He said he had already assembled enough land on the south side of the street to build.
He helped assemble the town and land where La Maestra has lived her entire life.
It has long been a key tool by which cities can upgrade deteriorating neighborhoods and assemble land for affordable housing.
Hamlet had been involved in the original club project, and had been assembling land for a lodge since 1925.
Individual landowners on the river have driven hard bargains as the development agency has attempted to assemble land.
While prices are increasing, you can still assemble land reasonably, and substantial residential growth in the area has made people on the retail side take notice.
Still, he said, that it was a scattered site, and "you couldn't assemble enough land that was contiguous."
Local authorities were involved because it was necessary to use planning powers to assemble land for comprehensive redevelopment.
Cities should also keep in mind that it is more cost-effective for government, rather than for developers, to assemble land.
"In New York it would take two generations to assemble enough land for floors like that."