Defines the Richardson Center Corporation as an educational institution and authorizes the commissioner of general services to sell and convey certain land in the city of Buffalo, county of Erie

1 Co-sponsor

• Timothy M. Kennedy

BILL NUMBER:S1406

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to defining the Richardson Center Corporation as an educational institution and authorizing the commissioner of general services to sell and convey certain land in the city of Buffalo, county of Erie and to provide for a reversion of certain lands to the state of New York

Purpose or general idea of bill

This bill authorizes the sale and conveyance of state property formerly known as the Buffalo Psychiatric Center from the State Office of Mental Health to the Richardson Center Corporation to meet the needs of the reuse for this property that was initially advanced in 2006 through an allocation of 576.5 million in state funds.

Summary of specific provisions

Sections 1 and 2 identify Richardson Center Corp.

Section 3 allows for the conveyance of land upon the consent of the commissioner of the office of mental health to the Richardson Center Corporation.

Section 4 describes the specific boundaries for the transfer of land.

Section 5 states the conveyance described in the bill is not intended to be a legal description.

Section 6 states the commissioner of general services shall not grant the land conveyed unless an application is made by the Richardson Center Corp. within one year of the date of passage of this legislation.

Section 7 gives the effective date.

Justification

The board of the Richardson Center Corporation (RCC) was appointed in July, 2006 by then New York State Governor George Pataki. The Richardson Complex reuse has an allocation of 576.5 million in New York State funds.

The Richardson Center Corporation has advanced a sound planning process, undertaken vital collaborations, conducted stabilization and is moving towards implementation.

The Richardson Olmsted Complex is recognized as a remarkable achievement of the great American architect Henry Hobson Richardson, the father of landscape design Fredrick Law Olmsted, and the innovative psychiatrist and father of the American Psychiatric Association Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride. When it was built in the late 1800's the Buffalo state Asylum for the Insane was a progressive facility; a harmonious blend of state-of-the-art structures and a healing landscape to produce a therapeutic environment.

The culmination of the planning efforts is the Master Plan and Generic Environmental Impact Statement which provides phased reuse scenarios. The first phase of development will start with the Core Project: a mix of four integrated uses - Architecture Center, regional Visitor Center, boutique hotel and event conference space - in the Towers building and two flanking former wards. This development will utilize one third of the total historic buildings.

Three future phases advance complementary arts/cultural uses and Buffalo State College academic programs. The remaining historic buildings will be stabilized and mothballed pending these future uses. The north and northwest portion of the site will be substantially devoted to landscape but economic circumstances may result in some future development. Any new development will continue to provide major landscaped open space and complement the historic buildings in form and use.

The Richardson Olmsted site has tremendous potential to improve the surrounding neighborhoods and benefit Buffalo's economy. The rehabilitation of this currently vacant series of buildings and vast grounds will be a catalyst for neighborhood and regional improvement. New uses will bring activity and investment to the site. The improved landscape will serve both the new uses and be available as a public amenity to the neighbors, Buffalo State College, and the Buffalo Psychiatric Center.

Prior legislative history

2010 Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.