Convention Center Development Corporation

The Real Estate was wrong about one thing: predicting that Mike Petralia, the president of the Convention Center Development Corporation would be leaving at the end of March. It turns out, he will stay through June--but in an undefined capacity. Starting April 16, Barbara Lampen, assistant director of the Freedom Tower project at the Port Authority, will take over his job.

Is that a sign of the caliber of mess that the convention center expansion is becoming?

The announcement was made last Thursday by the state economic development agency.

Full statement after jump.  read more »

- Matthew Schuerman Correction: An earlier post mischaracterized the way in which the announcement was distributed.

A very optimistic day today all around. In addition to the Yankees, more "ayes" were heard over on Third Avenue, where both the Convention Center Development Corporation and Empire State Development Corporation approved the latest plan for Javits, the one with the hotel across 11th Avenue, a six-story staging area to the north and the sale of the southern parcel to raise more money to finish the deal. This all despite Charles Bagli's 11th hour missive on how trade show planners--the guys who rent the space there--think the vertical orientation will make conventions more expensive to produce. -Matthew Schuerman

State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky poked holes in the plan for the Javits Convention Center expansion Thursday morning—and afternoon. A lot of them were awfully small holes, but Brodsky—who is running for state attorney general, remember--did get the staff of the Convention Center Development Corporation to admit that they might have to do a supplemental environmental impact statement because the plan has changed since the one for Hudson Yards was completed. No one would specify how long that would take but figure another two to six months.  read more »