Brooklyn's Progress
October/November 2007

By JILL D'AMICO

Harvey Schultz, a Member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, passed away after a short illness on Sept. 6. He was 66.

Mr. Schultz was well-known throughout Brooklyn and New York City, having served as Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner in the 1980s. He most recently was a Senior Vice President at Muss Development.

He also ran Strategic Urban Solutions, Inc. with long-time associate Martha Holstein. Strategic Urban Solutions is a management consulting company formed to provide consulting services in the areas of urban planning and GIS. 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 NYC. 

Service to the City
In 1986 Mayor Edward I. Koch appointed Mr. Schultz the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the water utility and environmental management and regulatory agency for New York City. 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. 

Mr. Schultz had a longstanding involvement in Brooklyn’s ongoing revitalization.

His government experience began in 1970 as Director of the Economic Development Section of the New York City Department of City Planning. There he was a champion of business development and chief author of the city's Industrial Redevelopment Program.

In 1974 he became the Director of the Brooklyn Office of City Planning.  In 1976 and 1977 Mr. 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, Mr. Schultz was Executive Assistant to Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden. It was here that Mr. Schwartz was able to call on his experience in land-use matters by supervising site selection and overseeing ULURP and CEQR applications. He also became an expert on environmental review under State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and City Environmental Quality Review Act (CEQR) requirements.

"Harvey was a committed and sincere man who made extraordinary contributions to the growth and economic development of Brooklyn. His passing is a loss to the Chamber and the entire Brooklyn community,” said Carl Hum, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

Recent Achievements
In 1991 he established a multi disciplined consulting firm, specializing in planning, environmental management, and economic and real estate development, which was purchased a year later by AMREP Corporation, a publicly traded land development and media services operation.

As a Principal of Strategic Urban Solutions, Mr. Schultz again provided direction in environmental and energy management, real estate support, economic development and land use planning. 

As Vice President of Muss Development LLC, Mr. Schultz was active throughout New York in conceptualizing and obtaining regulatory approvals for new projects. 

Mr. Schultz' private sector experience includes President of Oceanview Associates, which helped start construction on the Arverne Urban Renewal Area in the Rockaways.

Brooklyn’s Own
Mr. Schultz was Chairman of the Board of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), and served on the boards of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, New York League of Conservation Voters, the Environmental Business Association of New York State, and Associated Builders and Owners, Inc.

His devotion to the borough was evidenced in his support of foundations like the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the Prospect Park Alliance and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Mr. Schultz held a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College, and was a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. 

Mr. Schultz is survived by his wife, Nanette Rainone, another tireless supporter of Brooklyn’s arts and cultural programs, a 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 Tuesday, Sept. 11, at the Riverside Memorial Chapel, in Manhattan.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to: Community Service Society of New York, 105 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010.