucial cultural and com- the greenway at the Brooklyn Navy expanding its operation on the mercial developments to complement Yard Naval Hospital Cemetery. Boardwalk, and businesses, includ- this boom in population, Downtown • Myrtle Avenue is benefitting from ing the Brooklyn Beach Shop and Brooklyn is poised to be one of the renovation of several commer- Tom’s Restaurant, opened on the the city’s most active central busi- cial and residential buildings, using Boardwalk in time for summer. Co- ness districts. This area also anchors funding from the New York Main ney Island restaurants like Ruby’s Brooklyn’s participation in the innova- Street program to leverage invest- Bar & Grill, Paul’s Daughter, and tion economy, with NYU Polytechnic ments by property owners and a Coney Cones are also open for the Institute at its center. contribution from the local Busi- 2012 season. ness Improvement District. • Finally, the New York Department Update • On July 10, 2012, the Brooklyn of State Waterfront Revitalization • Mayor Bloomberg, NYU President Tech Triangle Task Force issued an program, through a grant made in John Sexton, and MTA Chairman RFP for the Brooklyn Tech Triangle the 2011 CFA process, is helping Joseph Lhota announced a second Strategic Plan, which identifies to support a number of projects in historic agreement in April 2012 to improvements to transportation, Coney Island focused on rebuild- create a new applied sciences cen- infrastructure and land use to ing the working waterfront and ter, the Center for Urban Science spur investment in the emerging restoring natural habitats. and Progress (CUSP), in Downtown technology sector of downtown Brooklyn at 370 Jay Street (see Brooklyn, DUMBO and the Brook- Downtown Brooklyn 2011 priority project update sec- lyn Navy Yard. The submission tion). deadline was August 10, 2012. Catalyzed by a rezoning in 2004, • City Point is a sustainable mixed- ESD’s funding of $100,000 to help Downtown Brooklyn has become use development that will sup- pay for the $325,000 plan was one of the fastest-growing neighbor-

14 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT endorsed by the council executive Long Island City (Queens) Building in April 2012, bringing committee. over 1,000 jobs to Long Island City. Long Island City has experienced • The Queens Plaza Pedestrian and significant population growth since its Bicycle Improvement Project was Hunts Point (Bronx) 2001 rezoning, and with the construc- completed in spring 2012 and has tion of JetBlue’s headquarters and the The Hunts Point peninsula is home to helped transform this primary en- completion of the Gotham Center, the city’s primary food wholesaling try point into Long Island City and it will only continue to grow. The and distribution hub (the Hunts Point Queens into a dynamic and ap- nearby development of Hunter’s Point Food Distribution Center), occupying pealing gateway. The $45 million South, the largest affordable housing 330 acres and supporting more than project has created a new 1.5-acre development to be built in the city 115 businesses and 10,000 workers. open space in Queens Plaza and since the early 1970s, will also acceler- The area is also home to the Hunts helped improve the flow of traffic, ate the neighborhood’s growth. Full Point Terminal meat, fish and pro- enhance the pedestrian environ- development of the Technion-Cornell duce markets, along with many other ment, and attract new commercial Innovation Institute campus over the private food-related companies. The tenants, including JetBlue and next several years will also lead to sub- 2004 Hunts Point Vision Plan articulat- the CUNY School of Law, to Long stantial economic growth in Western ed a coordinated strategy for fostering Island City. business and job growth at the food Queens. distribution center. Modernizing the • Queens West Development Corpo- produce market will have the multi- Update ration (“QWDC”) is responsible for remediating and redeveloping 40 plier effect of attracting new business • Construction is under way at activity and ensuring that the food acres of former industrial property Hunter’s Point South, which will along the East River, extending distribution center continues to play transform a largely vacant site a primary role in the city’s and state’s from 50th Avenue to Anable Basin, into a mixed-use, middle-income into a new waterfront residential food supply chain, while also improv- housing development with perma- ing its environmental sustainability. community. QWDC has already nently affordable apartments for done much to transform this der- firefighters, police officers, teach- Update elict and contaminated area into ers and other municipal workers, what is now a vibrant and growing • The Hunts Point Terminal produce nurses and health-care workers. community. Stage 1 (including market modernization project has The first phase is expected to be three completed high-rise resi- identified the full range of grants completed in 2014 and includes dential buildings, a public school, and tax credits needed to support two mixed-used buildings of more streets and utilities and 10 acres the project (see 2011 priority proj- than 900 housing units and rough- of public land) is substantially ect update section). ly 20,000 square feet of new retail complete, with the exception of • In June 2012, an RFP was issued for space. All of the housing in the first one parcel that will be transferred the development and operation phase will be for low-, moderate- to NYC Department of Design & of a rooftop urban farm in Hunts and middle-income families. Other Construction for the construc- Point in order to enhance the additions will include five acres of tion of the award-winning Steven growth of the city’s urban agricul- new waterfront parkland, a new Holl-designed Queens Public ture base while expanding and school, new retail space, and park- Library branch early next year. preserving quality jobs for local ing. The Environmental Facilities Remediation work at that site has residents. Corporation is supporting imple- been completed. Five of the seven mentation of stormwater harvest- residential buildings planned for • An RFP was issued in May 2012 to ing and reuse in two of buildings construct and operate a modern Stage 2 are complete and occu- to irrigate planted roof areas on pied. Two additional buildings are industrial facility at the Halleck the buildings. Overall, it is antici- Industrial Development Site, with a in construction by the developer pated that this project will catalyze TF Cornerstone. When all buildings preference for food-related indus- more than $2 billion in private trial uses. The site is 425,000 square are complete by mid-2013, Stage investment and create more than 2 will include approximately 3,200 feet, vacant and shovel-ready, 4,600 jobs. and occupies a prime location in units of housing. Construction of the Hunts Point Food Distribution • JetBlue Airways officially opened an additional three acres of park- Center. its new 200,000-square-foot head- land, along with roads and utilities, quarters in the historic Brewster is also underway. All of QWDC’s

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 15 construction work is expected to • NYCEDC released an RFP seeking be complete by December 2012. creative proposals for an iconic • Long Island City and Queens have lighting installation in Lower Man- a growing technology community hattan. The multi-year lighting and and tech innovation hub. Over 40 place-making initiative is designed technology companies are now to build upon the neighborhood’s located in the area, including: reputation as a global hub of com- Publicis, one of the world’s three merce and expand its appeal in largest digital media, advertising the evening hours. It will also spur and marketing companies, which more diverse business activity by signed a 100,000 square foot lease using the neighborhood’s build- in July 2012; WorldNow, a leader in ings and public spaces to create broadband video technology and a strong neighborhood identifier advertising for the media industry, visible to viewers both near and which employs 125 people in its far. Responses are currently being Long Island City headquarters; and evaluated, and the city aims to Songza, a music streaming com- launch the program in the coming pany that has 2 million new users year. since June 2012 and the number- • Howard Hughes Corporation re- one free application in the iPad cently entered into an agreement store. With help from the Excelsior for a lease that will allow for a com- tax credit program, Shapeways, prehensive renovation of Pier 17. Inc. is leasing approximately • Construction on the East River Wa- 15,000 square feet of industrial terfront Esplanade is progressing, space to construct and equip a with the opening of the first “pilot” manufacturing facility and office segment and Pier 15 — a newly- space. built two-level recreational pier — in the past several months. Other Lower Manhattan segments to the north and south are under construction, and a café Despite the devastating terrorist at- on Pier 15 and a restaurant under tacks of September 11, 2001, Lower the FDR at Maiden Lane opened Manhattan is thriving again as a 24/7 this summer. neighborhood, with a nearly doubled • The Lower Manhattan Develop- population and more businesses ment Corporation (“LMDC”) con- operating today than prior to 9/11. tinues its oversight of downtown The commercial redevelopment of the redevelopment on the World Trade World Trade Center will add more than Center Site and off the site. LMDC 10 million square feet of Class A office continues to focus on the realiza- space, complemented by significant tion of the WTC Plan, including growth in parks and open space. a much-anticipated Performing Update Arts Center. Other major projects funded by LMDC, including the • Plans are moving forward on the East River Waterfront Esplanade Battery Maritime building, where and Piers, Fulton Corridor Revital- the Dermot Company intends to ization, development of affordable redevelop the site to include a housing, and the National Septem- boutique hotel, a live performance ber 11 Memorial and Museum, are space with a 2,000-person ongoing. capacity, areas for art installations and special exhibitions, and a rooftop restaurant.

