Relates to resident curator program

BILL NUMBER:S4868

Title of bill

An act to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to the resident curator program

Purpose of the Bill:

AN ACT to amend the parks, recreation and historic preservation law, in relation to the resident curator program This bill would add three properties to the Resident Curator Program thereby authorizing the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to enter into a residential lease with an individual for a term not to exceed forty years.

Summary of Provisions:

Section 1 of the bill would amend Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Law (PRHPL) § 3.09(2-h) to add three properties (LI 72 police boarding house in Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Gericke farm house in Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve and the Hayes House at Mills Norrie State Park) to the list of properties that the Commissioner may lease to a resident curator for a term not to exceed forty years.

Section 2 of the bill provides the effective date.

Existing Law:

PRHPL § 3.09(2-h) establishes the Resident Curator Program. The Resident Curator Program is intended to attract private investment in State parks by authorizing the Commissioner to enter into residential leases with private individuals who will rehabilitate vacant buildings at their own expense in exchange for a long term lease to reside in the building.

Prior Legislative History:

The Resident Curator Program was established by Chapter 295 of the Laws of 2014. This is a new bill.

Statement in Support:

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP has identified three additional buildings which would be appropriate for the Resident Curator Program. The three buildings selected are residential buildings that do not serve a park purpose and which are currently not in use. In exchange for the rehabilitation of the property by the resident curator, OPRHP would lease the property to the curator for a term not to exceed forty years. The term of the lease would be based on the amount of the capital investment needed to rehabilitate the property for occupancy. Ownership of the rehabilitated residential structure would remain with OPRHP which would receive the benefit of rehabilitated structures at the end of the lease term at no cost to OPRHP.

Budget Implications:

This bill would have no impact on the State budget. Currently these structures are vacant and are subject to continued deterioration. Because these properties serve no park purpose, OPHRP will not expend any of its capital funding to maintain or stabilize these structures Without private investment through this program, the likely course of action would require demolition. The cost of demolition for these three buildings, including necessary environmental abatement, is estimated at $650,000.

Local Impact:

None.

Effective Date:

This bill would take effect immediately.