[IMGCAP(2)]Keynote speaker Avi Schick, chairman of the LowerManhattan Development Corp. launched the event by discussing keyexamples of value in the Downtown area. He pointed to the sixoffice towers coming online in the near future as a key advantage.He also noted that many investments being made in the area, such astransportation; parks and open space; cultural institutions;hotels; schools; retail; and residential, are key factors inDowntown's future. "We will continue to invest Downtown," he said,"and we look forward to the future of lower Manhattan."
[IMGCAP(3)]Schick's optimistic view continued on through thenext session titled: "Town Hall Meeting: State of the DowntownMarket," where leading industry experts and key Downtown playerswere also bullish about Downtown's future. Lois Weiss, columnistfor the New York Post, moderated the panel, which included:Larry Silverstein, president and CEO of Silverstein PropertiesInc.; Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of NewYork; David Arena, president of Grubb & Ellis New York Inc.;Robert Freedman, president & CEO of GVA Williams; DennisFriedrich, president & COO of Brookfield Properties; and AlanGerson, City Council Member of the 1st District of the New YorkCity Council. Gerson began the discussion assuring the audiencethat as far as gubernatorial presence goes, "we have a team who iscommitted to Downtown." Silverstein agreed that Gov. Paterson is"determined to advance Downtown."
Spinola said that "everybody is pretty optimistic about howthings are going here." He also pointed to "phenomenal" vacancyrates as a sign of confidence.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com and GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
