NEW YORK (AP) – Governor Spitzer, Democrat of New York, appointed two new leaders Monday to take charge of the ground zero rebuilding agency he once called “an abject failure,” saying the organization still had work to do.

Mr. Spitzer appointed David Emil, former owner of the Windows on the World restaurant at the World Trade Center, president of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. Avi Schick, who heads the Empire State Development Corp. – the LMDC’s parent agency – was named chairman of the board.

The LMDC was founded shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks by then-Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani to rebuild the trade center site and downtown Manhattan. It allocated more than $2 billion in federal housing grants to fund design competitions for the trade center site, the Sept. 11 memorial and downtown improvements.

But Mr. Spitzer last May said in an interview the agency was “an abject failure,” and agency leaders later announced they would close it down – although they never did.

On Monday, Mr. Spitzer was more positive.

“With new leadership and new direction, a reinvigorated LMDC will help revitalize an area that is important as an economic hub to New York and as a symbol of our freedom and resilience to all Americans,” he said.

The agency monitors the programs it has funded – including arts grants and developments like the memorial under construction – and still must decide whether to preserve or demolish a staircase that is part of the trade center complex and still sitting on the site.

Mr. Schick replaces Kevin Rampe, also a former LMDC president, who will remain as a board member.

“The attacks of September 11 left a scar on the public face of New York, and the LMDC is committed to delivering a lower Manhattan that is more vibrant and beautiful than ever before,” Schick said.

Mr. Schick’s position is unpaid. Mr. Emil, taking over for Stefan Pryor, will earn $185,000 a year.

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