By Juan Soto
Carlisle Towery, the longtime president of the nonprofit Greater Jamaica Development Corp., is leaving his post in 2015.
Towery, president of the local organization since 1971, decided it was time to retire and open the door for the next generation.
The president of GJDC saw both the collapse of Jamaica in the 1970s and 80s and its rebirth. He was named president of the nonprofit at a time when the movie industry was releasing titles such as “Dirty Harry,” “The French Connection,” and “A Clockwork Orange.” John Lindsey was the mayor of New York City and Nelson Rockefeller was the governor of New York state.
Among his work as the head of the organization was his consistent push to bring the York College campus to downtown Jamaica, as well to secure the construction of the AirTrain station. Greater Jamaica was also a key player in bringing several residential developments to the area, including a 26-story-building project across from the 240-room Hilton Garden Inn.
