Authorizes the exchange of property between the state of New York and Syracuse University

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the legislation provides that, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the State of New York may convey to Syracuse University a parcel of real property, now owned or to be owned by the State, under the jurisdiction of SUNY ESF, described in section 2 of the legislation, in exchange for the conveyance by Syracuse University to the State, for the benefit of SUNY ESF, or a parcel of real property described in section 3 of the legislation, upon such terms and conditions as the parties may agree.

Section 4 of the legislation provides that it shall take effect immediately.

Existing law

The Public Lands Law ("PLL") governs the manner in which the State of New York may convey title lands owned by the State. Once a State entity determines that land is no longer useful or necessary for the purposes of the State entity (PLL 30-A), the Commissioner of General Services is authorized to sell the property at public auction (PLL 33(1)) or to convey title to a municipality for certain uses (PLL 34).

Justification

The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the exchange of parcels of real property between the State of New York and Syracuse University to facilitate development of an academic research building for SUNY ESF. In absence of the legislation, SUNY ESF would lack authority to convey its parcel to Syracuse university since the provisions of the Public Lands Law would otherwise apply.

The legislation allows SUNY ESF to exchange a parcel of land now owned or to be owned by the State and under the jurisdiction of SUNY ESF for a similar parcel of land owned by adjacent Syracuse University. SUNY ESF is constructing a new 120,000 square foot academic research building that will foster educational and research opportunities and provide the college with a mission critical facility that the College is

unable to provide with its current facilities. The College is in the process of acquiring a 1.62 parcel located a block bordered by Stadium Place, Henry Street, Raynor Street and Standart Street in the city of Syracuse. The SUNY ESF property is not contiguous to the ESF campus; however it is contiguous to the Syracuse university campus. Syracuse University owns a 1.62 acre property located on the block bordered by Standart Street, Fineview Place, Oakland Street, and Stadium Place in the city of Syracuse. This property is currently being used to provide surface parking for the University's faculty, staff, students, and visitors. This Syracuse University parcel is contiguous to the SUNY ESF campus and directly opposite SUNY ESF's Centennial Hall, the College's new student residence facility. Both parties consider such an exchange of property advantageous for their respective campus projects. The Syracuse University 1.62 acre site affords much greater opportunities for integration of the academic research building with the rest of the SUNY ESF campus. An exchange of properties is critical to the integration of the academic research building with the rest of the SUNY ESF campus and would create an uninterrupted campus quad as described in the College's Facilities Master Plan.

To date, the State has appropriated $44,000,000 for the construction of the College's academic research building.

By resolutions adopted June 15, 2011 and November 22, 2011, the State University of New York Board of Trustees has expressed its support of the exchange of properties between the State and Syracuse University to facilitate development of the academic research building.

Syracuse University supports the legislation. However, any agreement of exchange is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of Syracuse university.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.