Authorizes the Empire State Development Corporation to acquire a parcel of real property in the borough of Brooklyn; authorizes the city of New York to develop parkland

1 Co-sponsor

• Martin Malavé Dilan

Title of bill

An act to authorize the Empire State Development Corporation to acquire, by eminent domain, a certain parcel of real property in the borough of Brooklyn; and to authorize the city of New York to develop certain parkland

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Presents Legislative Findings. The legislature finds that the 2005 Greenpoint-Williamsburg Waterfront Rezoning included city commitments, and created an expectation in the community, that the future Bushwick Inlet Park would include the parcel that is described in section two of this act. The legislature further finds that these commitments were included in the Environmental Impact Statement and City Planning resolution prepared at that time and that the city zoning map today shows the parcel to be parkland.

Section 2: Authorizes the Empire State Development Corporation, acting through its board, to acquire by eminent domain the real property in the borough of Brooklyn at North 11th Street, otherwise known on the tax map of the City of New York as block 2287, lot 30, block 2294, lot 1, block 2294, lot 5 and block 2287, lot 16.

Section 3: States that this parcel of land shall be immediately transferred to the city upon its acquisition by the Empire State Development Corporation and that the City shall reimburse the state for costs of the acquisition.

Section 4: Requires the city to honor its commitment to the community by transforming such parcel into parkland. If the city fails to do so, it will be required to deposit a sum of one million dollars, yearly, into an account to be held in trust for the creation of new parkland which shall be administered by the office of parks, recreation and historic preservation.

Section 5: Establishes that the act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

As part of a massive residential rezoning in 2005, the City agreed to acquire the necessary parcels of land to build Bushwick Inlet Park. In the decade since, the rezoning was completed, along with major changes to the neighborhood, including thousands of new residents. Yet, the City never made good on its promise to buy the land or fully build the park. Statements from Administration officials give no indication that the City has any intention of acquiring these properties or completing full build out of the park, despite its agreement to do so. This legislation would do what the City has refused: acquire the relevant parcels for the purpose of fully establishing the long-promised Bushwick Inlet Park.

Legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

EFFECTIVE DATE : Immediately