Forget the Nimby ”“ not in my backyard ”“ attitude. Westchester has a “banana” mentality ”“ build absolutely nothing anywhere near anybody, said Howard Greenberg, president of Howard Properties Ltd. in White Plains.
The real estate broker”™s observation was met with chuckles from the audience that listened in as executives from the region discussed the regulatory roadblocks they face and the strategies they employ for doing business in a changed economy.
“The Art of the Deal,” hosted by the Westchester County Business Journal Dec. 6 in White Plains, attracted some 70 attendees to hear from a dynamic panel that comprised:
- Arthur Collins, co-founding principal of Collins Enterprises L.L.C. in Stamford, Conn.;
- Joseph Cotter, founder and president of National Resources L.L.C. in Greenwich, Conn.;
- Vincent Cozzolino, founder of The Solar Consortium and CEO of Fala Technologies in Kingston;
- John D. Goodkind, managing principal of Newmark Knight Frank in Greenwich;
- Jon L. Halpern, managing partner and CEO of Halpern Real Estate Ventures in New York City; and
- James W. Taylor Jr., founder of Taylor Biomass Energy L.L.C. in Montgomery.
With deep roots in the region ”“ as real estate developers, service providers and investors ”“ and a knack for making deals happen, the panelists discussed the pros and cons of doing business in the region and offered suggestions for growth.
Conclusions? Connecticut is a much friendlier and easier place to do business than New York state. The entire region needs to consider ways to creatively reuse its current stock of housing for all ages and lifestyles. Manufacturing should be retained and supported as an economic engine and waterfronts should be revived without losing those businesses near the water. And SEQRA in New York? Get rid of it.
What really can effect all this change?
“Change the political culture of New York state,” Alfred DelBello, an attorney and chairman of the Westchester County Association in White Plains, remarked after the roundtable discussion.
“We”™ve been talking about this for 30 years. It”™s time to get it done.”
