Privileged Resolution 000693

..Title Honoring William Hankowsky. ..Body WHEREAS, Philadelphia's top development official and longtime key deal-maker is resigning his post as president of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation at the end of this year to join developer Willard Rouse's Liberty Property Trust; and WHEREAS, Mr. Hankowsky is a graduate of Brown University, and also studied public administration at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. During the early 1980's, he was head of Camden's Department of Community Development. By the mid-80's, Bill served as executive at the old Reading Railroad Company; and in 1985, he became Vice President of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. and then Commerce Director under Mayor W. Wilson Goode in 1988; and WHEREAS, Bill Hankowsky was appointed president of PIDC in March 1989, and, since, has been the City's key development official for high-profile deals. The agency also helps established companies to expand or relocate, and new companies to get off the ground; and WHEREAS, President of PIDC for 11 years, Hankowsky has crafted deals for the Marriott, First Union Center, PNC Operation Center, Crown Cork & Seal Headquarters and many other hotel projects. As well, PIDC has been highly instrumental in the development of the American Street Corridor in North Philadelphia, West Parkside Business Park in West Philadelphia, and the Freedom Square Shopping Center in Germantown; and WHEREAS, Under his expert leadership and his commitment to professional excellence, PIDC has made good use of federal loans and the lures of tax breaks to make the City of Philadelphia a frugal investment for smart developers, and a tremendous boast to the economic well-being of the City; and WHEREAS, Bill Hankowsky serves on the board of the Avenue of the Arts, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Penn's Landing Corp., North Philadelphia Health Systems and University City Science Center; now therefore RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor, commend and express sincere appreciate on behalf of all our citizenry to William (Bill) Hankowsky, who helped put Philadelphia back on the map as a vital attraction to economic development for corporations, big and small business, conventioneers, tourism and entertainment and the arts. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to William (Bill) Hankowsky, further evidencing the grateful appreciation and high commendation of this legislative body. We wish him tremendous success in all future endeavors, and extend to him our thanks for many jobs well done. ..End