Authorizes SUNY Albany to lease or make available a certain parcel of land on the Uptown and Alumni Quad campuses to the UA Corporation

Summary of provisions

This bill is modeled after previous laws to allow land lease arrangements for the benefit of state universities. Section 1 sets forth the legislative findings, noting that these projects will promote enhanced research, technology deployment, improved undergraduate education, neighborhood revitalization and economic outreach across the Capital Region. Section 2 defines the University at Albany Development Corporation (UA Corporation). Section 3 authorizes the State University Trustees, without public bidding, to lease and otherwise contract to make available to the UA Corporation a portion of the lands at the University at Albany (approximately 25 acres) for the purpose of constructing and operating research, education, residential, and student support facilities required to support the academic programs and mission of the State University of New York. Section 4 would make any contract or lease entered pursuant to this act compliant with section 15-A of the Executive Law. Section 5 states that all work performed on projects authorized by this bill shall be deemed public work and shall be performed in accordance with Article 8 of the Labor Law. Section 6 states that the bill will not waive or impair any rights or benefits of SUNY employees, and that they shall continue their work as normal. Section 7 allows the UA Corporation to require contractors to enter into a project labor agreement when certain conditions are met. When a project labor agreement is not required, then any contractor, subcontractor, lease, grant, bond, covenant or other agreement for a project shall be awarded pursuant to section 135 of the State Finance Law. Section 8 relates to the grounds and facilities clause of the lease. Section 9 requires the lease to include an indemnity provision. Section 10 delineates the boundaries of the two property parcels to be leased. Section 11 gives SUNY three years to execute the lease authorized by this bill. Section 12 gives this bill preeminence over any inconsistent laws.

Justification

The University at Albany Development Corporation (UA Corporation) will be created as a not-for-profit New York State corporation established for the purpose of facilitating educational, research, and economic development activities related to the mission of the State University of New York. This legislation would allow for lands to be ground

leased to the UA Corporation, enabling the University at Albany to advance its $35 million NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program, which is part of a larger "UAlbany Impact" Initiative. The ground lease to this corporation is necessary to facilitate the envisioned public-private partnerships involved in the Biomedical and Information Innovation Research and Alumni Quad/Midtown Revitalization initiatives. The NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program will help finance a portion of the initiatives, but both initiatives will require the subleasing of space and multiple contracts and financing arrangements with private partners to help fully finance and operate the projects in their entirety. These projects will advance the University's educational, research, and student enrichment goals. More specifically, the Biomedical and Information Innovation Research initiative will involve the construction of a building on the Uptown campus, the costs for which will, in part, be offset by private research entities. The University is currently developing co-location, research, and job growth plans with a number of external private sector partners, all of which are preeminent in their respective fields for health sciences research. This will help trigger greater opportunities for not only University students and faculty, but the entire Capital Region of New York. Similarly, the Alumni Quad Revitalization Initiative will involve the renovation and limited expansion -- including the development of street-level retail/commercial space -- at the Alumni Quad residence facility, located in the Education District of the City of Albany. This area requires an enhanced University presence to help stabilize the neighborhood and create a more vibrant community. Partners for this initiative will likely include the College of Saint Rose, which has provided a letter of support for the project, as well as several retail and commercial vendors. The City of Albany is supportive as well. These initiatives are one part of a larger UAlbany Impact Plan, advanced by the University, which seeks to invigorate the University and the Capital Region economy with a bold multi-year strategy to increase enrollment, hire additional faculty, expand third-party funded research, and improve the range of educational and enrichment programs for students. Over the next 7 years, the UAlbany Impact Plan is estimated to result in over 1,343 new full-time jobs, with an operating and capital economic multiplier of some $4.3 billion.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

The 90th day after it shall have become law.