Governors Island head forced out of role as Alicia Glen to take over site

Michael Samuelian has been pushed out of his role overseeing development plans on Governors Island thanks to former Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen.

Glen left City Hall in March after spending five years as deputy mayor, and she plans to take the reins of redevelopment on the island herself, according to Politico. She had expressed regret when leaving her old post that she hadn’t been able to accomplish more on Governors Island and decided to take over the project at the suggestion of Carl Weisbrod, chair of the Trust for Governors Island.

Glen made arrangements to replace Weisbrod as head of the board and decided to find a new president. Weisbrod told Samuelian about the change in leadership at the board and said he should talk to Glen directly.

Multiple sources told Politico that it was clear the message to Samuelian was that he should either resign, or he would be asked to leave. He announced last Tuesday that he would step down in June.

He previously helped redevelop downtown following the 9/11 attacks and design Hudson Yards for Related Companies. He had already activated some buildings on the northern edge of Governors Island, and the board announced last August that it would launch a rezoning effort leading to 4.5 million square feet of mixed-use development across 33 acres. [Politico] – Eddie Small