Team promotes one of its ballpark architects

Melanie Lenz, who gave many of those sometimes contentious waterfront stadium presentations to neighborhood groups, is being promoted, Rays team president Matt Silverman said today.

According to a Rays press release, Lenz has been promoted to Vice President of Development for the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Melanie has been instrumental in the planning and construction of our new spring training facility in Charlotte County, the implementation of our Teaming Up for the Environment initiative, and in various aspects of our new ballpark plan. She is an invaluable resource to the entire organization, and we look forward to contributions and continued leadership in this expanded role,” Silverman said.

Lenz joined the Rays in November 2006 as senior director, development. She came to the team from the New York City Economic Development Corp., where she had served as vice president, real estate division since 2000. During that period, she directed more than 50 real estate transactions within the five boroughs of New York City, resulting in more than 15-million square feet of new development and several billion dollars in public investment.

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Comments

[Thomas]

Um, is that the same "New York City Economic Development Corporation" who's current president Seth Pinsky was called to testify before congress regarding improprieties in the new Yankees Stadium financing?

I'll stop being skeptical when these people stop being crooks.

[Paul]

This Melanie is nothing much, she did very poorly with the waterfront circus tent stadium idea... bring her on Silverman. She's less of a match than your boy Mike Kalt. Do you get the idea yet Sivlerman, that we are already paying for a stadium and don't need another one? St Pete residents are more organized than ever and we're drooling in anticipation with the Nov 09 elections less than a year away.

[John]

Vice Prez of Development? LMFAO!!!!!

What are they gonna "develop"?? Beer can island?

They don't own any land, they're a FREAKING BASEBALL TEAM for cryin out loud.

It just gets funnier and funnier. But the punchline will be delivered in Nov '09.

Play in the dome or hit the road, jack.

[Forward Thinking Citizens]

"Play in the dome or hit the road, jack."

now there's a real partnership solution

[Thomas]

Excuse me, dear "Forward Thinking Citizens"

Which part of the Rays deal is a partnership solution?

Will they be splitting ticket sales, parking, or concessions with the city?

Will they be sharing naming rights revenues?

It's funny that you would mention "partnership solution" in light of the current lease the team enjoys at the Trop.

I guess your idea of "real partnership solution" is when the city pays the bills and the team keeps the profits.

[Scaramouche]

Melanie (sounds suspiciously like "melamine," doesn't it) was present when all this wonderful stuff was done in NY? Part of the "team" there, no doubt?

Okay, but I just love the little tag line at the very bottom-most end of the last sentence in the last paragraph in the original post, on how all this wonderful development there only involved and was made possible by extracting "several billion dollars in public investment" to "accomplish."

Has anybody checked the facts to see how well "15 million square feet of new development has worked out for taxpayers in NY? In the current economic climate? Who got rich and who got screwed?

Bring her on? Nah, send her packing with the rest of the freeloading carpetbaggers. She looks like she might be at home with the showgirl-go-go-"happens in Vegas-stays in Vegas" mayor of that Nevadan Gomorrah.