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PUSH BACK ON CLIMATE CHANGE & ADDRESS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

MISSION

Create a big, bold, positive move that will capture the civic imagination, build optimism, and position Lower Manhattan as a model city for the world.

OBJECTIVES

Accelerate Deployment of carbon net zero innovation globally.
Establish NYC as global epicenter of carbon net zero innovation.
Address Vacant Spaces by attracting innovating companies.
Enhance Quality of Life with a cleaner environment, less truck traffic.
Foster Job Creation with diverse employment opportunities.

HARNESS THE POWER OF A CARBON NET ZERO ECONOMIC ENGINE.

The climate crisis will have profound economic ramifications for NYC. Infrastructure costs, health challenges and amplified health costs, reduced property values, escalating insurance premiums, surging migration are only a handful of challenges.

But a carbon net zero economic focus offers extraordinary opportunities.

Transforming FiDi into a carbon net zero district has the potential to be a massive economic driver.   Carbon net zero's projected global sales in 2030 are projectedd by McKinsey to be many times greater than NYC's current economy.

Number Comparison

Innovation is occuring across nearly every industry. With respect to urban carbon net zero innovation, NYC is an ideal market.

Number Comparison Many are align closely with NYC.
Job Creation:  In addition to jobs created directly from the marketing of carbon net zero technologies and practices, a carbon net zero economic driver would foster jobs in a variety of sectors, including renewable energy, sustainable construction, indoor agriculture and green infrastructure.
Attracting Talent: By positioning NYC as a hub for carbon net zero innovation, it would attract the best and brightest not only in marketing, but als in fields such as clean energy, environmental engineering, and sustainable design.
Business Opportunities: Many businesses and startups focused on this space would be part of a growing eco-friendly ecosystem. This could lead to the establishment of new companies, increased investment, and opportunities for partnerships and collaboration.
Real Estate Value: Properties in the designated area may experience an increase in value as demand for sustainable office spaces and housing grows. This can benefit property owners and generate additional tax revenue for the city.
Tourism and Branding: Being recognized as the global leader in carbon net zero innovation can attract eco-conscious tourists and international visitors interested in sustainable urban development. This would contribute to NYC's branding and reputation.
Exporting Expertise: As cities become  hub for carbon net zero innovation, they would be able to export its knowledge and expertise to other cities across the globe seeking solutions to address climate change. .

The opportunity for NYC, and Invent City's objective, is to attract the valuable marketing front end of every industry involved in carbon net zero innovation.   Establishing NYC as the marketing front end would encourage other parts of industrial value chains to locate across all boroughs, the state and the region as well.

Value Chain

make carbon net zero a powerful economic engine for nyc.

NYC is a superlative. It has what is needed to become a captial. Furthermore, it has a number of key dates in the next few years including 2025 being the 400th year since the Dutch confiscated land used by the Lenape, and founded where the Financial District (FiDi) is today what is now known as New York City, and 2026 the 250th year since the founding of the USA (also largely in FiDi).

2025
Largest Population in USA or Canada: Nearly 9 million residents, encircled by a prosperous 20 million person metro market.
World's Second Home: A multicultural hub with over 170 languages spoken, and 38% of the population being foreign-born.
Financial Capital: Home to NYSE with the world's largest and NASDAQ with the third-largest market capitalization, showcasing the critical presence of capital.
Media Capital: Headquarters for major networks and organizations like NBC, ABC, CBS, Bloomberg, Google, Meta, Twitter, New York Times, WSJ and US FT.
Tourist Destination: Boasting critical infrastructure to support 66 million annual tourists (2019) with hotels, transit, and attractions.
Large Building Portfolio: Encompasses 5 billion square feet of commercial real estate, leading the nation.
Technology Hub: In addition to Silicon Alley, is the USA’s primary overseas Internet gateway with Google's largest engineering operation outside CA.
Strong Institutions: Home to the UN, NYSERDA, Columbia/Earth Institute, Technion-Cornell, Brookhaven, NYU, SUNY, and CUNY.

transform fidi into carbon net zero innovation district.

