Eric-

"Greg O'Connell" is the one my nephew Jon was mentioning. Such "redevelopment entrepreneurs" are generally one of 3 types.

There's the one who acquires the land cheap, persuades others to invest in a showcase development, and then makes a bundle selling out his interest, moving on to his next market. The project then usually implodes, further devastating the neighborhood and bankrupting the investors.

The other extreme has a similar end result, but the original entrepreneur is more naive. His redevelopment is undercapitalized, premature for the market, and he ends up bankrupt along with the other investors.

Then there is that rare individual that makes it all work, for himself, the other investors, members of the old neighborhood, and the adjacent neighborhoods. I hope that O'Connell is one of these rare individuals. But what a train to ride!

If you scout out The Hook music hall, give my regards to Jon and his wife Julie. They're pretty nice folks. They also run the Last Exit bar on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble