Neigh! Two developers leading the charge to get rid of Central Park’s horse carriage industry have pushed back at allegations their support for the cause is about real estate opportunities.
Steve Nislick and Wendy Neu, executives at Union Square-based Hugo Neu Corp. and leaders of advocacy organization New Yorkers for Clean, Livable and Safe Streets, have been among the major donors behind the campaign to ban the horses from Central Park.
The two have worked closely with the de Blasio administration in recent weeks as it tries to reach a compromise on the issue, despite opposition from carriage drivers, pedicab operators and park advocates, according to the Wall Street Journal.
But they have disputed claims among opponents that Nislick, a former Edison Properties chief executive, sees the horse stables as a potential real estate opportunity.
“Under no circumstances would I have any interest in this real estate,” Nislick said. “If they gave it to me I wouldn’t take it.” [WSJ] – Rey Mashayekhi