16 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT Jamaica/Southeastern • In June 2012, NYCEDC released and also have significant environmen- Queens an RFP on behalf of the Greater tal benefits, most directly linked to the Jamaica Development Corporation revitalization of the Roosevelt Avenue Jamaica benefits from a thriving to develop a commercial or mixed- corridor. downtown commercial district and use project for a 58,050-square- world-class transportation access foot property at the corner of Sut- Update (the AirTrain, LIRR and two subway phin Blvd. and Archer Ave. The site • The Flushing Commons project lines all connect at Jamaica’s recently is located adjacent to one of New will transform what is now a mu- redeveloped intermodal hub), making York City’s major transportation nicipal parking lot in Downtown Jamaica an attractive destination for hubs and within an area currently Flushing into a vibrant, mixed-use new residents and businesses. Down- experiencing major new invest- development that provides open town Jamaica’s redevelopment will ments in public spaces and infra- space, a new community venue, have a multiplier effect throughout structure and seeking to enhance residences, a 62,000-square-foot southeastern Queens, extending to downtown Jamaica as a vibrant YMCA facility, and retail opportu- JFK Airport and the Rockaways. destination as well as an important nities to the neighborhood. The gateway. Update project will bring an estimated • On August 7, 2012, it was an- 2,600 construction jobs and 1,900 • There is a suite of projects in nounced that the Rufus King Court permanent jobs to Queens and will Downtown Jamaica intended to Apartments broke ground to kick be a catalyst for other projects in leverage existing transportation off the official start of construction Downtown Flushing. of an affordable housing devel- infrastructure and make the area • In June 2012, Mayor Bloomberg opment in Jamaica, Queens. The more accessible and attractive for announced development plans for affordable, green, transit-oriented user: transforming long-blighted Willets development is moving forward Point into a dynamic mixed-use o The reconstruction of the with the support of $1.7 million in neighborhood and destination. Sutphin Underpass is now awards from the Regional Council The Queens Development Group complete, providing new initiative. The project will generate will acquire an initial 23 acres in retail space and creating a more than $22.2 million in local the Special Willets Point District more attractive street‐level economic activity while leverag- to the east of Citi Field to begin pedestrian experience directly ing additional public and private build-out of Phase 1. This will pro- across the street from the JFK resources. This is just one of a few vide hotel, retail and interim sports AirTrain Jamaica Terminal. local affordable housing projects space uses to the east of Citi Field being supported through the New as well as retail and entertainment o The Atlantic Avenue Extension York State Division of Homes and attractions to the west of Citi Field, project will extend Atlantic Community Renewal. allowing for more comprehensive Avenue and connect it with and continuous transit-oriented 95th Avenue, creating a development around the Mets/ new gateway to downtown Flushing/Willets Point Willets Point stops on the 7 Train Jamaica and new public parks. (Queens) and Long Island Rail Road. Ulti- Construction is expected to Flushing is home to one of the largest mately, the plan will unlock over begin in 2013. communities of people of Chinese de- five million square feet of new o The Station Plaza project will scent outside of China (and a Chinese- development in a unified district, realign Archer Avenue at the American population now larger than transforming a contaminated area intersection with Sutphin Manhattan’s Chinatown), as well as into a new neighborhood. The Boulevard, creating two new large populations of other Asian and build-out will include retail, hotel public plazas, wider sidewalks, non-Asian immigrants. This has pow- and commercial uses to comple- planted medians, new subway ered Flushing’s significant economic ment a residential community of entrances and separate growth, allowing the neighborhood to 2,500 housing units, of which 875 loading lanes for buses on add jobs in each of the last six years, units will be designated as afford- Archer Avenue. Construction is despite the recession. The planned able. The expanded vision will expected to begin in late 2013. redevelopment of Willets Point will infuse $3 billion of private invest- accelerate the neighborhood’s growth ment into the local economy and

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 17 the working waterfront through in- creased public access, strengthen ex- isting neighborhoods by supporting and creating neighborhood centers and improve mobility for residents and businesses. Update Several projects are under way from St. George to Mariners Harbor along Staten Island’s North Shore, which will lead to good jobs, increased economic investment, and more public open space for local residents: • In August 2011 a Request for Ex- pressions of Interest (RFEI) was released to develop up to 14 acres of city-owned parcels on the St. create 7,100 permanent jobs and North Shore (Staten George waterfront, adjacent to 12,000 direct construction jobs, Island) the St. George Ferry Terminal and with MWBE and local hiring goals Richmond County Ballpark. The of 25 percent. The North Shore is home to 179,000 sites are perfectly located to serve • The USTA joined with New York residents and is twice as dense as residents, commuters and the City this June to announce the the rest of Staten Island. Historically, nearly two million visitors who construction of new stadiums and the maritime industry — currently ride the Staten Island Ferry each infrastructure improvements to be employing 2,200 people with an aver- year. Development will greatly built at the National Tennis Center age salary of $51,000 — has played a contribute to economic growth in in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. significant role in shaping this area’s downtown Staten Island and the The multi-year development will historic waterfront, with the Kill Van entire borough. Currently, NYCEDC enhance the current conditions at Kull remaining a major channel for is in active discussions with several the NTC and preserve its status as regional commerce and a hub for the respondents. region’s maritime support services. a world class venue. Currently the • Negotiations are also under way to U.S. Open is New York City’s largest Six neighborhoods (St. George, New develop 45,000 square feet of retail annual public sporting event and Brighton, West Brighton, Port Rich- space at the former Coast Guard generates $756 million in econom- mond, Mariners Harbor-Arlington, site in St. George, an important ic impact. Attendance at the event and Jersey Street) located in the North step toward reactivating Bay Street tops 700,000, making it one of Shore have areas of underutilized land and reconnecting the community the most highly attended annual or vacant buildings located adjacent to the waterfront. sporting events in the world. to residential communities or busi- • Significant progress has been • Other investments are being made nesses creating significant potential made in leasing the 20,557 square in environmental sustainability for future growth. Last year, the feet of retail space at the St. and local services. For example, Department of City Planning (DCP) George Ferry Terminal. Tenants the State Environmental Facilities and NYCEDC released the North Shore continue to be recruited, with Corporation is helping to fund 2030 report, a 20-year vision for the seven new businesses already Long Island Jewish Medical Center area, which stretches from the Staten opened, and three recently signed to construct a green roof on the Island Ferry Terminal to Howland leases with construction under rooftop of the Cohen Children’s Hook Marine Terminal. The report way or planned to begin shortly. Medical Center that includes is the culmination of an extensive, • Several sections of the North Shore plantings, surfacing, fencing, two-year public engagement process waterfront have been proposed to energy efficient LED exterior that defines clear priorities for public be designated Industrial Business lighting, and extension of an and private actions that seek to create Zones (IBZs), which will expand elevator up to rooftop level. quality jobs, reconnect people with

18 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT services available to industrial and new tidal pools, a kayak launch, Center for men and women with manufacturing businesses, and will and passive recreational areas. criminal histories, primarily those leav- ensure the future strength of New • Food Center Drive, also a Phase ing city and state correctional facilities York City’s industrial sector by cre- I project, will create a 1.25-mile and returning to the Bronx. ating competitive advantages over Class I (fully separated) shared bi- locations in other areas. cycle/pedestrian lane along Food Southwest Brooklyn • The New York Container Terminal Center Drive, the first of its kind in (NYCT) at Howland Hook is located the Bronx. The road will be con- Sunset Park’s waterfront offers an in one such proposed IBZ, and the verted from two-way to one-way, opportunity to attract industrial and city remains committed to assist- easing congestion and allowing manufacturing businesses that have ing in the expansion of Berth 4 at for the construction of the new been leaving the city because they the NYCT, which would create over shared bicycle/pedestrian lane. are unable to find appropriate space. 200 new jobs and protect New FCD is completing design, with an With an extensive waterfront and York City’s share of marine cargo anticipated construction start of existing freight rail infrastructure, as business. late fall 2012. well as access to numerous local truck routes, Southwest Brooklyn offers a • State support is driving several unique opportunity for multi-modal South Bronx other green projects in the area. transportation. The city’s 2009 Sunset These include Waterfront Revital- Park Waterfront Vision Plan laid out A 30-block area around the lower end ization planning, “green streets” a framework for breathing new life of the Grand Concourse was rezoned and a new 18,000 sq. ft. green roof into one of the city’s most important in 2009 with the goal of transforming at St. Mary’s Recreation Center, maritime industrial areas. The plan a waning industrial waterfront area and capital investments in Action sets guidelines for investment for the and the lower Grand Concourse into Environmental Systems, LLC, a re- next 20 years and anticipates creating a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income cycling facility. or retaining 20,000 jobs in the area. community with new housing, water- • Randall’s Island Connector will al- Important projects such as the reacti- front open space, and an array of retail low residents of the South Bronx vation of the South Brooklyn Marine services. The completion of the South to easily access over 400 acres of Terminal, the redevelopment of the Bronx Greenway by 2013 will also help recreational amenities on Randall’s area’s aging freight rail network and attract investment to the neighbor- Island. The quarter-mile pathway the building of a new waterfront park hood. from 132nd St. to Randall’s Island are already under way. Update will run underneath the historic arches of the elevated Amtrak Update • When completed, the South Bronx trestle and will include new light- • Construction will begin later this Greenway will result in extensive ing, landscaping, an at-grade rail summer at Bush Terminal Piers waterfront pathways, inland green crossing and a pedestrian bridge Park, which will make long-envi- streets, and multiple new wa- over the Bronx Kill. The project is sioned waterfront public access a terfront open spaces to connect on track to begin construction in reality for Sunset Park residents. Hunts Point and Port Morris resi- spring of 2013. The development of Bush Terminal dents to the waterfront. Significant Piers Park will feature two multi- progress has been made, with the One important project that requires use sports fields, viewing areas for summer 2012 completion of three approval of the State Legislature is the restored tidal pools, and a natural- of five Phase 1 projects: Hunts transfer of 1511 Fulton Avenue, the ized preserve area. Point Avenue/Spofford Avenue former Fulton Correctional Facility, to the Osborne Association (“Osborne”), Streetscape, Lafayette Avenue • Salmar Properties broke ground on a nonprofit organization that provides Streetscape, and Hunts Point Land- the renovation of Federal Building opportunities for formerly incarcerat- ing. The improvements include #2 in Sunset Park in January 2012. ed individuals to transform their lives new landscaped medians, new The vacant 1.1 million-square-foot through innovative, effective, and bicycle lanes, additional landscap- warehouse building will be con- replicable rehabilitation programs. ing and trees, and a new 1.5-acre verted to a state-of-the-art indus- Osborne proposes to transform the public open space that will include trial facility, with 85 percent of the facility into the Fulton Economic De- a new fishing pier, a shoreline eco- space to be used for light manu- velopment and Community Reentry logical restoration that developed facturing purposes and 15 percent

