Long Time Roosevelt Island Resident Carl Weisbrod Named Co Chair Of Mayor de Blasio's Fair Recovery Task Force To Build Stronger, Safer & Fairer NYC Economy Post Coronavirus Pandemic

We don’t just need a recovery, we need a transformation. I am launching the Fair Recovery Task Force, to help us build a more equitable city. I've assembled a group of remarkable New Yorkers to come together and create a preliminary recovery road map for our city by June 1st.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 26, 2020

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio named Roosevelt Island resident Carl Weisbrod as Co-Chair of the Fair Recovery Task Force.



According to the Mayor's Office:

FAIR RECOVERY TASKFORCE

Civic leaders from diverse backgrounds will help the City formulate a broader post-crisis recovery effort that builds a stronger, safer, and fairer economy and society. In the beginning of June, the task force will put forward a recovery road map that will inform the City’s recovery efforts. They will continue to support the City over the course of the recovery and adjust the roadmap to meet new challenges.
Members of the Fair Recovery Task Force include:

• Patrick Gaspard, President, Open Society Foundation
• Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
• Richard Ravitch, Former Lieutenant Governor of New York State
• Carl Weisbrod, Senior Advisor, HR&A Advisors
• Henry Garrido, Executive Director, DC37
• Maria Torres Springer, Vice President for US Programs, Ford Foundation
• Liz Neumark, CEO, Great Performances
• Fred Wilson, Partner, Union Square Ventures

According to Mr Weisbrod's HRA bio:

Read more »

Long Time Roosevelt Island Resident Carl Weisbrod Nominated To MTA Board By Mayor de Blasio Today - There's A RIOC Board Seat Open Too, Are You Interested Mr. Weisbrod?

Long time Roosevelt Island resident and former Chairman of the NYC Planning Commission Carl Weisbrod was nominated to the MTA Board of Directors today by Mayor Bill de Blasio.

According to the Twitterverse:

News! Mayor de Blasio nominates @CarlWeisbrod to sit on MTA board https://t.co/kqIBZ1cvz3 pic.twitter.com/mpHnziMpeH

— HR&A Advisors, Inc. (@hraadvisors) March 20, 2017

Statement from de Blasio on his new MTA board pick, Carl Weisbrod, fmr chair of NYC Planning Commission & Dir. of the Dept. of City Planning pic.twitter.com/hxbq0Bu2bH

— Vincent Barone (@vinbarone) March 20, 2017

More on the nomination of Mr. Weisbrod to the MTA Board, which requires appointment by Governor Cuomo and approval by the NY State Senate, from AM New York and New York Daily News.

You know, there's an empty Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors seat available. Are you interested Mr. Weisbrod?

Mr Weisbrod has not previously been involved in Roosevelt Island issues to my knowledge other than asking about opening of wine shop.

NYC Planning Commission Chairman Carl Weisbrod May Be A Little Bit Happier Today - Roosevelt Island Wine Shop Closer To Opening, Announces Sales Positions Available For New Store

Site of New Roosevelt Island Liquor Store And Former Home of the Grog Wine Shop

Reported January 29, 2014:

...During the January 14 meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee (audio web cast here), Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder David Kramer of Hudson Related provided an update on the status of Main Street retail.

Mr. Kramer began the update by reporting that he recently met Roosevelt Island resident and Mayor DeBlasio's Transition Chairman Carl Weisbrod. Mr. Weisbrod's first words to Mr. Kramer were:

When are we getting our wine store?

Mr. Kramer expects the Wine Shop to open soon. The Wine Shop is owned by the same owner as the Wholesome Factory organic grocer on Main Street. The Wine Shop lease was signed over two years ago, they are current on their rent, have their liquor license and are in process of getting building permit....

(Mr. Weisbrod is now Chair of the NYC Planning Commission.)

It looks like the new Roosevelt Island Wine Shop is just a little bit closer to finally opening. An advertisement was placed August 18 on Craigslist for sales positions at the Roosevelt Island Wine Store. According to Craigslist:

Manhattan style, Island appeal. New wine and spirits store on Roosevelt Island is now hiring for sales positions.

Must have understanding of wines, regions, and producers, plus spirits categories and brands. Retail experience necessary; customer focus is key. This is a full-time position with responsibility for all aspects of a store. For high-performing, savvy individuals with passion.

Store location is convenient; minutes from F-train station on Roosevelt Island...

Click here for more information and to apply for the Roosevelt Island Wine store job.

During July 30 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting (full audio web cast of meeting here), Main Street Master Leaseholder Hudson Related's David Kramer said again that the wine store will open soon.



