File #: Res 1630-2012    Version: * Name: LU 746 - Planning, 235 Central Park North, Manhattan (20135199 HAM)
Type: Resolution Status: Adopted
Committee: Committee on Land Use
On agenda: 12/18/2012
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution approving a new tax exemption, a voluntary dissolution and termination of a prior tax exemption for an Exemption Area located at 235 Central Park North (Block 1826, Lot 8), Borough of Manhattan, pursuant to the Private Housing Finance Law (L.U. No. 746; 20135199 HAM).
Sponsors: Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Stephen T. Levin
Council Member Sponsors: 2
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 12-18-12
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
RESOLUTION NO. 1630
 
 
Resolution approving a new tax exemption, a voluntary dissolution and termination of a prior tax exemption for an Exemption Area located at 235 Central Park North (Block 1826, Lot 8), Borough of Manhattan, pursuant to the Private Housing Finance Law (L.U. No. 746; 20135199 HAM).
 
 
By Council Members Comrie and Levin
 
WHEREAS, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development ("HPD") submitted to the Council on November 30, 2012 its request dated November 27, 2012 that the Council take the following actions regarding a development (the "Project") located at 235 Central Park North (Block 1826, Lot 8), Community District 9, Borough of Manhattan (the "Exemption Area"):
 
1.      Approve the tax exemption of the Exemption Area from real property taxes pursuant to Section 577 of the Private Housing Finance Law;
2.      Approve, pursuant to Section 125 of the Private Housing Finance Law (PHFL), the termination of the partial tax exemption of the Exemption Area granted by the Board of Estimate on October 9, 1980 (Cal. No. 10) ("Prior Exemption"), which termination shall become effective one day preceding the conveyance of the Exemption Area from the Current Owner to the New Owner.
3.      Consent, pursuant to Section 123(4) of the PHFL, to the voluntary dissolution of the Current Owner.
4.      If (i) the conveyance of the Exemption Area from the Current Owner to the New Owner does not occur within one day following the termination of the Prior Exemption, or (ii) the conveyance of the Exemption Area from the Current Owner to the New Owner does not occur on the same day as the voluntary dissolution of the Current Owner, then all of the approvals and consents set forth above shall be null and void, the dissolution shall be rescinded, and both the obligations of the Current Owner to remain an Article V redevelopment company and the Prior Exemption shall be reinstated as though they had never been terminated or interrupted.
           WHEREAS, upon due notice, the Council held a public hearing on the Project on December 17, 2012;
 
      WHEREAS, the Council has considered the land use and financial implications and other policy issues relating to the Project;
 
RESOLVED:
 
The Council approves the tax exemption of the Exemption Area from real property taxes pursuant to Section 577 of the Private Housing Finance Law as follows:
1.      For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
a.      (1)       "Company" shall mean Hargate NYAH Holdings LLC.
(2)      "Current Owner" shall mean Hargate Associates, L.P.
(3)      "Effective Date" shall mean the later of (i) the date of conveyance of the Exemption Area to the HDFC, and (ii) the date that HPD and the New Owner enter into the Regulatory Agreement.
(4)      "Exemption Area" shall mean the real property located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, known as Block 1826, Lot 8.
(5)      "Expiration Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) a date which is thirty (30) years from the Effective Date, (ii) the date of the expiration or termination of the Regulatory Agreement, or (iii) the date upon which the Exemption Area ceases to be owned by either a housing development fund company or an entity wholly controlled by a housing development fund company.
(6)      "HDFC' shall mean HP Hargate Housing Development Fund Company, Inc.
(7)       "HPD" shall mean the Department of Housing Preservation and Development of the City of New York.
(8)      "New Exemption" shall mean the exemption from real property taxation provided hereunder with respect to the Exemption Area.
(9)      "New Owner" shall mean, collectively, the HDFC and the Company.
(10)      "Prior Exemption" shall mean the exemption of the Exemption Area from real property taxation pursuant to Section 125 of the PHFL approved by the Board of Estimate on October 9, 1980 (Cal. No. 10).
(11)      "Regulatory Agreement" shall mean the regulatory agreement between HPD and the New Owner establishing certain controls upon the operation of the Exemption Area during the term of the New Exemption.
(12)      "Shelter Rent" shall mean the total rents received from the commercial and residential occupants of the Exemption Area, including any federal subsidy (including, but not limited to, Section 8, rent supplements and rental assistance), less the cost of providing to such occupants electricity, gas, heat and other utilities.
(13)      "Shelter Rent Tax" shall mean an amount equal to five percent (5%) of Shelter Rent
b.      All of the value of the property in the Exemption Area, including both the land and any improvements (excluding those portions, if any, devoted to business or commercial use), shall be exempt from real property taxes, other than assessments for local improvements, for a period commencing upon the Effective  Date and terminating upon the Expiration Date.
c.      Commencing upon the Effective Date, and during each year thereafter until the Expiration Date, the New Owner shall make real property tax payments in the sum of the Shelter Rent Tax. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total annual real property tax payment by the New Owner shall not at any time exceed the amount of real estate taxes that would otherwise be due in the absence of any form of tax exemption or abatement provided by an existing or future local, state, or federal law, rule or regulation.
d.      Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary:
(1)      The New Exemption shall terminate if HPD determines at any time that (i) the Exemption Area is not being operated in accordance with the requirements of Article XI of the Private Housing Finance Law, (ii) the Exemption Area is not being operated in accordance with the requirements of the Regulatory Agreement, (iii) the Exemption Area is not being operated in accordance with the requirements of any other agreement with, or for the benefit of, the City of New York, or (iv) the demolition of any private or multiple dwelling on the Exemption Area has commenced without the prior written consent of HPD.  HPD shall deliver written notice of any such determination to New Owner and all mortgagees of record, which notice shall provide for an opportunity to cure of not less than sixty (60) days.  If the noncompliance specified in such notice is not cured within the time period specified therein, the New Exemption shall prospectively terminate.
(2)      The New Exemption shall not apply to any building constructed on the Exemption Area which did not have a permanent certificate of occupancy on the Effective Date.
(3)      Nothing herein shall entitle the HDFC to a refund of any real property taxes which accrued and were paid with respect to the Exemption Area prior to the Effective Date.
e.      In consideration of the New Exemption, the owner of the Exemption Area, for so long as the New Exemption shall remain in effect, shall waive the benefits of any additional or concurrent real property tax exemption from or abatement of real property taxation which may be authorized under any existing or future local, state or federal law, rule or regulation.
The Council approves, pursuant to Section 125 of the PHFL, the termination of the Prior Exemption, which termination shall be effective one (1) day preceding the date of conveyance of the Exemption Area from the Current Owner to the New Owner.
The Council consents, pursuant to Section 123(4) of the PHFL, to the voluntary dissolution of the Current Owner.
If the conveyance of the Exemption Area from the Current Owner to the New Owner does not occur either (i) within one day following the termination of the Prior Exemption, or (ii) on the same day as the voluntary dissolution of the Current Owner, then all of the approvals and consents set forth above shall be null and void, the dissolution shall be rescinded, and both the obligations of the Current Owner to remain an Article V redevelopment company and the Prior Exemption shall be reinstated as though they had never been terminated or interrupted.
 
Adopted.
 
 
           Office of the City Clerk, }
            The City of New York,  } ss.:
 
                    I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution passed by The Council of The City of New York on December 18, 2012, on file in this office.
 
 
 
 
 
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                                                                                City Clerk, Clerk of The Council