Many developers and housing experts contend, however, that government could do much more to expedite the construction of new housing.

The developers contend that their plan would accelerate what has been a slow transformation of a dowdy area south of the garment district.

Some developers and city officials contend that many community boards are unfailingly negative and resistant to change.

Moreover, developers contend they sometimes must keep apartments vacant to assemble property on which to construct residential and commercial buildings.

The developers contend that the corporation has never held annual meetings at which proper minutes were taken, nor held elections.

At the same time, developers have contended that the commission blocked new construction.

But the project's developer and its opponents contend that the Bloomberg administration backed away from the planned wholesale center for political reasons.

Contractors, developers and architects contended, though, that bribe-taking continued to be common.

A few developers, however, contended that such tenants would not fit into their corporate towers.

The developers contend that those amenities are for the residents of the developments.