The Craigslist Sales Position ad is a good sign that the Roosevelt Island Wine Store will open soon.

More on Mr. Kramer's July 30 Roosevelt Island Main Street retail update here.

Long Time Roosevelt Island Resident Carl Weisbrod Named Chair Of NYC Planning Commission Today By Mayor DeBlasio - Can Mr. Weisbrod Help Get Our Wine Shop Opened Sooner?

Reported previously on long time Roosevelt Island resident Carl Weisbrod being named Mayor DeBlasio's Transition Team Co-Chair as well as Mr. Weisbrod's asking Hudson Related Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder David Kramer when Roosevelt Island's Wine store would finally open.

More news on Mr. Weisbrod. Today, Mayor Deblasio named Roosevelt Island resident Carl Weisbrod as Chair of the NYC Planning Commission.

Image Mayor DeBlasio (left) and Carl Weisbrod (right) From NYC Mayor's Office

According to this Press Release from Mayor DeBlasio's office:

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced Carl Weisbrod will serve as Chair of the City Planning Commission, pledging a new approach to development that aggressively confronts the city’s inequality crisis. From expanding affordable housing to growing local industry that provides good-paying jobs, Mayor de Blasio charged Weisbrod with using all the tools at the city’s disposal to lift up working New Yorkers, keep neighborhoods affordable, and create stronger, more resilient communities.

Weisbrod brings more than 35 years of public service to the City Planning Commission. From his time in the Lindsay administration as a young anti-poverty lawyer, to his service as president of New York State’s 42nd Street Development Project, to his tenure as the founding president of the nation’s largest Business Improvement District in Lower Manhattan, Weisbrod has a track-record of revitalizing neighborhoods across the city and creating opportunity for New Yorkers in the process.

In announcing Weisbrod, Mayor de Blasio emphasized the administration would increase the city’s capacity for bold, long-term and comprehensive planning. And to achieve that goal, the Mayor pledged to dedicate additional resources to the Department of City Planning that will expedite the evaluation and certification of land-use applications.

“Carl is a quintessential New Yorker. He brings a real passion for our neighborhoods and our diversity across the five boroughs. And he also understands exactly how the city can shape development to stoke the most growth, the strongest affordability, and the best jobs for New Yorkers. He is ready to take these challenges head-on,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“I love this city. I’ve spent my entire career revitalizing its neighborhoods and making sure New Yorkers were the ones who benefited from good growth in their communities. We have such an enormous opportunity to put people to work in good-paying jobs, build affordable homes, and create stronger, more resilient communities—but that demands an approach that doesn’t let a single tool sit idle. We are committed to striking tough bargains and making farsighted decisions that protect New Yorkers and help us build a stronger city,” said Chair of the City Planning Commission Carl Weisbrod.

About Carl Weisbrod

Carl Weisbrod has more than 35 years of experience serving the people of New York. He has left his mark on some of the city’s most dynamic and fastest-growing neighborhoods.

Weisbrod’s service in government extends back to the Lindsay administration, which he joined as a young anti-poverty lawyer at the Department of Relocation. He was appointed by Mayor Koch to spearhead the city’s efforts to transform Times Square, and he also served as the Executive Director of the New York City Department of City Planning, Executive Director of the National Service Program, and Chairman of the New York City Loft Board. As president of New York State’s 42nd Street Development Project, Weisbrod led the effort to revitalize Times Square, transforming it into a global hub for tourism and entertainment.

Under Mayor Dinkins, Weisbrod was the Founding President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, where he negotiated the United States Tennis Association’s 99-year lease in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park—regarded as one of the most beneficial municipal sports deals in the nation—as well as the transaction that brought Harlem its first major supermarket, the Pathmark on 125th Street.

Mayor Bloomberg appointed him as a Director of the Trust for Governors Island and the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, where he helped lead the post-9/11 recovery of downtown neighborhoods. That tenure overlapped with his 10 years as the founding president of the Alliance for Downtown New York, the largest business improvement district in the nation, setting in motion the evolution of the financial district from an area dominated by daytime office workers into a thriving 24-7 neighborhood.

Weisbrod also served as the head of the real estate division of Trinity Church. He is a former Trustee of the Ford Foundation and the Urban Land Institute. He has been a partner at the firm HR&A since 2011, where he managed the successful rezoning of the Hudson Square area in Manhattan into a dynamic hub for creative industries and new housing, including up to 700 affordable units.

Weisbrod grew up in Parkchester and Fresh Meadows, and he is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University’s School of Law. He currently lives on Roosevelt Island with his wife, Jody Adams, a retired family court judge.

Congratulations to Mr. Weisbrod on being named to this very important position for the future of NYC.