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 19 for retail. Salmar Properties will coordinate efforts, the city committed kayak and canoe launch, primary invest approximately $35 million to short-term initiatives described in and secondary entrances, and an to transform the warehouse into a the West Shore 2030 Three-Year Work ecologically-sensitive parking area. modern industrial center, and the Plan. • On June 22, 2012, ESD issued an full renovation will create approxi- Additionally, the Staten Island Eco- RFP for the acquisition and mately 1,300 permanent industrial nomic Development Corporation redevelopment of the former jobs and 400 construction jobs. (SIEDC) is launching a Green Zone Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, located at 2911 Arthur Kill Road, • The rehabilitation of SBMT initiative to rehabilitate and reclaim in the Rossville section of Staten continues, with the leveraging of brownfields and other unused prop- Island, New York. Responses were $52 million in private investment erty for industrial use, and promoting due August 17. for the site. Once terminal a light-rail project in the West Shore. improvements are complete, Update two new tenants will occupy Greenpoint-Williamsburg space at SBMT: the Axis Group, a • A developer has been selected to (Brooklyn) logistics company specializing in purchase and develop a 10-acre the automotive industry that will site in Charleston with village-style The 2005 rezoning of Greenpoint- utilize the terminal for automobile retail. The proceeds of the sale will Williamsburg set the stage for the processing and import/export jump-start the development of continuing revitalization of these via ocean-going vessels; and a 58-acre city-owned site, which vibrant neighborhoods, creating Sims Metal Management, which will include retail development, new opportunities for much-needed will construct a new recycling a new public library, a public affordable housing, facilitating local facility to handle New York City’s school, senior housing, and a commercial development, promoting municipal recyclables. Both parties 22-acre public park. Currently, a light industrial activity in appropriate will use rail and waterborne comprehensive environmental areas, and establishing a plan for transportation to the maximum process is under way, with the goal a continuous publicly accessible extent possible to reduce trucking of completing the ULURP process esplanade and new public open both in the local area and on the by the end of 2013. Pending spaces along the waterfront. Since regional road network. completion of the approvals the rezoning, the combination of process, construction is expected zoning incentives, housing programs and the commitment of public land West Shore (Staten to commence on the retail site, the new public library and Fairview has resulted in the construction of Island) Park. 860 units of affordable housing. Commercial development — The West Shore offers more than 1,000 • Large portions of Staten Island’s new cafés, restaurants, galleries, acres of properties for development, West Shore have been identified boutiques and hotels — has boomed, with potential for significant maritime within the proposed boundaries and dozens of tech start-ups are and industrial job creation. Nearly 40 of the new Staten Island Industrial now based in the area. The city’s initiatives are currently under way Business Zone (IBZ), a designation commitment of over $315 million to to unlock growth in the neighbor- that will expand services available support the creation, improvement hood, including development of to industrial and manufacturing and expansion of open spaces has publicly owned sites at Charleston, businesses and ensure the future financed the acquisition of the first Arlington Yard and the New York strength of New York City’s indus- two phases of Bushwick Inlet Park, the Container Terminal. The Department trial sector by creating competitive design and construction of multiple of City Planning and NYCEDC recently advantages over locations in other sites such as Greenpoint Playground completed a comprehensive study of areas. Comfort Station and Sternberg the area: “Working West Shore 2030: • With support from the New York Park dog run, and various projects Creating Jobs, Improving Infrastruc- Department of State, the city has at McCarren Park, including the ture and Managing Growth.” The study begun implementation of the 482- restoration of McCarren Park Pool and identifies strategies to help create acre East Park section of Freshkills the construction of WNYC Transmitter jobs, upgrade infrastructure, preserve Park, formerly the Fresh Kills Land- Park. open space and manage growth on fill, and design and construct bike the borough’s West Shore. In order and pedestrian trails, a wetland In addition, the city has leveraged to jump-start the 20-year vision and boardwalk, flexible-use lawns, a more than $50 million in private

20 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT investment for new public open Hudson Yards • In February 2012, the MTA space along the waterfront at the (Manhattan) announced it has finished all of the Northside Piers, The Edge, 184 Kent tunneling for the 7-train extension and 155 West Street. The rezoning The Far West Side of Manhattan is to 11th Avenue and completed also included incentives for new pier the “final frontier” of undeveloped carving out the mezzanine — development, which created a new space in Midtown. The redevelopment which paves the way for train transportation option for Greenpoint of Hudson Yards will transform this operation by 2013. and Williamsburg — the East River neighborhood into one of the largest Ferry. commercial and residential districts in the city, with four times the office Update space of Rockefeller Center, market- PRIORITY PROJECTS rate and affordable housing, retail and • On September 10, 2012, the — PROGRESS ON hotels, and significant open space. city officially opened WNYC IMPLEMENTATION Transmitter Park along the East Update River in Brooklyn. This $12 million Significant progress has been made project includes an esplanade for • The Hudson Yards Development in the implementation of priority passive recreation, and 1.6 acres Corporation has started infrastruc- projects identified by the council of open space to provide residents ture work for the Hudson Boule- and those projects funded through and visitors with increased access vard Park and will break ground on the 2011 Consolidated Funding to the Greenpoint waterfront. the Park in the spring of 2013. Application process. (Some projects identified by the council were not The transformation of WNYC • Coach has signed a letter of intent recommended for state funding.) Transmitter Park builds on the to be the anchor tenant at the first Below is a chart summarizing activity 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg commercial tower on the Eastern on the CFA-funded projects as of rezoning and its plan for Railyards site. continuous public access to the August 15, 2012. area’s shorefront. Located on the site of the former WNYC radio transmission towers, the new park includes a new overlook to CFA-Funded Project Activity the south, new seating, and a waterfront esplanade that will Total Number of CFA-funded Projects 50 provide connections to adjacent sites. A pedestrian bridge was Contracts for Funding Sent to Applicants by State 41 built across an excavated historic Agencies ferry slip and restored as a wetland accessible to visitors. The center Contracts Executed 30 of the park includes a large open lawn with a separate children’s Projects Started 36 play area featuring a nautical Projected Completion Through CY2013 29 theme to reflect the site’s context. It also includes a spray shower and Projected Completion Through CY2014 16 nature gardens. Projected Completion Through CY2015 4 • A newly constructed recreational pier at the end of Kent Street will Projected Completion Through CY2016 1 also open at the end of this year. Total CFA Award Amount $66,164,721

