Brooklyn's Progress
June/July 2008

BY JILL D’AMICO

The DUMBO Business Improvement District has appointed Kate Kerrigan as its next executive director, following Tucker Reed, whose visionary plans for the neighborhood led to both surface and infrastructural changes.

Ms. Kerrigan, who is a lawyer, has nearly a decade of experience with community alliances. The Park Slope resident comes from across the river, where she served as a vice president at the Downtown Alliance, the city’s biggest business improvement district.

“Tucker and the board and staff have done tremendous work already and started a bunch of programs that are already successful; my first step is to do everything to continue that,” she said.

She now will be charged with helping continue the progress made by Mr. Reed in the trendy waterfront enclave populated by artists, designers, and home to the annual BKLYN DESIGNS™ show.

His experience in revitalizing neighborhoods will be put to good use in his new position: Mr. Reed, a former National Guardsman, was tapped by the U.S. State Department to help the rebuilding effort in Iraq.

Leaving a solid foundation for the new leadership to build upon, Mr. Reed was reflective when asked what he is most proud of accomplishing.

“The fact that there was no improvement district when we got started and now there is,” he said. “There is a solid track record to build on and making something out of nothing is something to be proud of.”

He hopes to see the growth continue.

“DUMBO has potential to become a real world-class attraction, a waterfront destination that draws people from around the city and world,” he said. “I hope to see it continue on the path to achieving that vision.

Ms. Kerrigan now will lead the charge to keep DUMBO abreast of all that is happening in Brooklyn, including its ambitious SEED (Smart Environment Efforts in DUMBO), initiative.

“I’m thrilled,” she said. “I look forward to seeing what the constituency needs more of. I’ve been meeting a lot of the residents and the people who own businesses here … everyone here loves DUMBO and is passionate because it is such an unbelievable place.”

Ms. Kerrigan noted that while she has “no specific mandates” at the moment, completing the area’s street reconstruction project is a top priority.