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INFORMATION
<br /> ISSN 0012-5822 Perspectives
<br /> Downtown
<br /> Idea Exchange The politics of downtown redevelopment
<br /> a publication of the
<br /> Downtown Research&Development Center by N. David Milder don't pay enough attention to creat-
<br /> 28 West 25th Street—8th Floor
<br /> New York,NY 10010-2705 ing a compelling brief for their pro
<br /> Phone:(212)228-0246•Fax:(212)228-0376 Redevelopment projects,by their ject. Try to figure out ways to make
<br /> Email:info @DowntownDevelopment.com very nature, usually motivate some the project's benefits immediate and
<br /> Website:www.DowntownDevelopment.com residents and businesspeople to tangible to residents. Describe, for
<br /> Editor oppose them, and often there are example, how the project will pro-
<br /> Paul Felt, ext. 119 community groups ready to organize, tect against property tax increases,
<br /> pfelt @DowntownDevelopment.com mobilize, and fmance this opposi- add jobs, create affordable housing
<br /> Customer Service Lion.The key factor to keep in mind for local residents, or bring in retail-
<br /> Mary Pagliaroli, ext. 101 is not whether such conflicts might ers that the community wants.
<br /> mpagliaroli@DowntownDevelopment.com
<br /> occur,but how they 3. Campaign
<br /> —
<br /> Reprints and Permissions are handled. So,if
<br /> Mary Dalessandro,ext. 103 The most effective mayors for the project.
<br /> mdalessandro@DowntownDevelo p ment.com your downtown is This campaign
<br /> tend to be strong public
<br /> serious about rede- should begin well '
<br /> Publisher advocates of revitalization,
<br /> velopment,your b
<br /> Margaret DeWitt, ext.106 before any p ivotal
<br /> msdewitt @DowntownDevelopment.com leadership should be and guardians of the
<br /> make-or-break vote.
<br /> Downtown Idea Exchange®is published twice monthly ready and able to redevelopment decision- In addition to well-
<br /> by the Downtown Research&Development Center.The ' navigate such making process. placed stories in the
<br /> Center provides news,information and analysis for suc- Situations.
<br /> cessful downtown revitalization through its newsletters, print and electronic
<br /> books,reports,and website. Here are some suggestions for
<br /> media,it should also involve presen-
<br /> handling a number of the political
<br /> �1)Alexander Communications Group tations to key community groups and
<br /> CELEBRATING 50 YEARS•• 1954-2004 problems associated with down decision makers.
<br /> town redevelopment projects:
<br /> �m 2004 Alexander Communications Group,Inc.All 4. Clarify the mayor's role.
<br /> rights reserved.No part of this publication may be 1.Have an areawide plan.
<br /> reproduced,stored in a retrieval system,or transmit- Some mayors want to be the city's
<br /> red in any form or any means,electronic,mechani- Some years ago, on assignment to
<br /> yf by y redevelopment guru or deal maker.
<br /> cal,photocopying or otherwise,without the prior writ- Regional Plan Association, I inter-
<br /> ten permission of Alexander Communications Group. Almost invariably, this creates politi-
<br /> viewed most of the big developers
<br /> Subscription Order Form: in New York City to find out what cal turbulence. Citizen support for
<br /> would get them more involved in the mayor's redevelopment project(s)
<br /> Please start/renew my one-year becomes inseparable from their polit-
<br /> subscription to Downtown Idea the outer-borough downtowns. Their
<br /> Exchange for$197.* overwhelming answer was for the ical support for the mayor.The most
<br /> city to prepare areawide plans that effective mayors I have worked with
<br /> NAME would designate development sites tended to be strong public advocates
<br /> TITLE with their allowed uses and densi- of revitalization and the guardians
<br /> ties, and to establish environmental, of the redevelopment decision-mak-
<br /> FIRM/ORGANIZATION
<br /> parking, and traffic parameters for ing process, assuring its staffing,
<br /> ADDRESS the surrounding areas. For the financial resources, and smooth and
<br /> CITY STATE ZIP developers, comprehensive areawide effective functioning, while demand-
<br /> plans mean that most of the poten- ing real accomplishments from its
<br /> PHONE
<br /> tial conflicts that a project might participants.
<br /> FAX provoke are resolved before the 5.Don't forget city council.In
<br /> EMAIL N5 developers become involved—and many municipalities, the city council
<br /> MAIL: 28 West 25th Street–8tH Floor this promises huge reductions in will be making critical decisions.
<br /> clr3 New York,NY 10010 their risk and front-end costs. Council members will have to incur
<br /> Qm FAX: (212)228-0376 2.Prepare a compelling case. the political costs that supporting the
<br /> El) erl PHONE: (800)232-4317 Often, downtown leaders are so project might entail. They are more
<br /> @p EMAIL: info @DowntownDevelopment.com
<br /> 'North America,$197.Elsewhere,$227 involved in attracting a developer likely to withstand criticism if they
<br /> (includes airmail deliivery), and getting the deal done that they are brought into the decision-making
<br /> 2 Downtown Idea Exchange • www.DowntownDevelopment.com May 15, 2004
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