Expected Total Project Value $741,886,283

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 21 Following are summaries of activity on held. The city’s investment is expected around the globe, led by NYU and projects identified as priorities by the to generate more than $23 billion NYU-Poly, which will focus on research council: in economic activity over the next and development of technology to three decades, as well as $1.4 billion address the critical challenges facing CornellNYC Tech: The in direct tax revenues. The project will cities, including infrastructure, tech directly lead to employment growth, integration, energy efficiency, trans- Technion-Cornell with 20,000 construction jobs and portation congestion, public safety, Innovation Institute (part 8,000 direct permanent jobs. Cornell and public health. The consortium of the Applied Sciences will develop and own the campus includes highly respected academic Initiative) itself, and will assume financial re- institutions such as CUNY, Carnegie sponsibility for its establishment and Mellon University, the University of Progress and actions since operations. Toronto, the University of Warwick, November 2011 and the Indian Institute of Technology In May 2012 Google announced it will Bombay, as well as two leading com- On December 19, 2011, Mayor provide 22,000 square feet at its New panies, IBM and Cisco, and will grant Michael Bloomberg, Cornell Univer- York City headquarters to Cornell free academic degrees in engineering and sity President David Skorton, and of charge for five years and six months sciences. Technion-Israel Institute of Technol- or until the completion of Cornell’s ogy President Peretz Lavie announced campus on Roosevelt Island, which- As part of the agreement with the an historic partnership to build a $2 ever occurs first. Additionally, Cornell city, NYU has identified 370 Jay Street, billion, two-million-square-foot ap- will be able to expand to 58,000 a 460,000-square-foot city-owned plied science and engineering campus square feet over five years as it builds office building in downtown Brooklyn on Roosevelt Island, a community its presence in New York City. that is currently partially occupied by where New York State plays a key role the MTA and NYPD, as its preferred through its historic investment and Immediate priorities/ project location for CUSP. After undertaking the management by a state author- next steps a six-month due-diligence process, ity, the Roosevelt Island Operating NYU will begin a project to transform Cornell is proceeding with design and Corporation. the currently underutilized commer- planning for the new campus, and is cial building. Approximately 150,000 The selection of the Technion-Cornell expected to begin the City’s Uniform square feet will be designed for class- consortium—which pairs two of the Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) rooms, offices and laboratory space, world’s top institutions in the fields process later this year. The first phase with an additional 40,000 square feet of science, engineering, technol- of the Roosevelt Island campus will designated for the creation of an incu- ogy and research—marked a major open no later than 2017; however, bator for businesses spun off by CUSP milestone. It was ultimately selected Cornell began holding classes in its or CUSP-related research. The remain- due to the large scale and vision of the new Google office space this fall. ing building space may be used by consortium’s proposal, the long and NYU for the future expansion of CUSP, impressive track record of both insti- New York University other academic uses or for commer- tutions in generating applied science Center for Urban Science cial tenants who are seeking to locate breakthroughs and spinning off new near CUSP. businesses, the financing capacity of and Progress (part of the consortium, the consortium focus the Applied Sciences NYU named Steven Koonin, a theoreti- on the collaboration between aca- Initiative) cal physicist who has served as under- demia and the private sector, and the secretary of energy for science and as overall capacity of the partnership to Progress and actions since provost of the California Institute of execute the project. In addition to the November 2011 Technology, as CUSP’s inaugural direc- Roosevelt Island site, the city will also tor. New research and technologies On April 23, 2012, Mayor Bloomberg, provide $100 million in city capital to developed at the center are expected NYU President John Sexton, and MTA assist with site infrastructure, con- to generate $5.5 billion in overall eco- Chairman Joseph Lhota announced struction, and related costs. nomic impact and 7,700 jobs over the the creation of an applied sciences next three decades. In April 2012 Cornell hosted a town center in Downtown Brooklyn at hall on Roosevelt Island, and in May 370 Jay Street. The Center for Urban 2012 a public scoping session was Science and Progress (CUSP) will be a partnership of top institutions from

22 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT Immediate priorities/project Recycle Mill (located within the has been introduced by Assembly- next steps Green Zone) will receive $500,000 member Michael Cusick and Senator in National Grid energy efficiency Andrew Lanza to offer special incen- NYU is proceeding with the necessary incentives for high-efficiency tives and assistance to promote the due diligence for the project, includ- production equipment projects. Visy development of new green businesses ing the required leasing of 60,000 Paper implemented a number of and expansion of existing businesses square feet of Downtown Brooklyn energy-efficiency and money-saving within designated green economic space for Phase 1 operations in time initiatives in its papermaking process, development zones in areas of Staten for classes to begin September 2013. including dewatering equipment, a Island. Assuming a successful due diligence new technology for the application period, the MTA and NYPD will begin of a starch/water solution and an NYC SeedStart relocating their operations and equip- upgraded heat recovery system. ment from the 370 Jay Street building Amount invested through REDC: in the fall of 2012. NYU will begin the Funding from NYC EDC is being $550,000 first phase of construction work on used to create an industrial business the 370 Jay Street building in the fall improvement district (IBID) within Progress and actions since November of 2014. the Green Zone. This will create more 2011: opportunities to attract new firms to • A program website was launched the area’s vacant land and buildings in Staten Island Green Zone and is accepting applications order to modernize and preserve in- (www.nycseedstart.com). Progress and actions since dustrial space, create and retain direct • SeedStart is being successfully November 2011 and indirect industrial and industrial- driven jobs, and general direct fiscal marketed in upstate New York. The Staten Island Economic Develop- revenues for the borough, the city, These efforts have included pre- ment Corporation (SIEDC) commis- and the state. sentations before the Upstate Ven- sioned a Green Zone Study by Parsons ture Association of New York Board Brinkerhoff to serve as a blueprint for Concerns and challenges of Directors at the SUNY Levin In- development of the zone. Now com- affecting progress stitute’s “Building NY’s Innovation pleted, this study provides an analysis Pipeline” conference. Program mar- Legislative approval must be secured of other green zones and their ben- keting is also taking place through before many of the incentives can efits, details a parcel registry for all the university incubators, including be offered for the Green Zone, thus sites located within the boundaries Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, creating a waiting period for imple- of the Green Zone, creates clean and Syracuse University, and SUNY mentation. A proposal for legislation green standards and incentives, devel- Binghamton, and through a direct has been prepared by SIEDC, which is ops a marketing strategy, and lays out email campaign. lobbying for its adoption by the State various partnership opportunities. The Legislature with support of the REDC. • In addition to the Partnership for study concludes with short-term and New York City Fund, six New York- long-term action plans for the Green Immediate priorities/ project based venture capital funds have Zone. Five major themes resulted from next steps committed to privately funding the Green Zone Study: freight village, the enterprise program, includ- materials recycling, thermal energy SIEDC is currently working to initi- ing RRE, Contour Ventures, RTP zone, renewable energy strategies ate the groundwork for some of the Ventures, Safeguard Scientific, NYC and West Shore “bluebelt” storm water major themes mentioned above. This Seed and StarVest Partners. Seed- management program. includes conducting meetings with Start is also in discussions with all stakeholders and parties involved several potential large corporate The first new construction in the and focusing on Brownfield Rede- partners to participate in the pro- Green Zone has begun. NY Fragrance, velopment Strategies and legislation gram. Inc. is expanding its current opera- to incentivize green zone develop- tions and is building a new warehouse ment. The SIEDC is also advocating at 600 Gulf Avenue. The groundbreak- Concerns and challenges for expansion of the Port Authority affecting progress ing ceremony for the site was held on Foreign Trade Zone to encompass the April 6, 2012. Green Zone and working to attract None noted. On July 13, 2012, it was announced target industries to the area. State that Pratt Industries Visy Paper legislation (A02219-E and S5491-F)

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 23 Immediate priorities/ project Between November and May 2012, BNYDC has already identified two pos- next steps BNYDC modified the designs of the sible anchor tenants for the building: GMC to qualify for New York State Crye Precision, a premier designer and Applications have opened for the and federal historic rehabilitation tax manufacturer of body armor and mili- early stage, 12-week program that will credits. BNYDC submitted a design tary apparel; and Macro Sea, which start in late 2012 or early 2013. Partici- application to the New York State plans to promote design and manu- pants selected from across New York Historic Preservation Office in May facturing innovation with its Project State will refine their product offerings 2012, which has approved the designs 128 initiative. Crye Precision, which and gain access to venture funding and forwarded them to the National currently employs 109 workers in and to the New York City market. Park Service, which administers this various spaces at the yard in another tax credit program. In addition to its space, recently accepted an Excelsior Brooklyn Navy Yard March 2011 grant of $1 million and offer of $1 million to commit to create Green Manufacturing assistance with accessing the $5 mil- 75 new jobs over the next five years, Center lion grant from the Port Authority, ESD including 25 jobs to be relocated from has also provided the project with New Jersey. Crye plans to lease 85,000 Amount invested through REDC: $12 million in federal New Market Tax square feet in the center. In addition, $5,000,000 Credits. BNYDC received needed con- Macro Sea, under its New Lab initia- struction permits in August 2012. tive, will lease 48,502 square feet for Progress and actions since November a wing of the building, and construct 2011: Concerns and challenges another 30,000 square feet of new The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development affecting progress mezzanine space in that wing (please see Proposed 2012 Priority Projects Corporation (BNYDC), in which the None noted. Green Manufacturing Center (GMC) is below). located, completed asbestos abate- Immediate priorities/project ment on the complex in March 2012, next steps Hunts Point Terminal which was ongoing at the time of the Produce Market CFA application. BNYDC contracted BNYDC expects to receive design with Plaza Construction to manage approval for its historic rehabilitation Amount invested through REDC: the selective demolition and structur- from the National Park Service and to $29,500,000 al stabilization of the steel within the start construction in September 2012. Progress and actions since Novem- historic complex in April 2012, which As described in the CFA application, ber 2011: The New York City Mayor’s is ongoing. construction will take approximately 18 months and is expected to be com- Office and EDC have been working pleted at the beginning of 2014. closely with the Hunts Point Produce Market cooperative to reach a long- term agreement that would keep the market in the Bronx; this includes an exclusive negotiation period that was recently extended. The city and state have made significant progress in raising public funds for the project, with a total of $172.5 million secured for the project to date. Notable on this list is the increased commitment of ESD to the project; the state made a revised award of $50 million, up from the $29.5 million originally requested by the council, on June 19, 2012. In addition, on June 22, 2012, the Hunts Point Produce Market was awarded a critical $10 million TIGER grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to modernize its rail and intermodal transfer facilities. This grant will also

