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Carlisle Towery, 78, moved to New York from his home state of Alabama in 1961 to study urban planning at Columbia University. He joined the Manhattan-based Regional Plan Association as chief urban designer and, in 1971, became president of the association's Greater Jamaica Development Corp.
After 43 years steering southeast Queens' main economic booster, which has about 50 employees and $10 million in annual revenue, Mr. Towery recently announced his retirement.
Why are you leaving?
Jamaica is in a better place now, and I feel good leaving it to someone else. I've been thinking about it for a few years.
Who should replace you?
I think it needs to be a person who's a visionary, but it's more about execution than it is planning. I'm a planner. The job is chopped meat, it's fruit salad, but the person doesn't have to do everything. Real estate is going to be an important part of it.
What advice will you give your successor?
Pursue productive partnerships. The Greater Jamaica Development Corp. doesn't have any clout. We are mainly advocates, but I hate that word....