The Financial District's (FiDi) significance is profound and multi-faceted. It also has the highest office vacancy rates in Manhattan, and an old building stock that is outated for office use and much does not lend itself to residential conversions.

2025
...
Excellent transit for people — FiDi includes 14 subway lines, 17 ferry routes to all 5 boroughs and New Jersey, 35 Citibike stations, and easy bus access to Javits and the UN.

FiDi may be the most transit accessbile neighborhood in the United States. This includes 13 subway lines, 30 MTA bus routes, 18 ferry lines, the Downtown Shuttle, and 35 Citibike stations. FiDi is also surrouned on three sides by water, offering untapped water-borne options.

...
Within NYC is FiDi where the Dutch built the first European structure on Manahatta (indigenous name) in 1625 and hoodwinked the Lenape in 1626.

FiDi is also arguably the birthplace of the United States. It is where the first blood of the American Revolutionary War was shed (Golden Hill, now Gold Street), and also home to the first US Congress, President Washington's inauguration, and signing of the Bill of Rights.

Culture Now
...
FiDi is surrounded on three sides by water, and has easy access by ferry to a number of possible overflow venues.

Planning a major urban event necessitates accommodating an unexpected number of visitors. Invent City would propose to partner with Liberty State Park, Governors Island, and the Navy Yards, as overflow venues.

...
The Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience Plan (LMCR) is inteded to safeguard Lower Manhattan from sea-level rise

Invent City would complement to the LMCR project, providing an alternative transportation route for people, packages, and waste in case subway damage becomes irreparable.

EDC on LMCR
...
FiDi is surrouned on three sides by water, the Hudson River, New York Harbor and the East River.

The Blue Highway is concept to improve resilience and reduce traffic congestion using ferries and water-based options. Invent City's proposed network of Urban Hubs could support this with land-based locations for micro-cargo.

Fast Company Article
...
FiDi has the highest office vacancy rates in all of Manhattan.

Invent City could draw the marketing front and of companies innovating in the carbon net zero economy to the areas. In addition to direct demand for office space, IC could also foster innovative reuse of the vacant space.

PFNYC (September 2023)

a carbon net zero district would bring Significant Economic Value to NYC.

In increasingly competitive times, quality of life improvements afforded by carbon net zero would translate into economic value. NYC needs to up its game to maintain and attract businesses and residents.

Improved Air Quality: Reduced vehicular traffic and clean energy sources lead to decreased emissions and enhanced public health.
Noise Reduction: Fewer cars result in lower noise pollution levels, reducing stress and improving mental well-being.
Enhanced Safety: Reduced risk of traffic accidents in pedestrian zones ensures safer navigation of streets.
Strengthened Community Interaction: Car-free zones promote social interactions and neighborhood bonding.
Promotion of Physical Activity: Walking and cycling boost overall fitness and health, reducing obesity and related diseases.
Green Spaces and Biodiversity: Incorporation of parks, gardens, and green roofs uplifts aesthetics, mental health, and provides habitats for urban wildlife.
Thermal Comfort: Sustainable architecture ensures well-insulated and energy-efficient buildings, providing consistent indoor temperatures.
Economic Boost: Pedestrianized areas see a surge in retail and dining activity, attracting locals and tourists alike.
Cultural and Recreational Activities: Streets can host cultural events, farmers' markets, and street performances, enriching the local scene.
Reduced Carbon Footprint: Significant reduction in carbon emissions contributes to global climate change efforts.
Infrastructure Longevity: Sustainable materials and designs lead to longer-lasting infrastructures.
Mental Well-being: Green spaces, reduced noise and pollution, and safer streets contribute to improved mental health.

Invent.City would drive demand for office space. This is critical for both tax revenues and also demand for ancillary businesses like restaurants and food cart.

Vacancy Vacancy rates.
Tax Rate on Office Occupancy: NYC's commercial office property tax depends on assessed value, location, and class. In 2023, the standard rate for the prevalent Class 4 commercial properties is $12.60 per $100 of assessed value. Estimating CNZ's impact, a flat 5% is assumed for added rental revenue.
Job Creation from Office Occupancy: As per JLL, the average space allotted per NYC worker was between 150-175 square feet in 2020. Factoring in shared working trends, CNZ projects 1 person for every 150 square feet.
Knock on, creation of clusters driving organic growth: IC assumes a 2.5x multiplier. A carbon net zero district would directly and indirectly reduce office vacancies by directly increasing demand for the front end of nearly all industries in the carbon net zero economy. It would also drive demand with a 2.5 multiplier knock-on impact from supporting businesses. It would foster industry clusters like NYC’s bio-tech area, enabling a critical mass which would further drive organic growth.

Increase Business Tourism Focused on Carbon Net Zero. Roughly 20% of all tourism is business tourism. Business visitors historically spend more per capita.

Improved trade and investment: Business visitors open doors for trade and investment between NYC and global partners. By networking at conferences, potential collaborations can sprout, leading to heightened trade and investment.
Enhanced visibility and reputation of NYC: As a forefront commercial and innovation hub, NYC's prominence can attract budding businesses and entrepreneurs, spurring economic growth.
Knowledge-sharing and innovation: Business visitors attending conferences and events foster knowledge exchange, ideas, and best practices. Such interactions could catalyze new carbon net zero innovations, enhancing economic growth and competitiveness.

Foster Conventional Tourism, Including for an Urban Micro World's Fair. Tourism is vital for NYC, driving small business and generating significant revenue, taxes, and job opportunities. IC projects a boost in tourism in NYC by 15% over 2019 levels (pre-Covid).

Spending: Tourist expenditure, encompassing lodging, food, transport, attractions, and souvenirs, totaled an estimated $47.4 billion in 2019 from all tourism types. CNZ would contribute an extra $8.5 billion in direct spending.
Economic Contribution: Tourism bolstered the NYC economy by $69.8 billion in 2019, benefiting various businesses such as hotels, eateries, retailers, and cultural venues.
Taxes: In 2019, tourism injected an estimated $7.3 billion in taxes into NYC, including sales tax, hotel tax, and others.
Jobs: Tourism backed approximately 403,000 jobs in NYC in 2019 (around 7% of total jobs). This includes both direct roles like those in hotels and attractions, and indirect roles in sectors supplying the tourism industry.

join a team of experienced architects, economists, and entrepreurs and help make it happen.

Note: This list is up to date as of May 1, 2023.   

