– She joined the alliance at a momentous time in its history. Twenty years ago, the business- and real estate-backed organization emerged from a fearful place: rampant graffiti, broken streetlights and mostly vacant office towers. ”Everything was falling apart,” she said. Today, lower Manhattan is bursting with activity, from a resurgent residential scene to a rising tech, media and retail boom. Post-9/11 tax breaks helped, but Ms. Lappin knows the neighborhood will need to stay on the cutting edge to compete: ”This ain’t your father’s FiDi.” –  www.crainsnewyork.com