Authorizes the commissioner of general services to convey real property at the former Buffalo psychiatric center to the Richardson Center Corporation
Summary
This bill authorizes the commissioner of general services, with the consent of the commissioner of mental health, to transfer and convey approximately 1.62 acres of state-owned land at the former Buffalo Psychiatric Center in the City of Buffalo to the Richardson Center Corporation. The bill specifies the parcels by metes and bounds, requires the corporation to submit an accurate survey for approval, and limits the conveyance to an application made within one year of the act’s effective date. The commissioner is given discretion to set the terms, conditions, and consideration for the sale or transfer.
The conveyed land must be used exclusively by the Richardson Center Corporation to construct a mixed-use campus for community benefit. If that use ends, title reverts to the State of New York, while preserving any existing reversionary right benefiting the City of Buffalo. The act takes effect immediately and is a targeted land conveyance measure rather than a broad policy change.
Impact
The bill would amend state property administration by creating a specific statutory authorization for the transfer of designated state land from the former Buffalo Psychiatric Center to a nonprofit or development entity, the Richardson Center Corporation. It affects the authority of the commissioner of general services and the commissioner of mental health by allowing them to approve and execute the conveyance under conditions set in the act, and it imposes use restrictions, survey requirements, a filing deadline, and a reversion clause that protects state and city interests.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available legislative context, the measure appears to be generally supportive and noncontroversial in nature, aimed at facilitating redevelopment of underused state property for a stated community-benefit purpose. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials indicating opposition, and the bill had advanced to the Assembly Floor Calendar, suggesting it was moving through the process without evident public dispute in the available record.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are the transfer of public land to a private or quasi-private corporation, the terms of consideration left to administrative discretion, and the long-term control of the property through reversion provisions. Any concern would likely center on whether the mixed-use campus truly serves the community benefit promised, whether the state is receiving adequate value, and how the conveyance interacts with the existing reversionary interest of the City of Buffalo. No specific opposing viewpoints are documented in the provided materials.
Same As
Authorizes the commissioner of general services to convey real property at the former Buffalo psychiatric center to the Richardson Center Corporation for the purposes of constructing a mixed-use campus for the community benefit.
Authorizes the commissioner of general services to convey real property at the former Buffalo psychiatric center to the Richardson Center Corporation for the purposes of constructing a mixed-use campus for the community benefit.
Authorizes the commissioner of general services to transfer and convey certain state land to the Syosset Central School District for the purpose of building new and expanding current facilities at Berry Hill Elementary School; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.
Authorizes the commissioner of general services to transfer and convey certain state land to the Syosset Central School District for the purpose of building new and expanding current facilities at Berry Hill Elementary School; provides for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof.