The challenge:

Developers of the $1.7-billion, 80-story Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle -- the largest, private development ever undertaken in American history -- needed to mount an effective and far-reaching community relations program to help ensure that the massive project would be completed without disruption on a timely basis.  They turned to TMO to design and execute the initiative.

The strategy:

After analyzing the full range of constituencies and potential issues, TMO created a comprehensive, multi-faceted program.  Elements included establishment of a "Time Warner Community Task Force" consisting of three community boards and project leaders meeting on a monthly basis -- a community newsletter -- an around-the-clock, toll-free "Community Hotline" giving residents immediate contact with project management -- a "Town Hall" forum bringing residents together with project leaders – a jobs initiative to maximize project-related employment opportunities for local citizens – and support for other community programs.

The results:

The three-and-a-half-year strategy kept the community involved and informed of project progress at every level.  TMO's "street-smart" combination of community relations techniques served all parties well by anticipating and resolving a wide range of concerns, disputes, and inconveniences.  By forging a relationship of healthy accountability between the project leadership and the community, The Marino Organization had helped keep the project on schedule and had also helped protect the developer’s massive investment in Time Warner Center.