Can Pataki keep his promises? Construction projects hang on budget passage.

New York's construction and design industry is hoping Gov. George Pataki can keep the big promises he made in his state of the state address last week.

If all of the proposals the Governor outlined were funded and passed by the state legislature, it would be a good year indeed for the construction and design industry.

"A speech like he made is of its nature very vague, but he still managed to hit all the right notes," said Brad Singer, President and COO, HRH Construction, LLC. "The building industry is one of the most important in New York, and the Governor's speech clearly reveals he feels the same way."

From a stepped up Lower Manhattan development plan and a $1.5 billion expansion to the Jacob Javitz Convention Center to his promise to create 1 million private sector jobs statewide by 2010, Pataki's plans for the upcoming year may generate more work for a industry just recovering from a nationwide slump.

"Pataki has always had a responsible construction program and this more ambitious plan is the right thing to spur New York's borderline economy, which is currently dependent on the vagaries of the stock market," said Lenore Janis, president of Professional Women in Construction.

"People are out of work and hurting; construction creates real jobs. We support the Governor's efforts to get New York State's economy moving again." On the other hand, considering the state's fiscal budget deficit and the stalemate in Congress, the Governor's plans may not see reality, said Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress.

"The Governor's proposals, if they were to be realized, would be a boon for the construction industry statewide," said Anderson, who was in Albany for the speech.

"There is a lot of design and construction activity implicit in what he is suggesting. However, the outlook for the reality of all the Governor said is not especially encouraging."

Many agree with Anderson including, Jeffrey Zogg, executive director of the General Building Contractors of New York State, Inc.

"The Governor's state of the state address is full of economic development promise, whether he can carry through with it is a whole another matter. Carrying through with it is the real challenge in these fiscal times," Zogg said.

"The real nuts and bolts of the Governor's address is in the state budget and we won't know that for another week or two. And then we don't know what the legislature will do with it until months from now."

Still some of the Governor's plans are very important to the economic health of New York City.

"If I had to prioritize the significance of the plans, I would say the expansion of the Javitz Center is very important," said Lou Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers Association. "I think we are already seeing a resurgence of tourism in the city. The project would certainly help with that resurgence."

HRH, who are the original builders of the center, are certainly happy about the inclusion of the expansion in the Governor's plans.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg also supported the expansion in his state of the city address last week.

"We would be excited to be a part of its expansion to house more and larger conventions," Singer said. "Such a project could only be successful if politicians like the Governor are committed to it."

A combination of the Governor's plans could make a difference for the city, Coletti said.

"The development of the Hudson yards, the Jets stadium, the redevelopment of the Far West Side, combined with the re-building of the lower Manhattan can diversify the city's economic base and provide for substantial growth in the future," he said.

The job creation program and the state's investment in the city's school construction will also help the industry.

"It's encouraging that the governor realizes the need to create more jobs in the construction industry as well as the other industries," said Roland Ferrera, vice president of construction management for AMEC Construction Management.

"He also wants to promote the education process setting aside additional dollars for education. And he said he wanted to make SUNY/CUNY state-of-the-art education system and make those repairs. That's a big statement that means a lot to the construction industry."