WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. May 10, 2006: Paul Wood, Executive Officer for the City of White Plains explores the question of what exactly the Delfino Administration did to lower the city office vacancy rate in the late 90s:
Paul Wood, White Plains Executive Officer. January, 2005. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
I don't know what qualifies Mr. Woodin as an expert to answer the vacancy rate question. I worked in the administration of the City at the time and know first-hand what initiatives were taken in order to address the vacancy rate.
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First, Mayor Delfino convened an Economic Development Task Force comprised of business leaders, landowners, and residents to address and attack what, at the time, WAS a very embarrassing statistic. Suggestions, including a more coordinated city departmental approach to reconfiguration of space and renovations was undertaken.
Mr. Woodin is wrong to say that no City incentives were provided. They were and still continue to be vital contributions to the successful renovation of older office space. The city contributed in the form of waiving sales taxes on build-out expenses, facade improvement loans, and other contributions.
In addition, the Mayor's administration immediately undertook several publicity campaigns in the form of brochures, special supplements in magazines and newspapers, produced a video and undertook a number of programs to publicize the benefits of locating a business in White Plains. These efforts proved highly successful and continue today, and have lead to several other initiatives including workforce training initiatives, local workshops, hosted by the Mayor and his administration, to promote businesses large and small. All the initiatives are offered in Spanish as well as English.
But perhaps the largest factor in the revitalization of Office Vacancy rates was the political courage on the part of the Mayor to create, in writing, a vision a plan for the revitalization of the entire downtown and City. This encouraged developers, property owners and businesses to invest in White Plains.
Paul Wood,
Executive Officer
City of White Plains.
