One of the top officials at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey overseeing the World Trade Center redevelopment is switching to a rival mega-project.
Philippe Visser is leaving the role to help manage the $18 billion, 26-acre Hudson Yards project, the Related Companies said. His focus will be on a 2.4 million-square-foot tower on the north end that is slated to house Time Warner offices. He will spearhead talks on how to handle the 1.2 million square feet of vacant space in the tower. Since 2009, he has served as director of Port Authority’s WTC operation. He oversaw deals involving the development of 1 World Trade Center as well as the 9/11 memorial and transit hub.
“With One World Trade Center opening next year with anchor tenant Conde Nast, and the retail complex and transportation hub on track for 2015, the vision of the Port Authority is well on its way to reality. I can now look forward to my next challenge and I couldn’t imagine a more exciting opportunity,” Visser said in a statement. [Crain’s] — Mark Maurer