24 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT help ensure that the larger $332.5 and 10,000 square feet of commu- Immediate priorities/ project million public-private redevelopment nity facility space. It is expected to next steps project continues as scheduled, result- create about 440 permanent jobs ing in 3,600 well-paying jobs for New and 510 construction jobs. The sale The site developer must complete its Yorkers and bolstering the economic of the Taystee Bakery property to a financing agreements with ESD. These activity of the hundreds of farms and private developer was accomplished are projected to be completed by businesses throughout the country in June 2012. The developer is now October 30, 2012. that use the facility on a daily basis. responsible for completing all agree- ments with ESD to receive its funding. Queens Convention Concerns and challenges Construction must begin by July 2013. Center affecting progress The developer is negotiating a lease for a 5,000 square foot food distribu- The council continues to support the The cooperative owners have recently tion center with representatives of development of a convention center raised concerns regarding oversight Mid-Hudson farmers, among other and casino in Queens. Since the pro- by the New York City Business Integ- prospective tenants. posal to develop a convention center rity Commission, but these are being at Aqueduct has been withdrawn, addressed. Concerns and challenges there is a need to identify other loca- Immediate priorities/ project affecting progress tions. The council will encourage the next steps city to pursue development of a con- The project’s pre-development time- vention center in Queens in partner- line has been extended into 2013, It is anticipated that the agreement to ship with the state. most likely having an impact on the advance the redevelopment project construction calendar and projected will be finalized in fall 2012. completion date for the project. Taystee Bakery/CREATE@ Harlem Green Amount invested through REDC: $10,000,000 Progress and actions since No- vember 2011: NYCEDC selected Janus Partners LLC and Monadnock Construction, Inc. in July 2011 to redevelop the former Taystee Bakery complex into CREATE@Harlem Green, providing an additional 328,000 square feet of commercial and industrial space to house a num- ber of tenants from creative indus- tries. The CREATE@Harlem Green will revitalize and physically transform this underutilized space by creating a state-of-the-art commercial build- ing with entrances on both 125th and 126th Streets and a pathway from 125th Street leading to an open courtyard on 126th Street, and will include ground-floor uses that acti- vate the streetscape. The $80 million development will include 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 90,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space,

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 25 New York Container 707 new or renovated units, were porting NYC REDC priorities. In order Terminal at Howland approved by state agencies for as- to assist the council in implementing Hook sistance. its strategic plan, the State Agency • Energy Efficiency: In the 2011–12 Resource Team has undertaken four The New York Container Terminal has funding of Recharge NY, 99 primary tasks in 2012: been in negotiations with the Port projects were approved in New • Align state programs with Regional Authority of New York & New Jersey York City, totaling 126 megawatts Council priorities to address concerns regarding bridge in low cost power allocations. tolls that make expansion of the • Eliminate impediments to • Parks and Waterfront: In the 2011 economic growth facility more difficult. There has been CFA round, eight projects in New • Provide technical assistance recent progress on a compromise York City were approved for that should allow the expansion to go $7,151,200 in state funding. • Share information to replicate forward and ensure that the terminal success remains competitive with its New Jersey counterparts. PROGRESS ON Led by the Department of State Stra- ACTIONS tegic Planner, the New York City State Other Implementation Agency Resource Team completed Priorities a work plan that identifies agency State Agency Resource programs and specific actions each Other council implementation priori- Team agency can take to help drive the ties were supported by the following Regional Council’s 31 strategies. In Au- state actions: Coordinated through the Department gust 2012, the SART team reconvened of State, this group of state agency • Affordable Housing: In the 2011 to identify how agency programs can representatives is working to ensure CFA round, 19 affordable hous- advance the council’s 2012 priorities. that policies and programs are sup- ing projects, supporting a total of

26 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT Proposed Priority Projects for 2012

In selecting the priority projects listed below, the council used its previously published criteria, as follows: • Multi-region economic impact: The growth industries of the future will be organized as multi-faceted clusters of mutually reinforcing activities, ranging from university- based research and product testing, to manufacturing or ag- ricultural production, to access to capital and, finally, access to markets. New York City will identify and prioritize in its strategic plan projects that have multi-regional dimensions. This will also serve to boost the economic revitalization of more economically depressed regions of the state. • Relief of conditions of economic distress: New York City has the majority of New York State resi- dents living below the poverty are those that are: 1) most likely business plan that indicates long- line. Unfortunately, few short-term to transform some sector of the term economic sustainability. employment solutions exist for city economy, by serving as the • Measurable impact: Project plans people living in poverty who lack catalyst for the launch, significant must include projections of what the education and skills required expansion or modernization of a they will contribute to economic to qualify for most of the good growth industry cluster; and/or 2) growth in terms of job creation, jobs available in the 21st century contribute to the resurgence of an investment, business revenue economy. Priority for support will economically distressed commu- generation, community benefits, therefore go to projects that pro- nity and/or improve the quality of cluster development or other in- vide opportunities for training and life or expand opportunities for the dices that can be monitored and skills development and create im- city’s lower-income populations. measured. proved opportunities for commu- • Feasibility: Priority projects for • Leveraging: Projects that seek nities and individuals in conditions competitive funding must have public funds must demonstrate of economic distress. committed financing, a clear time the extent to which a state invest- • Transformative role: Projects frame for implementation, and a ment will leverage private and that receive priority in this plan

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 27 other public contributions, both Yard Development Corporation’s directly to the project and indirect- PROJECTS current plan to adapt Buildings 128, ly through the project’s multiplier PROPOSED FOR 28, and 123 as a Green Manufactur- effects in the city and state. CAPITAL FUNDING/ ing Center — a 2011 REDC priority • Job creation: Only projects that project — will preserve the history of directly or indirectly create and/ ESD GRANTS the yard as an economic and indus- or retain jobs receive priority, with trial hub. As master tenant, Macro Sea special consideration for the qual- Connect NYC Broadband will transform 48,502 square feet of ity of jobs as measured by wage this space and another 30,000 square levels and benefits, permanence, Program feet of newly constructed mezzanine space into a high-tech design and and/or access to longer-term ca- Total project cost: $13,000,000 reer advancement opportunities. prototyping center that will enhance This project would address digital the BNYDC’s initiative to become a na- • Innovation: New York City has a deserts in Industrial Business Zones in tional model for sustainable industrial number of assets that position it the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island and parks while creating approximately for competitive advantage in the Queens by building out fiber optic 410 jobs. innovation economy. Projects that networks, with potential to serve 260 strengthen and build upon these Partners: New York City Council, EB5 buildings over a two-year period. It is innovation assets (research uni- Visa - NYC Regional Center, Goldman consistent with the Connect NY pro- versities, industry pioneers, early- Sachs gram announced by Governor Cuomo stage investors, entrepreneurial on August 21 and will apply for fund- Jobs projected: 150 construction jobs; networks) will receive priority. ing under that initiative. 30 existing jobs; 410 new permanent jobs In addition to considering these crite- Partners: NYC Economic Development ria, the council chose to give special Corporation, Cablevision, Time Warner Implementation timeline: The con- consideration to proposals that incor- and other internet service providers. struction drawings for New Lab will porated the following components: be completed by the end of 2012, and Jobs projected: 78 construction jobs; construction is expected to com- • Interregional cooperation: In ad- 270 permanent jobs dition to emphasizing multi-region mence in the spring of 2013. Comple- economic impact, the council is Implementation timeline: Utility Inter- tion of the New Lab construction seeking proposals that contribute connection Application: 8/1/2012 project will take approximately 14 months. toward building industry clusters This project advances the council’s across multiple regions of New strategy of supporting the develop- This project will advance the regional York State. ment of high-tech industry clusters council strategies of generating • Partnerships between business that include the most economically new high-tech manufacturing jobs and institutions of higher educa- distressed areas of the five boroughs. through partnerships between busi- tion: The council is prioritizing Investments in critical infrastructure ness and universities, and contribut- business-higher education part- made through Connect NYC will ing to development of innovation nerships that would capitalize on empower more of New York’s busi- industry clusters that will allow the the state’s higher education assets nesses to compete and win in the 21st city to continue to diversify and grow in research, workforce develop- century information economy its economy. ment, education and training in ways that directly contribute to New Lab New York City Wetlands creating jobs, developing new businesses and hiring local resi- Total project cost: $23,178,447 Mitigation Bank dents. Macro Sea, Inc. plans to convert two Total project cost: $10,000,000 • Strong private sector investment wings of a former shipbuilding factory This project will establish a mitigation & engagement: Projects designat- at the Brooklyn Navy Yard into New bank to facilitate waterfront develop- ed as “priority” by the council must Lab, a facility that will house educa- ment and restoration of 10 acres of have substantive partnerships with tional institutions, design firms, and targeted wetlands in New York harbor. businesses and/or private sector entrepreneurs to collaborate on inno- The program will provide seed financ- employers. vative prototyping and programmable ing to fund a restoration project hardware ventures. The Brooklyn Navy

