In 2008, Mr. Sayres teamed up with Stephen Nislick, chief executive of the development company Edison Properties, which owns Manhattan Mini Storage, to develop a plan to replace the carriage horses with electric-powered replicas of antique cars.
In the developing world, the problem is more severe, said Nigel Chapman, chief executive of the development group Plan International.
Still, Sheena Wright, chief executive of the development corporation, was pleased.
"In today's economic climate, people don't have lifetime contracts," said Caren S. Franzini, the chief executive of the development authority.
"They're all pretty much damaged beyond repair at this point," said Eric J. Deutsch, president and chief executive of the development corporation.
Stephanie Meeks, president and chief executive of the development organization Counterpart International, has been named president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the trust announced Monday.
"The key to success here is that first and foremost it's got to appeal to the local residents," said Andrew Altman, chief executive of the development corporation.
Sheena Wright, the president and chief executive of the development corporation, said the arguments against the project clearly extended beyond questions of ambience.