Mayor DeBlasio's Transition Chief Carl Weisbrod and Other Roosevelt Island Residents Want To Know When We Are Getting Our Wine Store - Hudson Related's David Kramer Gives Status Update On Main Street Retail Progress

Site of New Roosevelt Island Liquor Store And Former Home of the Grog Wine Shop

Westviewer asks

Any word on retail, especially the liquor store? Work had begun on the site some time ago, then stopped while the walkway was being redone. Now, nothing. We remain the only neighborhood in NYC without a wine/ liquor store.

During the January 14 meeting of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee (audio web cast here), Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder David Kramer of Hudson Related provided an update on the status of Main Street retail.

Mr. Kramer began the update by reporting that he recently met Roosevelt Island resident and Mayor DeBlasio's Transition Chairman Carl Weisbrod. Mr. Weisbrod's first words to Mr. Kramer were:

When are we getting our wine store?

Mr. Kramer expects the Wine Shop to open soon. The Wine Shop is owned by the same owner as the Wholesome Factory organic grocer on Main Street. The Wine Shop lease was signed over two years ago, they are current on their rent, have their liquor license and are in process of getting building permit.

Mr. Kramer added:

... Hudson Related has successfully completed phase 2 of our program. Phase 1 was listening tour, strategy phase...

... Part 2 was the corridor upgrade ...  we're very pleased with how that turned out...

... Part 3  which is now we need some more retailers...

and using a football analogy:

... We're at the 50 yard line. We're not in the red zone yet but we're getting there...

Here's video of the Main Street Retail discussion with Mr. Kramer.



During January 15 meeting of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Main Street Retail Committee, Hudson Related's Arianna Sachs- Rosenburg reported:

• Trellis has received an approval for its exterior improvements from RIOC and is presently interviewing contractors for the work.
• The Hardware store continues to be under eviction process.
• New tenants are being sought for the space currently occupied by the Thrift Store. If possible, the Thrift Store may be able to stay in a much smaller space.
• The Wholesome Food Factory is performing well as are the Southtown stores. No specific mention of the Subway or Ice Cream store performances.
• Hudson Related is seeking solutions for pigeons nesting on the new lamps at the Roosevelt Landings Main Street Arcade.

Long Time Roosevelt Island Resident And NYC Real Estate Executive Carl Weisbrod To Co-Chair Mayor Elect Bill DeBlasio Transition Team

Long time Roosevelt Island resident Carl Weisbrod,

 Image of Mr. Weisbrod From HR&A Advisors

a partner at the real estate firm HR&A Advisors, was selected to Co-Chair Mayor Elect Bill DeBlasio's Transition Committee. City and State, report

The Democratic mayor-elect, who scored a resounding victory Tuesday night, announced Jennifer Jones Austin and Carl Weisbrod will be co-chairs of his transition committee....

Weisbrod also chairs the state's nonprofit Health Foundation and was Bloomberg's appointee to be director of both the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the Trust for Governors Island....

Mr. Weisbrod has an impressive biography in both the public and private sector as the Founding President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the Executive Director of the NYC Department of City Planning and New York State’s 42nd Street Development Project as well as President of Trinity Church's Real Estate Division among other positions.

Carl Weisbrod is a professional with a distinguished career in urban revitalization initiatives focused on developing New York City neighborhoods.

Carl joined HR&A as a Partner in 2011, and recently concluded, on behalf of Trinity Church, a successful rezoning of the industrial neighborhood in Manhattan known as Hudson Square into a mixed-use district focused on creative industries. This was one of the largest rezonings undertaken by a private entity in New York City history. The rezoning, enacted by the City in March 2013, provides for the sensitive introduction of residential uses, and encourages the development of cultural institutions, as part of a broader strategy to transform the neighborhood into the City’s hub for creative, 21st century businesses. Currently Carl is working on several economic revitalization projects, including: advising the Meatpacking District Improvement Association (“MPIA”) to help manage the creation, approval and establishment of a business improvement district covering the Meatpacking District and, potentially, certain adjacent precincts; creating a strategic plan to promote economic investment and growth in the City of North Adams in Massachusetts; and working with the Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum to create a planning framework for a Special Innovation/Waterfront District in the western Queens neighborhood bordering the East River....

According to Roosevelt Island residents who know him, Mr Weisbrod has not involved himself in local Roosevelt Island issues though he is associated with two Roosevelt Island institutions as a  Board Member of the FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy and a graduate of Cornell University.

Here's a 2011 interview with Mr. Weisbrod.



Can't hurt to have somebody familiar with Roosevelt Island so close to the new Mayor.