28 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT in one of three potential mitiga- and efficiently, and thereby contribute This project will advance council goals tion bank pilot sites: 1) Sunset Cove to both the economic development in the following ways: Park (Jamaica Bay), 2) Saw Mill Creek and sustainability objectives of the • It will help relieve economic dis- (Staten Island) and 3) Ferry Point Park council strategic plan. Redevelopment tress by accelerating the cleanup (Bronx). Costs would include design, of underutilized waterfront assets in needed to create 60 “shovel-ready” demolition, remediation, construction, all five boroughs will facilitate job cre- properties for development in and restoration. Public projects might ation in areas where it is needed most, low-income communities in all five include new ferry landings, water- while also preserving and protecting boroughs front esplanades and open space, New York’s vital natural resources. upgrades to sewer infrastructure, and • It will provide an immediate fi- rehabilitated roads and bridges. Pri- REDC Brownfield Cleanup nancial and societal return on the vate projects in the pipeline include: state’s investment, as measured development of a 170,000-square-foot and Development Grants by the generation of new tax rev- industrial warehouse facility on West- Total project cost: $1,000,000,000 enues, and creation of new jobs chester Creek (Bronx); transport of and affordable housing units bulk materials by barge rather than by New York City is seeking funding to increased truck traffic on local roads, provide direct grants to fund cleanup In addition, it will further leverage by a recycling scrap business on New- activities on approximately 60 brown- state investments with federal, city town Creek (Queens & Brooklyn); and field projects in low-income and and private funds in order to acceler- expansion of ship maintenance and underserved communities through- ate cleanup and redevelopment of repair operations by a shipyard (Staten out all five boroughs of New York distressed properties with a history of Island’s North Shore). The program will City. The City Office of Environmental chronic vacancy in low-income com- leverage an estimated $576 million in Remediation will provide oversight munities. This will allow the state to infrastructure investment at 60 project of development; review and approval use its own resources to focus on the sites, including 18 private waterfront of investigation reports; develop- cleanup of other types of brownfield projects and 42 public projects. ment, review and approval of cleanup sites, such as those designated by the plans; and inspection of each of the 60 Superfund program. This new grant Partners: NYC Department of Small development projects. These grants, program will also promote the goals Business Services; NYC Economic to be called REDC Brownfield Cleanup of the New York Departments of State Development Corporation and Development Grants, will be and Environmental Conservation by awarded in the amount of $25,000 per supporting cleanup and development Jobs projected: 120 construction jobs; project and will reimburse developers in communities served by the state 3,500 permanent jobs over five to for eligible cleanup costs on projects Brownfield Opportunity Area program seven years from private and public that lead to redevelopment and the and in reducing public exposure to development creation of permanent new jobs for toxins. Implementation timeline: over 1.2 million square feet of com- mercial and retail space and over Brooklyn Navy Yard • January 2013–January 2014: De- 1,500 new units of housing, including sign, engineering and permitting 1,000 affordable housing units. Steiner Studios Media • 2014–2016: Construction begins Campus Phase III upon receipt of regulatory approv- Partners: Private sector developers, Total project cost: $110,250,000 als and will include excavation of United States Environmental Protec- historic fills, site grading and plant- tion Agency The project includes the construction ing native wetland species. Jobs projected: 3,250 permanent new of nearly 100,000 square feet of new • Construction of the pilot site will jobs; 7,205 construction jobs soundstages to meet the critical de- be completed in mid-2015, with mand in New York for space in which Implementation timeline: The dura- 2017–2019 targeted for the re- to shoot television shows and com- tion of this project is two years based mainder of the pipeline projects. mercials, and the first New York City on the current and projected rates of outdoor streetscape backlot. These The mitigation bank will enable the brownfield development. Construc- soundstages and backlot will not city to more effectively achieve major tion generally takes up to 18 months only fuel further growth of content reclamation objectives, allow new after cleanup grants are awarded; creation in New York, but support development to proceed more quickly therefore, the total project timeline is increased tourism in the area and approximately four years. significantly ease disruptions in city

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 29 neighborhoods that are heavily used stages; construction of parking out the site’s infrastructure, including for film and television shoots. The structure. water, sewers and electricity. project also includes site preparation • 2015 – Infrastructure improve- Steiner will have a long-term lease and preconstruction activities that will ments; parking structure; construc- with BNYDC for the 50-acre Media ultimately enable over 460,000 square tion of pedestrian passage from Campus that includes base rent for feet of new space to be built for aca- naval hospital annex. portions of the Campus and revenue demic partners and media companies sharing on portions with historic in renovated historic structures and The nonprofit Brooklyn Navy Yard De- buildings. new buildings. Public funding will velopment Corporation and a private provide the necessary water/sewer/ developer, Douglas C. Steiner, have If the New York City Regional Council gas/electric infrastructure loop to reached an agreement, contingent receives $5,000,000 in capital funding make site development possible. The on city, state and federal financing, to as part of this competitive process, its site has been vacant for nearly 30 convert the underutilized naval hos- priority will be to support the Brook- years and lacks any modern infrastruc- pital annex at the Brooklyn Navy Yard lyn Navy Yard Steiner Studios Media ture. Public infrastructure funding will into a hub for media, technology and Campus. In that event, the council also provide a 50 percent subsidy for film related businesses. will work proactively with the Navy a 650-space structured parking lot Yard and with state and city officials to Mr. Steiner, who owns the adjacent also critical to the development of the develop additional sources of funding Steiner Studios movie and television media campus. to support this important project. production center, would connect the Partners: Steiner Studios, Brooklyn site to his property to create a 50- If the NYC Regional Council receives College-CUNY Graduate School of acre Media Campus. The full project $25,000,000 in capital funding, it Cinema, Carnegie Mellon University, (Phases 3-5), for which Steiner would will prioritize the Brooklyn Navy Syracuse University, other SUNY col- invest nearly $347 million and take Yard Steiner Studios Media Campus leges 12 years to build, would use the nine and the New Lab project, based on historical buildings on the site and their readiness for implementation. Jobs projected: 600 full-time per- create five new structures for a total However, the council’s goal is that manent jobs; 751 construction jobs. of 328,000 square feet, housing media each of its priority projects becomes Phases 4 and 5 to follow this stage of companies and academic programs. fully-funded. investment will involve $274 million of There would also be 100,000 square additional investment (representing feet of new stages for film and TV, a more than 9 to 1 private to public PROJECTS including the first underwater stage funding ratio) and generate 1,949 full- in the country and the first backlot on PROPOSED FOR time jobs and 1,871 construction jobs. the East Coast to feature a New York EXCELSIOR TAX In total, it is estimated that the project City streetscape. will ultimately create 2,500 direct jobs, CREDITS Steiner Studios, the Navy Yard’s largest many of them well-paid unionized po- tenant, has repeatedly demonstrated Following are projects being recom- sitions; 1,500 indirect jobs from ancil- its vision and commitment to invest- mended for Excelsior Tax Credits: lary services such as carpentry and dry ing in the film, TV and other media cleaning, and 2,600 construction jobs. industries and has a track record of When completed, the 50-acre media Duggal Visual Solutions creating jobs. To date, Steiner has campus will employ some 6,000 New invested nearly $200 million in sound Brooklyn Navy Yard Yorkers. stages and ancillary entertainment Expansion Implementation timeline: and media space at the Navy Yard, This project involves the significant has created over 1,300 jobs and is • 2013 – Design engineering, geo- expansion of an established manu- currently completing construction tech, testing, survey, site prepara- facturer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. work that will create another 900 jobs. tion, stabilization of structures; Duggal Visual Solutions has been Steiner has also developed important construction of a grand stair plaza, in business for 50 years and is the partnerships with graduate schools entrance and gate largest manufacturer and supplier of that will result in the next generation print, computer imaging, wide-format • 2014 – Infrastructure improve- of film and entertainment entrepre- graphics, and display services in the ments; construction of sound- neurs. The next phase of the creation United States. The company seeks of a 50-acre Media Campus is to build to develop and equip an additional