Seema Thomas
Economic Development Seema Thomas has been working on community development challenges domestically and internationally for the past two decades. Princeton (MPA), Harvard (MUP), Penn (BSE Engineering).
Paul Mondesire
Economic Development Paul Mondesire leads community relations efforts for urban projects. He currently heads Policy and Community Engagement for Superpedestrian and is critical to its expansion into 50 markets. SUNY Binghamton.
Star Childs
Economic Development Star Childs founded Ginkgo, an intelligent geospatial data platform for neighborhood communities to centralize information about economic development, planning, people, and infrastructure. Yale (MEM), Cornell (BS).
Jeff Olson
Bike Share Jeff Olson co-founded Alta Bicycle Share, which launched CitiBike. He co-owns re:Charge-e, wireless charging for micromobility, and authored The Third Mode - Towards a Green Society. SUNY - Empire State College (MA), RPI (BArch).
Alibe Hamacher
Economic Development Alibe Hamacher (Innovative Global Advisement) is an expert on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, produces the YouTube channel Alibe’s Sustainable World. John Jay (MPA, BASc), LaGuardia CC (AA).
Ismael Betancourt
Economic Development Ismael Betancourt, Jr. founded IF-MC-CA-DI, a 501c3 affiliated with the UN. IF-MA-CA-DI focuses on Puerto Rico and the South Bronx. Harvard (MBA), City University (MA), Columbia (BA).
Michael King
Economic Development Michael King works with progressive cities, campuses, developers, and NGOs to advance a green mobility ethos. He explores and understands clients’ history and potential, develops forward-thinking initiatives, and works together to implement. He envisions the city of tomorrow for those living and prospering in it, not driving through it. Columbia (MArch), Washington University (BA).
Peter Meitzler
Economic Development Peter Meitzler is currently the field operations manager for Joco. Formerly, he was a co-manager for Battery Swap Operations, Battery Charging Management, at Citi Bike. He owns Manhattan Rickshaws. City University of New York (Masters, Sustainability), Michigan (BA).
Anita Godecki
Economic Development Anita Godecki is the COO, Central and Eastern Europe for SummitNuSolutions. Anita creates and promotes sustainability solutions on assignments in North America and the EU. She is responsible for customer demographics, marketing campaigns, establishing strategic alliances. Seton Hall (MA, Diplomacy and International Relations).
Steven R. Maimon
Economic Development Steven R. Maimon, President and CEO SummitNuSolutions. Previously, McDonald-Douglas Aerospace, Booz-Allen-Hamilton, USPS - Member of team that privatized it. Launched 3 Tech Transfer and Commercialization and 2 Trade Companies. Practical Innovator and Solutioneer in diverse industries. Has done business in 53 countries. MIT (MS SysMgmt), Drexel (BS ME, MS BioMed).
David Faulkner
Economic Development David Faulkner has developed and deployed innovative retail concepts on four continents and created tens of millions of dollars of value for top brands including Gap, Nordstrom, Bank of America, Capital One, and Bose. Yale (MArch), Vassar (BA).
Jim Cohen
Economic Development Jim Cohen is the CEO of iEventsmedia.com and has been creating, launching, and selling successful events and sponsorships for over 20 years. Has recruited, managed, and led global conference and exhibitions teams from Russia, Europe, and here in the US. Syracuse - The Maxwell School (BS, Public Policy and Economics).
Steven Balinsky
Economic Development Steven Balinsky is the CEO and Co-Founder at The Hub Bicycles and Co-founder and Partner at Flatiron Project Management. E-bikes are only half of the micromobility and bike delivery equation, the less glamorous half is maintenance and repair. City College (MS), Sci-Arc, Pratt (Bachelors).
Gregg Zumann
Economic Development Gregg Zumann is a leader in the commercialization of high-performance Live-electric Vehicle (LV) logistics, installations, and infrastructure. He is the founder and CEO at cyclecab services firm Revolution Rickshaws, L.L.C., and its commercial cycle truck solutions offshoot Revolution X. He has served as a sales rep for U.K. LV maker Cycles Maximus since 2005 and co-founded the New York City Pedicab Owners’ Association. Vermont, Occidental (BA).
Wendy Brawer
Economic Development Wendy Brawer Wendy Brawer has three decades of eco-design experience. She is founder of Green Map System, a locally-led global network of sustainability mapmakers, and involved in placemaking, mobility and climate projects. She has been appointed a TED Resident and Designer in Residence at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
Abby Suckle
Economic Development Abby Suckle Abby Suckle is an internationally recognized architect and fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). She founded cultureNOW and developed its museum withoutwalls web and app platform. She is Vice President of the Lower Manhattan Historical Association. Harvard (MArch), Penn (AB).
Dan Kohler
Economic Development Dan Kohler Dan Kohler is the founder of DK Branding. After a 20-year career building famous brands at top ad agencies, Dan led International marketing for Subway, repositioning the brand across 112 countries. Dan then started a branding consultancy, working with companies across industries at various stages of growth, all with strong purpose and tangible roles in society. Northwestern Kellogg School (Brand Mastery), Indiana (BS).
Tom Glendening
Economic Development Tom Glendening worked for NYC City Planning. Projects in the private sector, repurposed disused retail center (London, UK), reclaimed land confiscated by Third Reich (Leipzig, Germany), on the team that optimized the global facilities portfolio for OEM and developed the initial facilities strategy to support fuel cell vehicles, and founded Hoboken's first bike share. Launched Inventropolis. Harvard (MBA), Yale (MArch), Virginia (BS).