NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT a Real Property Acquisitions and Dispositions Public Hearing will be held on Monday October 7, 2019, at 1 Centre Street, 20th Floor, Conference Room D, Borough of Manhattan, commencing at 10:00 a.m., relative to the conveyance of property located at 121 West 125th Street, New York, NY, 10027, Tax Block 1910, p/o Lot 1. The project site is comprised of a parcel of land in Central Harlem, Borough of Manhattan, situated between Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and Lenox Avenue on the north side of 125th street, within a C4-7 zoning district. The proposed action is a conveyance of the project site, by quitclaim deed, from the City of New York (the “City”) to the New York State Urban Development Corporation d/b/a Empire State Development (“ESD”) pursuant to Section 14 of the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act, Chapter 174, Section 1 of the Laws of 1968, as amended (the “UDC Act”). Total consideration for the proposed conveyance is Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000.00). The proposed action will facilitate an initiative by ESD to implement approximately 413,000 gross square feet of mixed-use residential, commercial and civic development in accordance with the Modified General Project Plan for the 121 West 125th Street (Urban League Empowerment Center) Land Use Improvement and Civic Project (the “Project”). The Project will consist of a residential development (comprising approximately 171 dwelling units, of which approximately 70% will be affordable to households earning between 40% and 80% of Area Median Income and approximately 30% of which will be supportive housing units); retail space; a conference center; office space for the National Headquarters of the National Urban League; cultural space dedicated to a civil rights museum; a community facility; and additional commercial office space.
The project site is currently improved with a 160,000 gross square foot structure consisting of a 304-space public parking garage and 6 retail stores at grade level.
Pursuant to Section 14 of the UDC Act, by letter dated July 30, 2019, the President of ESD requested that the City convey its ownership interest in the property to ESD, and certified that the conveyance is necessary and convenient for ESD’s corporate purposes, specifically for the implementation of the Project.
The discretionary actions required for the proposed project include: Conveyance of City-owned property to ESD for the purpose of subsequent development; An Environmental Assessment Statement was conducted in 2008 pursuant to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and concluded that there were no negative environmental impacts that could result from the implementation of the Project. Subsequently, a Technical Memorandum was produced in July 2019 which concluded that the latest proposed development program would not result in any significant adverse impacts beyond those disclosed in the 2008 environmental review.
This Notice of Public Hearing has been prepared pursuant to the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act, Chapter 174, Section 1 of the Laws of 1968, as amended.