Int. No. 451

By Council Members Provenzano, Comrie, Stewart (by request of the Mayor)

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to site eligibility limitations on benefits pursuant to section four hundred twenty-one-a of the real property tax law.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1.  The closing paragraph of subdivision (a) of section 11-245.1 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 29 for the year 2002, is amended to read as follows:

For purposes of this subdivision and subdivisions (a-1) through [(a-4)] (a-5) of this section, construction shall be deemed to have commenced on the date immediately following the issuance by the department of buildings of a new building permit for an entire new building (based upon architectural, plumbing and structural plans approved by such department) on which the excavation and the construction of initial footings and foundations commences in good faith, on vacant land and for the entire project site, as certified by an architect or professional engineer licensed in the state, provided that installation of footings and foundations is similarly certified by such architect or engineer to have been completed without undue delay.

§ 2.  Subdivisions (a-1) and (a-2) of section 11-245.1 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 29 for the year 2002, are amended to read as follows:

(a-1)  Except as provided in subdivision (a-2) of this section, where eligibility for benefits under section four hundred twenty-one-a of the real property tax law is sought for any construction commenced on or after May twelfth, two thousand and before [the effective date of the local law that added subdivisions (a-3) and (a-4) of this section] October thirtieth, two thousand two on the basis that such construction shall take place on land which, on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of such construction, was improved with a nonresidential building or buildings and was under-utilized, the under-utilization of the land must have been such that each building or buildings:

(1) contained no more than the permissible floor area ratio for nonresidential buildings in the zoning district in question and a floor area ratio which was seventy-five percent or less of the maximum floor area ratio for residential buildings, or

(2) had an assessed valuation equal to or less than seventy-five percent of the assessed valuation of the land on which the building or buildings were situated, or

(3) by reason of the configuration of the building, or substantial structural defects not brought about by deferred maintenance practices or intentional conduct, could no longer be functionally or economically utilized in the capacity in which it was formerly utilized.

For purposes of this subdivision, construction shall be deemed to have commenced as provided in subdivision (a) of this section.

(a-2)  Where eligibility for benefits under section four hundred twenty-one-a of the real property tax law is sought for any construction on any tax lot now existing or hereafter created which is located south of or adjacent to either side of one hundred tenth street in the borough of Manhattan which construction commenced on or after May twelfth, two thousand and before [the effective date of the local law that added subdivisions (a-3) and (a-4) of this section] October thirtieth, two thousand two on the basis that such construction shall take place on land which, on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of such construction, was improved with a nonresidential building or buildings and was under-utilized, the under-utilization of the land must have been such that each building or buildings:

(1) contained no more than the permissible floor area ratio for nonresidential buildings in the zoning district in question and a floor area ratio which was fifty percent or less of the maximum floor area ratio for residential buildings, or

(2) had an assessed valuation equal to or less than fifty percent of the assessed valuation of the land on which the building or buildings were situated, or

(3) by reason of the configuration of the building, or substantial structural defects not brought about by deferred maintenance practices or intentional conduct, could no longer be functionally or economically utilized in the capacity in which it was formerly utilized.

For purposes of this subdivision, construction shall be deemed to have commenced as provided in subdivision (a) of this section.

§ 3.  Subdivisions (a-3) and (a-4) of section 11-245.1 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 29 for the year 2002, are amended to read as follows:

(a-3)  Except as provided in [subdivision] subdivisions (a-4) and (a-5) of this section, where eligibility for benefits under section four hundred twenty-one-a of the real property tax law is sought for any construction commenced on or after [the effective date of the local law that added this subdivision] October thirtieth, two thousand two on the basis that such construction shall take place on land which, on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of such construction, was improved with a nonresidential building or buildings and was under-utilized, the under-utilization of the land must have been such that each building or buildings:

(1) contained no more than the permissible floor area ratio for nonresidential buildings in the zoning district in question and either (i) had a floor area ratio which was seventy-five percent or less of the maximum floor area ratio for residential buildings in such zoning district, or (ii) if the land was not zoned to permit residential use on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of construction, had a floor area ratio which was seventy-five percent or less of the floor area ratio of the residential building which replaces such non-residential building, or

(2) had an assessed valuation equal to or less than seventy-five percent of the assessed valuation of the land on which the building or buildings were situated, or

(3) by reason of the configuration of the building, or substantial structural defects not brought about by deferred maintenance practices or intentional conduct, could no longer be functionally or economically utilized in the capacity in which it was formerly utilized.

For purposes of this subdivision, construction shall be deemed to have commenced as provided in subdivision (a) of this section.

(a-4)  [Where] Except as provided in subdivision (a-5) of this section, where eligibility for benefits under section four hundred twenty-one-a of the real property tax law is sought for any construction on any tax lot now existing or hereafter created which is located south of or adjacent to either side of one hundred tenth street in the borough of Manhattan which construction commenced on or after [the effective date of the local law that added this subdivision] October thirtieth, two thousand two on the basis that such construction shall take place on land which, on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of such construction, was improved with a nonresidential building or buildings and was under-utilized, the under-utilization of the land must have been such that each building or buildings:

(1) contained no more than the permissible floor area ratio for nonresidential buildings in the zoning district in question and either (i) had a floor area ratio which was fifty percent or less of the maximum floor area ratio for residential buildings in such zoning district, or (ii) if the land was not zoned to permit residential use on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of construction, had a floor area ratio which was fifty percent or less of the floor area ratio of the residential building which replaces such non-residential building, or

(2) had an assessed valuation equal or less than fifty percent of the assessed valuation of the land on which the building or buildings were situated, or

(3) by reason of the configuration of the building, or substantial structural defects not brought about by deferred maintenance practices or intentional conduct, could no longer be functionally or economically utilized in the capacity in which it was formerly utilized.

For purposes of this subdivision, construction shall be deemed to have commenced as provided in subdivision (a) of this section.

§ 4.  Section 11-245.1 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision (a-5) to read as follows:

(a-5)  Where eligibility for benefits under section four hundred twenty-one-a of the real property tax law is sought for any construction on any tax lot now existing or hereafter created which is located on or south of Canal street, East Broadway (east of its intersection with Canal street), or Grand street (east of its intersection with East Broadway) in the borough of Manhattan which construction commenced on or after May first, two thousand three on the basis that such construction shall take place on land which, on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of such construction, was improved with a nonresidential building or buildings and was under-utilized, the under-utilization of the land must have been such that each building or buildings:

(1)  contained no more than the permissible floor area ratio for nonresidential buildings in the zoning district in question and either (i) had a floor area ratio which was seventy-five percent or less of the maximum floor area ratio for residential buildings in such zoning district, or (ii) if the land was not zoned to permit residential use on the date thirty-six months prior to the commencement of construction, had a floor area ratio which was seventy-five percent or less of the floor area ratio of the residential building which replaces such non-residential building, or

(2) had an assessed valuation equal to or less than seventy-five percent of the assessed valuation of the land on which the building or buildings were situated, or

(3) by reason of the configuration of the building, or substantial structural defects not brought about by deferred maintenance practices or intentional conduct, could no longer be functionally or economically utilized in the capacity in which it was formerly utilized.

For purposes of this subdivision, construction shall be deemed to have been commenced as provided in subdivision (a) of this section.

§ 5.  This local law shall take effect immediately.