Real Estate Program Management

M. Steven C. Williams Managing Partner Danforth Development Partners LLC and President of Legacy Construction LLC

Sag Harbor, NY 11963/ 917-***-****/ *************.*@*****.***/

M. Steven C. Williams’ (Steve’s) ability to develop and lead teams and manage

properties to their fullest potential are what separates him from most professionals in the real estate industry. His foresight and vision and understanding of communication and goal realization are the insights that have earned him the respect of clients, peers and communities alike. He believes in development without displacement and respect of neighborhood stakeholders are the keys to effective communication. Establishing mutual interests are the basis for effective growth and broad-based community stakeholder support.

Early in his career, Steve forged an independent path in development. His confidence in Harlem’s residents and infrastructure motivated him to purchase and renovate three brownstones on Manhattan Avenue funding the alterations “out of pocket”. During the successive years he was instrumental in converting existing office buildings (55 and 215 West 125th Street) into Class A properties that became sources of community pride while delivering public benefit services to Harlem residents.

Innovation, sustainability and smart building techniques are inherent parts of his operating philosophy. Over the past few years he has studied modular and panelized construction and green power generation technologies. He is dedicated to their prudent use and convinced they offer new opportunities to accelerate construction time while reducing costs and negative environmental impacts. The combination of these technologies produces quality projects at lower costs.

He believes that effective communication with residents, community boards, elected officials, business and government officials are keys for success and sustained support.

This philosophy distinguishes him from other developers that believe their profit motivations should exceed community interests and are therefore dismissive of the importance of including neighborhood’s interests into the project goals. Community benefits and profitable development are not mutually exclusive both results are sustainable.

Accordingly, he approaches problem solving with a simple question “what is and what could this become”. The transitional steps toward the goal is defined by a series of incremental steps that encompass local team building, establishing mutual objectives, leadership and communication.

His ability to engage diverse groups was acknowledged when the Harlem Community Development Corporation and the New York State Empire State Development Corp. designated him as the developer to reconstruct and transform the vacant Victoria Theater site into a multi- use property to revitalize a long dormant icon on Harlem’s central corridor, 125th Street.

The Victoria Theater Redevelopment project was identified as a pivotal opportunity to create a destination (trophy) project for the Harlem community. New York’s Empire State Development Corporation its local economic development subsidiary, the Harlem Community Development Corporation, elected officials and community organizations in Harlem, concurred that his reputation and past performance qualified Danforth Development Partners above 10 other development proposal competitors to develop Harlem’s “Trophy Project” the Victoria Theater Redevelopment.

The Victoria Theater redevelopment project was completed in November of 2023. The 28-story 417,000 square foot tower provides 374 + full time jobs for community residents, a 211 room Marriott Renaissance hotel, 199 market rate and affordable apartments, 25,000 sf of retail, a performing arts center and garage. It contains the new administrative offices of the Apollo Theater Foundation as well as providing 2 performance spaces for local cultural organizations.

The National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers (NABHOOD) awarded him the “Deal of the Year Harlem Renaissance by Marriott” at its annual convention in 2018.

Prior to developing the Victoria complex, Steve established a pivotal role in the redevelopment of 55 West 125th Street (AKA the William Clinton building) and 215 West 125th Street. He partnered with Cogswell Reality to acquire and reposition both buildings. Each received extensive capital improvements and upgraded to attract private and public tenants that contribute to the quality of life providing health, education and government services to Harlem’s residents.

With over 35 years of experience in the real estate and construction industries, his commitment to excellence is evident in every project. Steve has consistently demonstrated keen leadership in finance and construction management. Steve is the Founder and Managing Partner of Danforth Development Partners, LLC and Legacy Construction, LLC.

His focus on aggressive leasing programs, prudent development, capital programs, management plans, property expenses and NOI’s, has enhanced the value of the assets under his control. As his reputation continues to precede him, he assures both Danforth and Legacy positions of prominence in real estate management and property development.

