Page 230 - Demo

New PDC Chief SaysCity Must CapitalizeOn Brooklyn's BoomBY ROB TAYIjORJames Stuckey, the newly-appointed president of the City%u2019s Public Development Corporation (PDC), can barely see the Downtown Brooklyn skyline through the maze ofbuildings from his Wall Street area office.But, in the month that he has been officiallyrunning the public business promotion agency, he says that the lack of a view has nothindered his outlook on the borough%u2019sdevelopment.%u201cI have a very positive outlook on Downtown Brooklyn and am now looking forways we can capitalize on what it has to offer,%u201d he said during a June 13 interview.%u201cWe have a number of projects like thehotel at Renaissance Plaza and ATURA(Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Area)that are at committee levels, both of whichhave had very positive responses.%u201dFor Brooklyn, the hotel project was probably the first major test of Stuckey%u2019sskills. Just prior to the Board of Estimatehearing, June 17, Stuckey had to work outNew PD C President Jim Stuckey. (Brooklyn,inc/Taylor Photo)details in an agreement between the Cityand Muss Development Corporation thatwas voted on that evening. The reputationof the company was in doubt due to theowner%u2019s involvement in another officebuilding project fostered by the late DonaldManes. Stuckey worked out an escapeclause for the City if the developer, JoshuaMuss, is indicted by the Queens District Attorney. The project was approved.Stuckey maintains, however, that hisfamiliarity with PDC is what has assistedthe pace he is trying to continue. After joining the development entity in 1980, Stuckeyquickly earned a reputation for the work hedid on the South Street Seaport redevelopment. By 1985, his responsibilities includedthe Supervision of Several commercial development projects as well as the development of back-office space in theboroughs. These activities led to thesuccessful development of the new MorganStanley project in Brooklyn.It is this project along with Security Industry Automation Corporation%u2019s expectedmove to Downtown Brooklyn%u2019s Metrotechthat Stuckley says is the infrastructure formore projects. %u201cSIAC was clearly a majorcoup for Brooklyn,%u201d he said. %u201cTheir commitment along with Brooklyn Union Gasand Polytechnic is a clear vote of confidence for Metrotech.%u201dWhile PDC has aggressively sought largescale projects that have broght new jobs inthe service and electronic sectors of theeconomy, it has been criticized for not spending more energies on traditional heaviermanufacturing enterprises that rebuild theCity%u2019s industrial base. With unemploymentparticularly high in Brooklyn%u2019s black communities, the development agency has beenaccused of not bringing jobs to these neighborhoods.Stuckey says that he hs heard some of theBrooklyn. wwmw o oioo mmI mom #onecomplaints, but insists that PDC%u2019s record isbetter than the publicity demonstrates. %u201cWeare doing a lot in East New York and one ofthe priorities we%u2019re working on is traditionalmanufacturing sites. We%u2019re working withP fizer iu reueveiup iiieir site,%u201d he saysreferring to the pharmaceutical manufacturing company.%u201cLast year, PDC closed about 90 projectsfor small entrepreneurs. The difference isthat these projects don%u2019t get the notorietythat the larger projects like Morgan Stanleyget,%u201d he adds.For the time being, Stuckey says that hewill also be working on more developmentof back-office space in Brooklyn. %u201cIn all ourmarketing brochures, we point to thestrengths Brooklyn has. While the Bronxhas a good road network and a reservoir oflow-skilled, labor for the manufacturingsector, Brooklyn, especially the downtownarea, has many similarities to lowerManhattan and is a good alternative,%u201d hesays.%u201cBrooklyn also has good transportation,the sixth largest retail center, adequatehousing facilities and a large labor pool. Inmany instances, the employment possibilities are better because you can cut down onabsenteeism and then save money bylocating in the area many of youremployees come from.%u201dHOUSEHOLD-COMMERCIALSTORAGE-PACKINGDOT. 1636CALL KENNY]LOCAL-INTERSTATEC O M M E R C IA L M O VESN A T IO N A L A C C O U N TSA SPEC IA LTYStorage and Packing622-7777AGENTS FORICC-MC-41098K EN N Y VAN LIN ES133 Seventh AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11215Don%u2019t let managing your propertiesruin your summer.o m p a n ^Today%u2019s m ost com fortable solutionto property m anagem entat Prices You Can AffordSpecializing in small to moderate homes(718) 643-6700When performance countsCLARKIF (718)6261400TSCISSORSOF NEW YORK, INC.CONTACT: BOB JORDAN( 5 ^ 0BOOMSNEW and USEDFORKLIFTS OAS, ELiC., PROPANESCISSOR LIFTS-HEIGHTS TO 4 0 FTRENTALS-Dally, W eekly, MonthlyFORKLIFTS45-01 2 0 th A ve. A storia, NY 11105 PUSHAROUNDSPark SlopeO f f ic e F u r n it u r e & S u p p l ie sS ecretarial C h airs O ffic e D esks S en try S afes E x ecu tiv e C h airs F ile C a b in ets O ffic e S uppliesVisit Our Beautiful Furniture ShowroomWe Carry A Full Line of Office Supplies jFREE DELIVERY W ITHIN THE PARK SLOPE AREA405 Finii Avenue (Bei. 7