Here is an excerpt from Noticing New York.Testimony to the Empire State Development Corporation:
This comment is being offered in the name of Noticing
New York, an independent entity dedicated to the proposition that
developing New York and appreciating New York go hand in hand.
I
offer this testimony as an attorney experienced in real estate, as an
urban planner and as former senior government official who worked for
more than a quarter of a century in the areas of public finance and
development for the state finance authorities.
1. There is good development and there is bad development.
2.
Good development begets and whets the appetite for more development.
Bad development creates enemies and stagnation. Good development moves
relatively fast, providing jobs in the here and now rather than in the
hereafter (after many of those now looking for jobs will have moved on
to other things). For instance, if the alternative UNITY plan had been
adopted there would be a lot of people working right now and a lot of
people housed and about to be housed.
3. Good development finds a quicker more ready acceptance by the community, works with its values and doesn’t needlessly destroy its landmarks and worthwhile buildings.