NEW YORK CITY—Robert Douglass, the Alliance for Downtown New York's founding chairman, has died at the age of 85. In addition to his time at the organization's helm from 1995-2015, Douglass also was a lifetime director and former chair of the Downtown Lower Manhattan Association. Through every role he held, the Alliance states, Douglass was a staunch advocate of Lower Manhattan businesses and residents.

In his work with the D-LMA and as counsel and secretary to NY Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Douglass played a formative role in shaping downtown New York. His fingerprints were on everything from Battery Park City to the original World Trade Center.

For decades, the Alliance notes, Douglass worked to make Lower Manhattan an appealing global address for businesses, residents and visitors. As an advocate for the conversion of Downtown's vacant office space to residential properties and the establishment of a business improvement district, he helped to reshape the neighborhood. Following the devastating attacks on 9/11, he became a leading voice on the efforts to rally and rebuild Lower Manhattan.

“He was a giant and a gentleman, and it is nearly impossible to overstate his influence on this neighborhood,” says Downtown Alliance president Jessica Lappin. “For more than 30 years, he championed Lower Manhattan's growth and played a significant part in its recovery after the 9/11 attacks. As an advocate for businesses and residents, he has helped articulate a compelling vision for a Lower Manhattan for the 21st Century. Lower Manhattan simply would not be what it is today without him.”

After receiving the Liberty Award at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's annual gala in 2012, Douglass described Lower Manhattan's recovery after the 9/11 attacks and added: “I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world to have had the opportunity to play a part in this incredible transformation.”

In 2005, Douglass was appointed by then-NY Governor George Pataki to the board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. Pataki described Douglass as “a tireless advocate for Lower Manhattan for decades.”

Further, Pataki called Douglass a “dynamic, committed leader who brings the vision, experience and expertise to ensure that we realize the Master Site Plan for the World Trade Center and ensure that Lower Manhattan remains the financial capital of the world for generations to come.”

NEW YORK CITY—Robert Douglass, the Alliance for Downtown New York's founding chairman, has died at the age of 85. In addition to his time at the organization's helm from 1995-2015, Douglass also was a lifetime director and former chair of the Downtown Lower Manhattan Association. Through every role he held, the Alliance states, Douglass was a staunch advocate of Lower Manhattan businesses and residents.

In his work with the D-LMA and as counsel and secretary to NY Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller during the late 1960s and early 1970s, Douglass played a formative role in shaping downtown New York. His fingerprints were on everything from Battery Park City to the original World Trade Center.

For decades, the Alliance notes, Douglass worked to make Lower Manhattan an appealing global address for businesses, residents and visitors. As an advocate for the conversion of Downtown's vacant office space to residential properties and the establishment of a business improvement district, he helped to reshape the neighborhood. Following the devastating attacks on 9/11, he became a leading voice on the efforts to rally and rebuild Lower Manhattan.

“He was a giant and a gentleman, and it is nearly impossible to overstate his influence on this neighborhood,” says Downtown Alliance president Jessica Lappin. “For more than 30 years, he championed Lower Manhattan's growth and played a significant part in its recovery after the 9/11 attacks. As an advocate for businesses and residents, he has helped articulate a compelling vision for a Lower Manhattan for the 21st Century. Lower Manhattan simply would not be what it is today without him.”

After receiving the Liberty Award at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's annual gala in 2012, Douglass described Lower Manhattan's recovery after the 9/11 attacks and added: “I consider myself the luckiest guy in the world to have had the opportunity to play a part in this incredible transformation.”

In 2005, Douglass was appointed by then-NY Governor George Pataki to the board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. Pataki described Douglass as “a tireless advocate for Lower Manhattan for decades.”

Further, Pataki called Douglass a “dynamic, committed leader who brings the vision, experience and expertise to ensure that we realize the Master Site Plan for the World Trade Center and ensure that Lower Manhattan remains the financial capital of the world for generations to come.”