QUESTION
What are the challenges with working with agencies like the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) on library renovation projects?
1:42:36
·
99 sec
The New York Public Library president explains that working with agencies like EDC can help get renovation projects done faster and cheaper, but it is not their primary role or what they are funded for.
- The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is supposed to handle design for projects like library renovations
- But working with DDC often costs twice as much and takes twice as long
- So the library looks for other partners like EDC to help with renovation projects
- For example, EDC partnered with the library on a project to renovate a branch and add affordable housing units
- This project was completed in half the time and cost compared to working with DDC
- However, EDC's capacity to partner on library projects is limited since it is not their core mission
Tony Marx
1:42:36
Lastly, EDC Look, DDC is the commission that is supposed to do design.
Gale A. Brewer
1:42:41
And I complain about them all the time.
Tony Marx
1:42:43
But but it costs twice as much, takes twice as long, We look for other partners.
1:42:49
Iris Weinshell, our COO, and our and our amazing team are working hard at that.
1:42:54
They are the best.
1:42:56
Those other agencies like EDC are happy to try to help, but that's not what they were designed for or funded for.
1:43:04
So they're Their capacity is limited.
1:43:06
I'll give you just one example.
1:43:08
And this goes back importantly to early partnerships with Maria Torres Springer and a previous role and other great colleagues.
1:43:17
When we it was time to renovate inward and working with Yudonis, etcetera, and so many of you We said, let's let's do this not just to get a better, bigger library as well as other community resources.
1:43:31
We also partnered with a private donor and HPD to get a 175 units of a 100% affordable housing.
1:43:39
Like Brooklyn using air for our the first time in our history to meet the city's needs because we can EDC was our partner on that.
1:43:49
It meant we got it done in half the time and half the cost.
1:43:52
But there, we love work with them.
1:43:54
We'll work with anyone.
Gale A. Brewer
1:43:56
Okay.
Tony Marx
1:43:56
But that's not what they were designed or funded for their capacity to be able to do those partnerships with us.
1:44:03
Is not what it we need to solve and fix the RingCentral core.
Gale A. Brewer
1:44:07
We need to fix the DDC problem.
1:44:10
Yep.
1:44:11
I got it.
1:44:11
I've been complaining into the microphone for years, but I'll keep it up.
