Vin Cipolla

Vin Cipolla, who took the reins at the Municipal Art Society as Executive Director early this year, brings a varied background in nonprofit and for-profit settings to his new endeavor. Prior to joining MAS, he was President and CEO of the National Park Foundation in Washington D.C. Bringing a national perspective and entrepreneurial experience to the venerable 116-year-old institution, Cipolla intends to maintain MAS’s relevancy and authority into the 21st century.

An eclectic resume. Cipolla grew up in the industrial town of Leominster, Massachusetts, a place he describes as “always in transition.” Educated at Clark University, Cipolla came to New York in his 20s, where he claims he found his home, and became “obsessed” with the City. (read more…)

Robin Stout

I n 2005, Robin Stout was appointed President of the Moynihan Station Development Corporation, the Empire State Development Corporation’s subsidiary charged with transforming the James A. Farley Post Office Building into a new train hall named for the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Stout, a Columbia Law School graduate, spent nine years at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP before joining the ESDC as Senior Counsel to the 42nd Street Development Project in 1990. Transforming 42nd Street had Stout touring deteriorating theaters, relocating Times Square businesses, clearing condemned sites, negotiating leaseholds, and preparing for the next stage of condemnations. In addition to the 42nd Street Project, Stout also worked on the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Expansion Project and the development of One Bryant Park. Stout has enjoyed his time at ESDC, explaining that each development site presented problems with its own solutions.

The need for expansion. Before discussing the current plans for the Moynihan Station Project, Stout provided a little history of the Penn Station site. With the help of a map depicting the layout of the rail tracks and the street grid of Manhattan’s west side, Stout explained that in 1910, the tracks were laid out directly under the original Penn Station site between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, with a portion of the platforms extending west beyond Eighth Avenue. To generate more income, the Pennsylvania Railroad encouraged the Postal Service to build across the street so it could use the platforms extending across Eighth Avenue for its “mail by rail” service. The Postal Service agreed, building the Farley Post Office, and installing vertical mail chutes to transfer mail to the tracks waiting below. (read more…)

Ross Moskowitz

Ross Moskowitz’s legal career, focused on land use and real estate development, has provided him with the chance to work on both sides of the public/private partnerships used to promote the City’s economic development. This experience has served him well in leading the Real Estate Group at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

When asked how he became interested in land use and development, Moskowitz explained that after graduating from New York Law School he worked for a solo practitioner specializing in land use law who “taught him the ropes.” The experience was invaluable, but it was a “one person shop,” and Moskowitz soon found himself looking for more. In 1987, he decided to branch out and accepted a position at Stroock. Over the next few years, Moskowitz honed his land use skills helping developers and institutional investors navigate through the City’s land use process. In 1992, Moskowitz was introduced to the world of public/private real estate transactions while assisting the United States Tennis Association build its National Tennis Center in Queens. (read more…)

Leonard Wasserman

Early in his adult life, Leonard Wasserman thought he would pursue a career in urban planning. His perspective changed, however, when he realized he was “better with words than colored pencils.” After college, Wasserman spent a little over a year at the Housing and Development Administration (the agency that later split into Buildings and HPD), but decided to take a leave from the ranks of the employed to attend Brooklyn Law School to focus on the legal aspects of urban planning and development. Upon graduation, he served as a law clerk in the Southern District and spent time in private practice. Wasserman then moved on to the Law Department, and became schooled in the art of public/private real estate transactions. In 1985 he was named Chief of the Economic Development Division. Since then,Wasserman has continued to support City Hall in its pursuit of its economic development goals.

It’s about jobs. When asked to describe the role of his Division, Wasserman first discussed economic development in general. He pulled out a copy of the state’s Not-for-Profit Corporation Law covering local development corporations, and explained that these corporations, principally the New York City Economic Development Corporation, are the arms through which the City often carries out its economic revitalization plans. Wasserman summed up the lengthy statutory section by simply stating “it’s about jobs.” Specifically, it’s about how to retain, attract, and grow jobs. In his view the importance of having a job cannot be overstated. Wasserman links jobs to the overall stability of a person and their community; without a job a person’s world “disintegrates,” and this can weaken the overall fabric of the community. (read more…)

Robert B. Tierney

Robert B. Tierney comes from a background of law and government rather than architecture, but his experience and training serve him well in his current position as Chair of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. His love for learning about the City’s fascinating history and built environment, which he describes as a hobby and passion pursued for over 40 years, has allowed him to approach designation from a well-versed position, while his expertise in navigating through City government has helped him accumulate the resources required to carry out Landmarks’ mission. From 2004 to 2008, Landmarks’ budget expanded from $3.1 to $4.3 million and staff increased from 50 to 68. Tierney credited Mayor Bloomberg for the increased funding and for his appreciation of the role that Landmarks plays in preserving architecturally, historically, and culturally significant sites in the City.

Beyond Manhattan. Tierney’s tenure has been marked by what has been called “a five-borough strategy.” In years past, some have criticized Landmarks for primarily targeting sites within Manhattan for designation. From his first day on the job, one of Tierney’s top priorities has been to identify districts and buildings outside of Manhattan that are worthy of designation. Beginning in 2003, Tierney has overseen the designation of nine outer borough historic districts and 66 outer borough individual landmarks. Of the 1,158 buildings designated in Fiscal Year 2007, 96 percent were outside of Manhattan. Landmarks’ staff is currently reviewing the results of a 22,000 building survey recently undertaken by the research department. The survey evaluated more than 16,000 buildings located outside of Manhattan for designation. (read more…)