File #: Res 1891-2009    Version: * Name: Authorize the City of New York to privately sell certain property that cannot be independently developed.
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Governmental Operations
On agenda: 4/2/2009
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass Bill No. A06138, which would authorize the City of New York to privately sell certain property that cannot be independently developed.
Sponsors: Vincent Ignizio, Helen Sears, James S. Oddo, Vincent J. Gentile, David I. Weprin
Council Member Sponsors: 5
Attachments: 1. Committee Report 6/26/09, 2. Hearing Transcript 6/26/09, 3. Committee Report 6/29/09, 4. Hearing Testimony 6/29/09, 5. Hearing Transcript 6/29/09, 6. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 6/30/09
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
6/30/2009*Vincent Ignizio City Council Approved, by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
6/29/2009*Vincent Ignizio Committee on Governmental Operations Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/29/2009*Vincent Ignizio Committee on Governmental Operations Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
6/26/2009*Vincent Ignizio Committee on Governmental Operations Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/26/2009*Vincent Ignizio Committee on Governmental Operations Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/2/2009*Vincent Ignizio City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/2/2009*Vincent Ignizio City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 1891

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass Bill No. A06138, which would authorize the City of New York to privately sell certain property that cannot be independently developed.

 

By Council Members Ignizio, Sears, Oddo, Gentile and Weprin

                     Whereas, The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (“DCAS”) is responsible for selling the City’s real estate holdings; and

Whereas, DCAS is required by New York State law to sell city-owned property through public auctions or other competitive bidding processes; and

Whereas, DCAS has identified approximately 1,000 lots of land throughout the five boroughs that cannot be independently developed because of size, shape, zoning, configuration and topography; and

Whereas, These lots - mostly small strips of land - generally go unused and are not well maintained, consequently detracting from the beauty of the neighborhoods in which they are located; and

Whereas, In some cases, adjacent property owners use the land without permission from the City; and

Whereas, Because of the size, shape, zoning, configuration and topography of these lots, the land can only be fully utilized by adjacent property owners; and

Whereas, DCAS therefore believes it is in the city’s interest to forego the public auction process for such parcels, and, instead, sell these properties directly to the abutting property owners; and

Whereas, During public auctions, bidders who do not own property adjacent to the lot being auctioned may outbid those who live adjacent to the property so that they can re-sell the land at a higher price on the private market; and

Whereas, The City stands to benefit more in the long term from selling the land directly to adjacent property owners than at public auction because adjacent property owners have a stake in using the land to not merely make money, but also to improve their neighborhoods; and

Whereas, Since selling these lots directly to adjacent property owners is beneficial to both property owners and the people of the City; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass Bill No. A06138, which would authorize the City of New York to privately sell certain property that cannot be independently developed.

JCG

03/23/09

LS 7325 & 7338