30 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 60,000 square feet at the yard for 20 MWh/year in 2017. The project is Implementation timeline: manufacturing, with a projected projected to generate 102 full-time • October 2012 (initial purchase capital investment of $11,269,000, jobs by 2017, of which 64 will be in orders, initial job interviews and leading to the creation of 160 new manufacturing. UEP plans to employ hiring) jobs at the site in a new, state-of-the- 38 additional staff in sales/marketing, art advanced manufacturing facil- operations, software development, • November 2012–October 2013 ity. The new facilities, including the engineering, and R&D. In addition, (job training of existing and new “Duggal Greenhouse,” will be housed UEP will create 10 temporary con- employees; continuation of equip- in formerly vacant and abandoned struction jobs. ment purchases, installations, and buildings and will transform them into facilities upgrades) Jobs projected: 10 construction jobs; a flagship for advanced technology • 2013–2016 (additional new hiring) 102 permanent jobs (64 manufactur- and processes in digital manufactur- ing and 38 administrative) ing. The company will design, engi- neer, manufacture, and supply digital Implementation timeline: Gotham Greens Farms signage and large-format displays and LLC will provide related services, including • Q4 2012: Leasing agreement Gotham Greens is the developer and printing, computer imaging, wide- • Q1 2013: Building retrofit operator of the city’s and the country’s format graphics, and display services • Q1 2013: Lab equipment procure- first and only operational commercial- through its facilities at the project ment scale urban rooftop greenhouse, site. Significant R&D will go into new • Q4 2012: Pilot line design located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The product development, all with an greenhouse, built in 2011, measures emphasis on sustainability. • Q1 2013 – Q2 2013: Equipment procurement 15,000 square feet, employs 16 full- Partners: Brooklyn Navy Yard Develop- time employees and annually produc- • Q3 2013: Equipment installation ment Corporation es over 120 tons of high-quality fresh • Q3 2013: Pilot line testing produce for the local retail market. Jobs projected: 64 existing jobs re- • Q4 2013: Manufacturing starts Gotham Greens is planning an expan- tained; 160 new jobs created sion of its current business operations • 2015: Second shift added Implementation timeline: Septem- by building a 55,000-square-foot • 2016: Line expansion ber 2012 through August 2013 for high-tech, rooftop hydroponic facility completion of construction, renova- on the roof of an existing four-story tion, equipping and build-out of two Wonton Food manufacturing building located in additional buildings at the site (Build- Manufacturing Jamaica, Queens. Gotham Greens will ings 268 and 10). annually produce over 500 tons of Expansion fresh, nutritious, pesticide-free pro- Electric Energy Storage Wonton Food Inc., the largest manu- duce for local Queens residents and New Yorkers across the five boroughs Research facturer of Chinese noodles, wrappers, and fortune cookies in the United and beyond. Urban Electric Power (UEP) proposes States, seeks to undertake a substan- Partner: NYBDC – SBA to build an Energy Storage Devices tial expansion of its manufacturing Manufacturing Facility in Harlem at capacity and workforce at its three Jobs projected: 16 existing jobs 461 West 126th Street. The Energy locations in New York: Brooklyn, Long retained; 40 permanent jobs and 50 Storage Devices Facility will initially Island City, Queens, and Plainview, construction jobs created produce battery systems based on Long Island. The company proposes the Nickel-Zinc flow-assisted battery to create 94 new full-time permanent technology developed at the CUNY employees, to invest in $4.975 million Energy Institute, which is headquar- ($3,520,000 in New York City) in new tered nearby at The City College of commercial kitchen equipment and New York. The manufacturing facility related plant upgrades, and to train will be completed by the third quarter both existing and new workers. of 2013 and produce batteries in quantities of 5 MWh/year in 2013 and Jobs projected: 369 existing jobs retained; 94 new jobs created

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 31 by approximately 92,000 square feet, allowing the company to revive and transform an abandoned building into a fully functioning manufacturing facility with the opportunity and com- mitment to hire unemployed individu- als in the area. Jobs projected: 25 construction jobs; 110 existing jobs retained; 26 new jobs created Implementation timeline: The estimated timeline for the project is approximately 4 months beginning September 2012 and ending December 2012. The following is estimated: • designs and permitting approxi- mately 1 month; • demolition approximately 3 weeks; Implementation timeline: began in June 2012. The estimated • construction approximately 2.5 completion date of the construction is months. • Planning/design ongoing through December 2012; estimated start date November 2012 for new jobs is January 2013. • Financing, design and permitting completion: December 2012 M-Fried Store Fixtures OTHER PRIORITY • Construction start: January 2013 & Sturdy Store Displays, • Construction completion: July Inc. PROJECTS 2013 The NYC REDC also wants to indicate M-Fried Store Fixtures & Sturdy Store its support for additional projects Displays, Inc. manufactures and sells submitted for funding through the Just Bagels Baking LLC showcases, display cases, and related CFA process. Although the 2012 REDC components to customers through- Based in the Bronx, Just Bagels Manu- allocation cannot accomodate these out the United States and globally. facturing, Inc., is a privately owned projects, all are promising candidates The company also provides related baking company that makes bagels for state capital funding, Excelsior tax design and planning services for its in a traditional manner that most credits, or other state funding streams. manufactured products, which are large-scale producers avoid due to All would contribute to local eco- highly customized according to the the cost. The bagels contain no oils, nomic development and are therefore client’s needs. M-Fried Store Fixtures fat, cholesterol, or preservatives, and considered important by the council. are certified as a kosher product by & Sturdy Store Displays is purchasing the Orthodox Union. The company a vacant, under-utilized former Waste seeks to expand its commercial bak- Management, Inc. building located in Bronx ery operations to include fresh and a distressed industrial area, and plans to completely renovate the building Bay Plaza Retail Center frozen bagels and further expand the Expansion product line. The project is located in into an energy-efficient, state-of-the- Hunts Point which houses the largest art building to serve as its headquar- Prestige Properties will be building a food distribution center in the USA. ters, as well as the manufacturing and 780,000 square foot enclosed mall at distribution hub for its products. With its Bay Plaza Mall location — a $303 Jobs projected: 112 existing jobs the rehabilitation of this building, million investment that will bring retained; 53 new jobs created M-Fried Store Fixtures & Sturdy Store more than 2,000 construction jobs Displays, Inc. will expand its footprint Implementation timeline: The project and 1,700 permanent jobs. The indoor

