File #: Res 0330-2004    Version: * Name: Enact the New York State Cultural Development Areas Act (A.7018-A / S.3109-A)
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations
On agenda: 5/5/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to enact A.7018-A/S.3109-A, the New York State Cultural Development Areas Act, which creates the New York State cultural development program; provides for the designation of cultural development areas and provides for certain tax benefits within those areas.
Sponsors: Margarita Lopez, Alan J. Gerson, Charles Barron, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, Bill Perkins, Larry B. Seabrook, Helen Sears, John C. Liu
Council Member Sponsors: 10

Res. No. 330

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to enact A.7018-A/S.3109-A, the New York State Cultural Development Areas Act, which creates the New York State cultural development program; provides for the designation of cultural development areas and provides for certain tax benefits within those areas.

 

By Council Members Lopez, Gerson, Barron, Fidler, Gentile, James, Perkins, Seabrook, Sears and Liu

 

Whereas, Cultural institutions have proven to be a social and economic benefit to the communities, in which they are located; and

 

Whereas, New York State Assembly bill A.7018-A and New York State Senate bill S3109-A would create a New York State Cultural Development Areas Program; and

 

Whereas, The New York State Cultural Development Areas Program would provide for the designation of Cultural Development Areas; and

 

Whereas, There shall be a total of no fewer than six but no more than nine Cultural Development Areas in New York State to be approved by the New York State Commissioner of Economic Development; and

 

Whereas, To qualify as a Cultural Development Area, the area must have one or more arts corporations, or the county executive must certify that it will within a year of its designation; shall not exceed two square miles, and shall be defined by one or more borders as determined by the applicant, which, where appropriate, shall include major natural or man-made physical boundaries, such as bodies of water, railroad lines, or limited access highways.

 

Whereas, Such borders must be contiguous and 25% of the total land and/or the total square footage of facilities within a proposed Cultural Development Area must be vacant, abandoned, or otherwise available for development; and

 

Whereas, The New York State Cultural Development Areas program would provide that capital improvements to qualified buildings within a Cultural Development Area are eligible for real property tax exemptions; and

 

Whereas, The New York State Cultural Development Areas program would also provide for a personal income tax credit for donations made on behalf of a qualifying capital project; and

 

Whereas, The New York State Cultural Development Areas Program allows for the designation of “Cultural Assets” outside of the Cultural Development Area, that are defined as a single building owned in whole or in part by an arts corporation the purpose of which is the presentation or exhibition of artistic or cultural performances or exhibits to the public; and

 

Whereas, The New York State Cultural Development Areas program allows the designation and creation of an Arts and Cultural Development Area by passage of local law and submission of an application for approval to a newly created Culture Areas Council, the New York State Council on the Arts and the Department of Economic Development and other entities to ensure that the geographic area chosen can support and sustain a revitalized arts community; and

 

Whereas, The New York City Council has historically been a strong supporter and advocate for cultural institutions throughout the five boroughs; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State legislature to enact A.7018-A/S.3109-A, the New York State Cultural Development Areas Act, which creates the New York State cultural development program; provides for the designation of cultural development areas; and provides for certain tax benefits within those areas.

 

712/CH/4/19/04