Harvey W. Schultz, Former City Commissioner & Real Estate Development Official

Harvey W. Schultz, 66, passed away suddenly after a short illness on September 6.
Schultz, a lifelong resident of New York City, had an illustrious government career, serving three mayors in various planning and environmental capacities. Since 2000 he was a principal in Strategic Urban Solutions, Inc. and Senior Vice President of the family-owned Muss Development LLC, builders of commercial, residential and retail centers throughout New York City.
“Harvey was an extremely devoted and brilliant city official,” said former Borough President Claire Shulman. “I will always remember him for what he did for Queens.”
Schultz held a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College, and was a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
In 1986 Mayor Edward I. Koch appointed Schultz the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). For four years, he administered a 5,200-person agency responsible for environmental impact review, hazardous and emergency response, infrastructure improvement projects, wastewater treatment and sewage sludge disposal, drinking water quality and supply, as well as financing and development issues.
Schultz’ senior-level government experience began in 1970 as Director of the Economic Development Section of the New York City Department of City Planning. There he helped create sub centers of business development and was a principal author of the city’s Industrial Redevelopment Program. Taking his work very seriously, Schultz walked and assessed every industrial block in rhe city.
In 1974 he became the Director of the Brooklyn Office of City Planning. In 1976 and 1977 Schultz was Director of Land Use Planning & Environmental Management for the New York City Planning Department, involved in all environmental and utility matters.
For eight years, from 1977 through 1985, Schultz was Executive Assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden. During this time, he supervised all matters that came before the Board of Estimate and reviewed and negotiated all site selection, ULURP and CEQR applications city wide. He became an expert on environmental review under State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and City Environmental Quality Review Act (CEQR) requirements.
Following his government service, Schultz’ private sector experience includes several years as President of Oceanview Associates, laying the regulatory groundwork for construction of 7,500 units of housing on the Queens peninsula within the Arverne Urban Renewal Area.
In 1991 he established a multi disciplined consulting firm, specializing in planning, environmental management, and economic and real estate development. It was purchased in 1992 by AMREP Corporation, a publicly traded company. In March of 2000, Schultz and a partner formed an independent consulting business, Strategic Urban Solutions, Inc.
As a Principal of Strategic Urban Solutions, Schultz provided direction in environmental and energy management, real estate support, economic development, and land use planning.
As Vice President of Muss Development LLC, Schultz was active throughout New York in conceptualizing and obtaining regulatory approvals for new projects. He participated in numerous business organizations, civic non-profits, and environmental causes. He served on the Board and as Chair of the Community Service Society and on the Boards of the New York League of Conservation Voters, the Environmental Business Association of New York State, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and Associated Builders and Owners, Inc.
He was also a member of the Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corporation, the group headed by Shulman.
“Harvey had an enormous reservoir of knowledge,” she said. “His death is a big loss, as he was an extremely valuable member. He will be sorely missed.”
Schultz is survived by his wife, Nanette Rainone and sister Sharon Price; his three sons, Jason, Matthew and Daniel; stepson Bruno Blumenthal; two grandsons, Jack and Daniel; and a granddaughter who will be born in November.
A memorial service was held at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York.
Contributions in Schultz’s name may be made to Community Service Society, 105 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010.