BILL NUMBER: S9291
SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 471 of the laws of 2023 relating to authorizing
the City of White Plains to alienate property owned by the City of White
Plains and operated as the former Galleria of White Plains public park-
ing garage, in relation to the relevant parcels
 
PURPOSE OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to make corrections to the metes and bounds
provisions in chapter 471 of the laws of 2023 to allow the City of White
Plains to convey City owned property, formerly included on the Urban
Renewal Plan for the Central Renewal Project (NY R-37), for the purpose
of facilitating a transit-oriented residential and commercial develop-
ment project that will include affordable housing and public spaces.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
This bill makes technical corrections to the metes and bounds provisions
of Chapter 471 of the laws of 2023 to allow the City of White Plains,
notwithstanding provisions of section seventy-two j of the general
municipal law to the contrary, to sell, lease for a term not exceeding
99 years, or otherwise dispose of, five parcels of City property former-
ly operated as the Galleria of White Plains public parking garage with-
out public auction or sealed bids, provided however that public parking,
public space, and affordable housing is made available.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The White Plains Urban Renewal Agency approved the Urban Renewal Plan
for the Central Renewal Project (NY R-37), on July 14, 1964.
The former Galleria shopping center in the City of White Plains was
constructed on property disposed of by the White Plains Urban Renewal
Agency for the purposes of redevelopment in accordance with the Urban
Renewal Plan for the Central Renewal Project (NY R-37).
As part of the Galleria project and in accordance with the Urban Renewal
Plan for the Central Renewal Project (NY R-37) and the corresponding
Declaration of Restrictions affecting the disposition property, the
redeveloper constructed on a portion of the property a public parking
garage, and the parcels of property on which the parking garage is
located, and the garage improvements are currently owned by the City of
White Plains.
In June 1981, the Galleria project including the public parking garage
was certified by the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency as having been
completed in accordance with all terms, covenants, conditions, and
agreements contained in the Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Renewal
Project (NY R-37), the Declaration of Restrictions, and the deed to the
redeveloper of the affected property.
The Urban Renewal Plan for the Central Renewal Project (NY R-37) expired
in July 2019, and the Galleria shopping center closed in March, 2023.
The owner of the Galleria proposes to replace the outdated former shop-
ping center and the public parking garage with a sustainable, transit-
oriented residential and commercial development with significant public-
ly accessible spaces and amenities, and an active, pedestrian-oriented
streetscape, which will bring new residents and activity to the downtown
and restore the economic vitality of this crucial property in the down-
town core of the City. Public spaces may be privately-owned but must be
publicly accessible.
The Galleria project served the urban renewal purposes for which it was
developed. It is in the best interests of the City of White Plains to
allow the City to dispose of the public parking garage property for
private redevelopment in conjunction with the redevelopment of the
former Galleria shopping center without public auction or sealed bids,
as had been allowed under the former Urban Renewal Plan for the Central
Renewal Project (NY R-37) pursuant to which the Galleria project was
constructed.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.