Most Significant Developments of 2008 [1]
RBS’s Stamford headquarters is a project that was neither conceived, announced, started, or finished in 2008, however it’s makes my #1 most significant development of 2008 for no other reason that it stayed fixed on the promise in at least all public pronouncements, despite the occasional rumor to the contrary, that they would occupy their new Stamford based headquarters upon completion. In a year when financial institutions starting folding like cheap suits, Royal Bank of Scotland's brick and mortar prospects in town didn’t crap out. Perception can often become reality, so even while tangible effects of the finical crisis seeped into town from home foreclosures to office vacancies, I don't think anyone in town was eager to see a half-built, highway adjacent testament to the economic meltdown. (We use holes in the ground for that!)
Feel free to argue. Even if you think another egg in the financial service basket is the last thing Stamford needs, had RBS pulled out it would still be a major swift kick to the City That Works. 
2 comments :
Okay, I see your point. I still think the project in the South End will do the most good, but if it flounders during this slowdown, it will not have the impact that an unfinished RBS would. The reports say there will not be the kind of hiring that RBS initially thought though and that is also significant.
Perhaps too early I guess to begin the list for 2009 but as an early front-runner I would like to make everyone aware that after a long and drawn-out campaign by its patrons, Curleys at long, long last now has an ATM machine.
Post a Comment