LMDC Creates Advisory Councils

NEW YORK CITY-Lower Manhattan Development Corp. chairman John Whitehead yesterday revealed the formation of several advisory councils charged with providing input to the city-state organization that is overseeing the rebuilding of Downtown. Two of the groups will directly represent the real estate industry: the Residents Advisory Council and the Restaurants, Retailers and Small Business Advisory Council.

The Residents Advisory Council will provide a forum for residents and community board members to address quality of life issues including transportation, road closures, cleanup efforts and other infrastructure concerns with an eye toward retaining and attracting businesses to Lower Manhattan. In addition to LMDC board members Madelyn Wils and Paul A. Crotty, the council will include Tom Alghanayan, Rockrose Development Corp.; Fanny Aragon, Lower East Side Resident; Liz Berger, Community Board 1 Member; Charlie Boillod, Battery Park City Resident; Lynne P. Brown, Vice President University Relations and Acting Vice-President for Student Affairs, New York University; Gary Fagan, Community Board 1 Member and founder of the Seaport Coalition; Sudhir Jain, President, Lower Manhattan Tenants Coalition; Richard Kennedy, Resident and Senior Director, Cushman & Wakefield; Michael Ketrin, Seaport Resident; Virginia Ky, Chinese American Planning Council; Don Lee, Community Board Member, Community Board 2; Tammy Meltzer, Battery Park City Resident; George Olsen, Tribeca resident and President, PS 234 PTA; Nancy Owens, Tribeca, Community Board Member, Community Board 1; Linda Roche, Southbridge Housing Complex; Rebecca Skinner, Financial District Resident; and Kristine Sui, Financial District Resident.

The Restaurants, Retailers and Small Business Advisory council will focus on issues and concerns of Downtown’s small-business community. LMDC board members on the council are Roland W. Betts and Robert M. Harding. Other members include Mark Alesse, State Director, National Federation of Small Business, New York Chapter; Albert Capsouto, Capsouto Freres, Tribeca; David Chen, Executive Director, Chinese American Planning Council (Chinatown); Richard L. Cohn, Proprietor, Southwest New York; Benjamin Fox, President, Newmark New Spectrum Retail; Rachelle Friedman, President, J & R Music and Computer World; Raymond Gindi, Chief Operating Officer, Century 21; Paul Harnett, Vice President and General Manager, South Street Seaport Marketplace; Paul Lee, Vice-President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, small business owner (Chinatown); Julie Menin, President, Wall Street Rising, small business owner; (financial district); Joel Moser, Attorney, Moser & Moser; Drew Nieporent, Owner of Tribeca Grill and several other restaurants; Harry Poulipakis, Proprietor, Harry’s at Hanover Square; Ted Potrikus, Senior Vice-President, Retail Council of New York State; and Edward Youkilis, Owner, Edward’s Restaurant, Tribeca.