NEW YORK CITY-The Hudson Square Connection Business Improvement District has elected a new chairman of the board. Jason Pizer, president, Trinity Real Estate, replaces New York Public Radio president and CEO Laura Walker, who had been chair since the BID was formed in 2009. Walker will continue to serve as a member of the board and the executive committee.
"Jason has played an instrumental role in determining the BID's priorities, nurturing the area's transformation and devising a strategy to create what will soon become New York City's most sustainable neighborhood,” says Hudson Square Connection president Ellen Baer. “We are thrilled to have his guidance as we begin to implement our district-wide streetscape improvement plan.”
Adds Pizer, “I am honored to follow Laura who has played an invaluable role in reimagining the neighborhood. I look forward to building on our momentum and moving forward with our creative initiatives to attract more dynamic businesses, quality retailers, and visitors—as well as new residents--to Hudson Square.”
A neighborhood-wide rezoning approved by the New York City Council last March allows new residential development in the area for the first time and supports additional retail space, new cultural facilities, schools, and added open space. Also last year, the Hudson Square Connection gained approval of a $27 million plan geared toward furthering the area's position as New York City's most sustainable neighborhood and improving the pedestrian environment through the creation of open space.
Under this plan, public spaces including sidewalks, parks and other outdoor venues will be refashioned to capture the creative energies contained within the district's buildings. Funds are being provided by the New York City Economic Development Corp. and the New York City Council with matching funds from the BID itself.
In addition, the Hudson Square Connection is working with the Department of Parks and Recreation and private property owners to plant 300 trees. Each new tree in the district will have expanded tree pits, tree guards and permeable pavement over structural soil – the first time a New York City neighborhood has made these tree upgrades on such a wide scale. The first 30 trees were planted at the end of 2013, with an additional 150 trees scheduled to be in the ground over the next three years.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
