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Joe Cotter, Major Developer of Hudson Valley and NY Metro Markets, Dies Unexpectedly At 66
“With great sadness, we share with you that Joseph Cotter passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Friday October 25, 2024 at home in his beloved New York City. Joe, at 66, accomplished so much, developing visionary projects in places and communities that he believed in. Joe was very proud of his family, a great friend who meant much to so many, effortlessly connecting on a personal level. Most importantly, we will honor him by continuing to develop our existing projects and those in our pipeline to create transformative projects,” said Lynne Ward, Co-Founder in National Resources.
Cotter was President of National Resources, the New York metro real estate development and investment firm that focuses on the redevelopment of urban and industrial sites. The company is built on a foundation of acquiring key properties and using existing infrastructure, then adding the dimension of sustainability.
National Resources has redeveloped over $2 billion of projects with some of the world’s largest capital partners, creating thousands of jobs in the Tri-State Area. Innovation was central to National Resources’ success, developing leading edge real estate that transforms people, communities, and environments.
Cotter and Ward employ nearly 100 people.
Long before major real estate developers discovered the Yonkers waterfront, Cotter was a true pioneer, transforming the former Otis Elevator industrial complex in Yonkers into iPark Hudson, a thriving workplace that includes the new Lionsgate Studios TV and film production complex. Working with their partners at Great Point Studios, the $500 million Lionsgate project has changed the face of film and television production in Westchester and New York State, with 16 soundstages and the Robert Halmi Sr. Academy of Film and Television, a public high school for Grades 6 through 12, on the former Leake & Watts property.
National Resources has played a key role in the development of the Hudson River waterfront including the 24-acre Hudson Harbor community in Tarrytown and the 26-acre Edgewater Harbor in Edgewater, NJ. In addition, National Resources is known for its signature iPark campuses in Yonkers, NY; East Fishkill, NY; Ulster, NY; and Norwalk, CT
Last year, Cotter was honored at the Business Council of Westchester’s Annual Hall of Fame program receiving the prestigious Entrepreneurial Business Success Award while he and Ward have received several awards from Urban Land Institute and NAIOP.
There will be a private family service held and details on a public memorial will be shared in the days ahead.
Rockland Community College Launches Search for New President
The Rockland Community College (RCC) Board of Trustees has begun its search for the college’s next president.
“The search is aimed at identifying an outstanding leader who will advance RCC’s mission of serving a diverse student body and continuing to provide transformative educational opportunities to the community,” according to a press release issued by the college.
The search will be guided by a Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Vice Chair Dana Stilley, Community Outreach Liaison Elana Yeger, and Trustee Grant Valentine, who represents the RCC Board of Trustees. The committee will lead the comprehensive search process, engaging various key constituencies of the College, and will work closely with the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller (IM), which has been reengaged to assist in the process.
The committee members represent a cross-section of RCC’s stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, local leaders, and community representatives. The full list of committee members is as follows:
- Sabrina Charles Pierre, East Ramapo School District Board
- Julian Goldstein, Student Government Association, Chief of Staff
- Howard Hellman, RCC Foundation Board of Directors
- Nicole Hines, NAACP
- Michael Hoblin, Deputy County Executive
- Gina Liberti, RCCAFA-Adjunct Faculty Association
- Burton Louis-Charles, ASA-Administration and Staff Assembly
- Carlos Martinez, BRIDGES
- Eric Magaram, Faculty Senate
- Greg Merriweather, Clergy for Social Justice
- Meghan Nolan, RCCFT-Federation of Teachers
- Janine Scaglione Paredes, CSEA
- Al Samuels, Rockland Business Association
- Melissa L. Roy, RCC Chief Diversity Officer
- Elizabeth Troutner, RCCFA-Federation of Administrators
- Aron Wieder, County Legislator
L’Tanya M. Watkins, Chair of the RCC Board of Trustees, said, “We are dedicated to finding an outstanding leader who will uphold RCC’s mission to continue providing transformative educational experiences to our diverse student body. We are grateful to the search committee for their commitment, and we look forward to a transparent and inclusive search process.”
The position has been posted to the RCC website, and Isaacson, Miller is screening candidates. The timeline is anticipated to include semi-finalist interviews with the search committee in October, followed by final interviews expected to take place by mid December. The RCC Board of Trustees is committed to keeping the RCC community informed throughout each stage of the process.
For continuous updates and more information, please visit the Presidential Search webpage at sunyrockland.edu/presidential-search.
Rockland County has acquired three properties that will be preserved under the County’s Open Space Acquisition Program
The properties are 61 South Mountain Road (5 acres) 63 South Mountain Road (5.8 acres) and 71 South Mountain. Rd (4 acres).
“The County continues to live up to the promise I made when I was first elected back in 2014 to preserve and protect our county’s environment and beauty for future generations,” said County Executive Ed Day. “These purchases are an incredible addition to the 40 acres already purchased since last year. Let’s not forget the 132 acres known as the Eagle Valley Assemblage that my administration is also in the process of purchasing from the Open Space Institute, all of which I am proud of.”
The acquisition of these parcels adds 15 acres to South Mountain County Park, a linear 240-acre park running between Central Highway in New City to Rt. 45 in Pomona. It will provide another new access point to the park and the Long Path.
“These properties are significant acquisitions that I am excited to preserve and add to the County parks,” said Kevin McGuinness, Coordinator of the County’s Division of Environmental Resources. “The plan is to put a small parking area and trail head at 71 S. Mountain Road. In addition, two new trails will be constructed East and West to connect to the Long Path.”
All properties nominated to Open Space are vetted by an Open Space Advisory Committee, which is made up of representatives from the Division of Environmental Resources, Department of Planning, Department of Health, and the Finance Department’s Tax Enforcement Unit. Field inspections are performed, and each property is scored using a point system based on their attributes which include:
- Connecting open spaces
- Preserving environmentally sensitive resources
- Protecting farms
- Preserving historic and cultural places
- Protecting the Hudson River
- Promoting opportunities for recreation
- Protecting rivers and streams
- Protecting the watershed.
Once scored, the top-rated properties are presented to the County Executive’s team to review and purchase based on the Advisory Committee ratings. Final approval for sale is sent to the County Legislature for funding.
