Doctoroff leaving city government

Less than one week after delivering the keynote address at York College’s executive leadership breakfast - his last public experience in Queens - Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Dan Doctoroff announced that he would resign his post at the end of the year, and take the position of President at Bloomberg L.P.
Doctoroff, who has held the position for the past six years - longer than anyone since the economic development department was created 41 years ago - was responsible for overseeing 40 city agencies, offices and corporations and developed 289 separate projects and initiatives including the Mayor’s PlaNYC.
“As a result of Dan’s efforts, we’ve allowed for the creation of 130 million square feet of commercial and residential space, three new sports arenas, a new subway line, 2,400 acres of parks, the regeneration of more than 60 miles of waterfront, all while displacing only 400 residents,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference on Thursday, December 6.
In Queens, Doctoroff received credit as being the architect behind a number of projects including the new stadium for the Mets, the Jamaica rezoning to spearhead the way for private, transit-oriented development, the master plan for Willets Point and thousands of housing units planned for Long Island City developments.
“I think it’s [his contributions] been extraordinary,” said former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman. “[He had] enormous energy and a terrific vision, and he will be a great loss.”
Although Bloomberg heaped many praises on Doctoroff, some critics also point to the failed bid for the 2012 Olympics as well as the failed proposal to build a new stadium for the New York Jets on the West Side of Manhattan as major disappointments on his r/sum/.
Carlisle Towery, who is the President of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, one of New York’s oldest, not-for-profit local development organizations, introduced Doctoroff at the York College breakfast and invoked the names of two renowned city planners when talking about Doctoroff.
“Dan Doctoroff’s superb leadership in planning and development in New York City has resonated widely raising favorable recollections of Jane Jacobs and Robert Moses,” Towery said.
Touting PlaNYC, Doctoroff told a standing room only crowd at York College that Jamaica would play a central role in building a model for the city’s future.
Doctoroff talked about the nearly 1 million additional people expected to inhabit the city by 2030 and challenges associated with the increased population including transportation, housing, older infrastructure and environmental issues.
“Growth is good, but only if it’s smart,” Doctoroff said.
At a local level, Doctoroff spoke about making improvements to the infrastructure in Jamaica to alleviate flooding problems that area residents and businesses have recently experienced.
“As part of the Jamaica rezoning, we made the commitment to invest hundreds of millions of dollars here and that work is already underway,” Doctoroff said.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, who has worked with Doctoroff on a number of projects, said his plans would be seen in the future of the city.
“Dan Doctoroff may be leaving the Bloomberg Administration, but his imprint is on our great city,” she said. “He has been an effective partner in government with talent, vision and ability. He has helped to set our borough and city on a course for the future.”