32 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT mall will be the first of its kind built in ogy, ultrasound and CT and primary from the city and the Partnership for NYC in almost 40 years, including the and specialty medical care physician’s New York City Fund. It will accommo- first Macy’s to open in the Bronx. Criti- practices. It is projected to result in date large-scale genomic sequencing cal to the project is the completion of the creation of 663 net new perma- and support services, bioinformat- a long-planned improvement to the nent jobs. ics and data interpretation, research access ramp coming off of I-95. The labs and lab support, hotel offices ramp in question (near the intersec- Brooklyn for visiting researchers, and training tion with the Hutchinson River Park- and general office space. Importantly, way) was supposed to be constructed Greenpoint Manufacturing the Genome Center will help New by the state years ago when the first Design Center 1102 Atlantic York’s scientific community be at the phase of the mall was constructed Avenue Industrial Center forefront of the next phase of drug — but it never happened. The cost of discovery and commercialization, the ramp improvements is estimated GMDC, a nonprofit economic develop- contributing directly to the expansion to be $3.5 million. Without this ramp ment organization, will redevelop an of the growing life sciences industry improvement, the success of the obsolete manufacturing building at cluster in New York State. project is threatened because of the 1102 Atlantic Avenue (Crown Heights) significant anticipated traffic backup into a food production facility for Victoria Theater that will both discourage patrons and small and mid-sized businesses fo- The Victoria Theater Redevelopment create traffic congestion that con- cused on specialty foods and bever- Project is a key to the completion tributes to delay, economic loss, and ages. of the renaissance on 125th Street air pollution. The State DOT and the in Central Harlem. The project Thruway Authority are the obvious Manhattan involves the redevelopment of the sources of funding for this project, but former Loews Victoria Theater (now both claim they have no resources for Franklin D. Roosevelt Four state-owned) with a 360,000 gross this purpose. Failure to complete this Freedoms Park square foot mixed-use development. improvement jeopardizes the $300 The final phase of construction on The project includes a 26-story million private investment by the de- the Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt building (290 feet excluding rooftop veloper as well as the investments by Island is projected to be completed mechanicals) with 230 units of market Macy’s and other commercial tenants. in fall 2012. It is the first memorial to rate and affordable housing, a hotel Montefiore Hutch Metro Franklin Delano Roosevelt within New with 210 rooms, 27,000 square feet Ambulatory Center York City, and will be a major new of commercial space for retail uses, destination for residents and tourists. and 25,000 square feet of space for This project seeks funding to help pay The project includes repurposing the cultural uses. An African-American-led for tenant improvements and equip- historic shell of a former hospital into development team won the state RFP ment for a new medical facility that a visitors’ center as well as improve- to build the project, which could be will be an anchor tenant in the Hutch ments required to accommodate ferry constructed and operational by 2014. Metro Center, a retail and office com- service at the site. The park adjoins plex that is under development in the the future Technion-Cornell campus Randalls Island Hell Gate Bronx. This tenancy is critical to the and will be an important amenity to Pathway Phase III success of the Metro Center, a project support that project, as well as the The “Hell Gate Pathway” will provide that is a catalyst for transformation completion of the redevelopment of dedicated north-south bicycle and of the Bronx economy. The core and Roosevelt Island. pedestrian travel under the scenic shell of the new Ambulatory Center arches of the Hell Gate Bridge trestle is being constructed by a private New York Genome Center and direct non-vehicular access to developer at a cost of $86 million and The New York Genome Center (NYGC) and between the Park’s new and will be leased to Montefiore Medical is creating one of the world’s most increasingly popular recreational Center for a minimum of 15 years. The ambitious genomic research facilities, facilities and scenic waterfront. facility will provide 262,700 square building out 168,000 square feet of Randall’s Island Park is becoming feet of Class A ambulatory clinical space at 101 Avenue of the Americas increasingly key to improved quality space, including a cutting-edge surgi- in Manhattan. The project has been of life in adjacent neighborhoods and cal venue with 12 operating rooms largely funded by universities and especially East Harlem and the South and four procedure rooms, high end philanthropists, as well as investments Bronx, and is serving as an economic imaging services with MRI technol-

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 33 engine for local revitalization and project are a nonprofit group that has would issue an RFP to redevelop the tourism through increased access successfully organized hundreds of site that supports mixed-use, transit- to and use of the Park’s $20 million tech entrepreneurs who live in the oriented development. Sportime tennis center (and potential surrounding community, and Plaxall, expansion), the golf center, and local, a major real estate owner and long- Staten Island regional, national and international time manufacturer in the area. This events at the Park’s Icahn Stadium and represents a transformational project Grain Transload Facility Harlem River Event Site, which attract for an area that has the potential to as many as 30,000 daily attendees, or generate thousands of jobs and meet This project involves construction of 90,000 over a long summer weekend. the need for additional space for tech a $6 million grain transload facility entrepreneurs. at Arlington Rail Yard in Richmond Queens County, Staten Island to transfer grain Stark Site from freight rail to intermodal con- Anable Basin Tech Incubator tainers and accommodate increased This 60,138 square foot site has been market demand for containerized This project would develop a 45,000 identified as a pivotal re-development grain exports. The facility could gener- square foot technology incubator site for the Station Area section of ate an additional 3,000 annual railcars facility on an underutilized indus- downtown Jamaica, located opposite of freight for the city-owned Staten trial site along the Long Island City the 2005 AirTrain terminal building. Island Railroad, 20 direct jobs from waterfront, immediately opposite The blocks surrounding the Jamaica operations and 25 direct jobs from the new Technion-Cornell campus on Station/AirTrain complex area were construction. The project would fund Roosevelt Island. The facility would identified for future high-density, the construction of track, support provide workspace and related facili- transit-oriented growth as part of the structures and necessary equipment. ties for tech companies, seeding the 2007 Jamaica rezoning effort. This The city would partner with a private redevelopment of derelict properties project would facilitate the acquisi- firm to operate and market the facility. in the surrounding area into part of tion by the city of a 60,000 square foot the region’s newest digital media and privately owned vacant site in Jamaica high tech hub. The sponsors of the across from the Air Train. NYCEDC

34 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT • TechShop Brooklyn with NYU Poly Queens OTHER NOTABLE Acre (TechShop Brooklyn LLC) • Q A Queens About Mobile PROJECTS • TruTone Metal Products Inc. Phone App (Queens Chamber of equipment upgrade In addition, in accordance with the Commerce) requirements of the statewide CFA • WNYC Transmitter Building • Queensway (The Trust for Public project endorsement standards, fol- Renovation (NYC Department of Land) lowing is a list of projects given a 15 as Parks and Recreation) part of the NYC REDC scoring process. Projects are listed by borough (with Manhattan New York State two projects submitted for consid- (statewide projects) eration statewide); project sponsors, • American Museum of Natural His- where different, are in parentheses. tory roof, window and skylight • American electric service stations replacement project (New York Petroleum Getty) Bronx • Cornell Medical Technology • KnowledgeNY.org (The Innovation Center (Weill Cornell Commission on Independent • Job Retention at NYC’s Meat Medical College) Colleges and Universities) Market (Energywiz Inc.) • CornellNYC Tech NZE Academic • NCM-USA Bronx (NCM-USA Bronx Building A (Cornell University) LLC) • Dance Art New York Studios • The New York Botanical Garden Revitalization Phase II (Joyce (New York Botanical Garden Green Theater Foundation Inc.) Zone) • Henry Street Historic Preservation • Oak Point Fresh Food Campus (Oak Project (Henry Street Settlement) Point Property LLC) • Implementing a Genomic Medi- • One Great Theater Two Great cine Strategy to Reduce Overall Stages (Pregones Theater) Disease Burden in Underserved • Trades Training for Unemployed Populations (Mount Sinai School of Workers (Center for Employment Medicine) Opportunities) • Main Building Roof Replacement (The Hispanic Society of America) Brooklyn • Park Avenue Armory Expansion of Unconventional Commissions • Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway (Seventh Regiment Armory Sunset Park Upland Connectors Conservancy Inc.) (NYC Department of Transporta- tion) • South Street Seaport Museum

NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT 35 Conclusion

Working in close collaboration with forum in which state and city govern- cooperation, business-university state agencies during 2012, the NYC ment, business, labor and academic partnerships, and achievement of the REDC has seen significant progress on stakeholders can work together to “critical mass” of activity required to achieving its strategic objectives, in promote economic growth and relief put New York City and State at the terms of planning, resource allocation of economic distress. The Strategic forefront of key sectors of the inno- and the accelerated implementa- Planning process has offered an im- vation economy. As a result, council tion of job-generating projects. The portant forum in which these stake- members believe that New York City council has established an operating holders can reconcile their differences is well positioned to overcome the protocol and organizational frame- and develop a coherent set of shared challenges of high unemployment work that ensures that local communi- priorities. It has focused public and and high levels of poverty through ties are informed and engaged in the private resources far more effectively growth and policies of inclusion that economic development planning and than in the past. Finally, it has estab- are central to the REDC vision. funding process. It has also provided a lished the basis for inter-regional

36 NEW YORK CITY REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 2012 PROGRESS REPORT PHOTO CREDITS: Staten Island Ferry — ©iStockphoto.com/PEDRE Aerial view of Manhattan, New York City — ©iStockphoto.com/contour99 Unisphere in Corona Park — ©iStockphoto.com/TexPhoto Brooklyn Navy Yards — ©iStockphoto.com/ivar Shopping at the Farmer’s Market — ©iStockphoto.com/leezsnow Brooklyn Bridge cyclist— ©iStockphoto.com/peterspiro Manhattan Pier Skyline — ©iStockphoto.com/sx70 New York Botanical Garden — xmasbaby/Bigstock.com Public Park Solar Panel — Goldenwheels/Bigstock.com Courthouse — CUNY Times Square Pedestrian Mall — CUNY Staten Island Ferry entrance — City of New York Howland Hook container — City of New York NYC Terminal Produce Market — City of New York Brooklyn brownstones — Brook Jackson, Partnership for New York City Brooklyn Flea — Annabelle Ladao, Partnership for New York City

GRAPHICS: Rich Sheinaus, CUNY

DESIGN: Annabelle Ladao, Partnership for New York City

SPONSORSHIP ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Support for the production and publication of this strategic plan has been provided by The City University of New York and the Partnership for New York City