This extensive professional experience gives him unique insight and a proven history of working with elected officials, government agencies and community stakeholders to set a direction for the communities he is committed to improve.

Steve started his real estate development and construction experience as a management trainee rising to Vice President of residential management with Sulzberger & Rolfe in five years. He had more than 6,000 luxury condominiums, co-ops and Mitchell Lama units under his direction. His portfolio included the boards of directors of Mitchell Lama Co-Ops like Tower Gardens in

the Bronx to luxury market condominium and co-op boards like One Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He served as a consultant to the District of Columbia Department of Buildings assisting in the software redesign of its rent collection process. The new app increased monthly rental income collection and reduced arrears from DCs 8,000 apartment units.

In 1992, Steve was appointed by Mayor David Dinkins as Assistant Commissioner to work at the New York City Department of General Services (DGS) and served as Acting Deputy Commissioner by the Guliani administration well into its first term.

He served as Assistant (Dinkins) and Acting Deputy Commissioner (Giuliani) and oversaw 10,000,000 square feet of space in New York City–owned 48 multi-tenant office buildings, court facilities, and borough halls. For more than three years, he directed all maintenance operations and capital construction projects. He also developed and managed annual operational budgets of $180,000,000 plus $250,000,000 for capital improvements and made annual budget presentations to the NY City Counsel. His annual budgets and plans were approved by the New York City Counsel without any request for modification.

He was on the Dinkins/Giuliani mayoral transition team and represented DGS on the Mayor’s Emergency Management Team in its response to the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993. DGS provided trucks-mounted with emergency generators to provide lighting support for federal agents to inspect and analyze the damage suffered as a result of the diesel fuel and manure truck bomb in the garage and other strategic support activities.

One of his most memorable accomplishments at the Department of General Services was his development of an on-site building cleaning training program 1n 1994. The program offered public assistance recipients the opportunity to receive intensive skill training in a real work environment. It was extremely successful in improving the appearance of the buildings and enhancing the environment of office workers and clients. Hundreds of the trainees graduated from welfare into full-time union positions with leading building maintenance companies in NYC.

Steve then joined Mc Coy Realty as Executive Vice President of Asset Management, responsible for the southwest office building portfolios of TIAA, Chase Bank, and other clients. He assisted Richmond Mc Coy in repositioning the assets in their markets to enhance value and ROI.

Recently, Steve was elected to his fourth consecutive term as president of the Azurest Property Owners Association in Sag Harbor NY. He has restructured the association’s financial position from a deficit to strong financial standing and has lead it and two neighboring associations to acquire favorable zoning legislation in 2022. These Historic Black Beachfront Communities have strengthened their affiliation and unified to expand their participation and influence in the village’s politics

In July of 2022 the Mayor and Trustees of the Village of Sag Harbor unanimously approved his appointment to chair its Board of Historic Preservation and Architectural Review and the new mayor reappointed him to continue as the board’s chair in July 2023. Previously he served as a member two terms since 2019.

Steve graduated from Trinity College with a BS in Psychology, received a post graduate degree from the New York University’s Real Estate Institute in Real Estate finance, received a certificate in Entrepreneurship from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and received a Certificate from Pace University in Construction Management in 2015.

He is a member of SCO Family Services’ Board of Directors, one of the largest social service non-profits in greater New York City and Long Island. It serves 60,000 clients annually. He currently serves on SCO’s Executive, Facilities and Development Committees.

He has served on the boards of other local non-profit agencies and community benefit organizations such as: Spence Chapin Family Services, Saint Phillips on The Park Housing Corporation, Project Renewal, and the 125th Street Business Improvement District of New York City. He has received multiple awards for leadership and fundraising from the United Negro College Fund.

His interests include; reducing global warming via alternative fuel source advancement and fuel cell technology, golf, sport fishing, and assisting others thorough supporting community benefit organizations.

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