S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   548

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Judiciary

AN  ACT to amend the eminent domain procedure law and the New York state
  urban development corporation act, in relation to defining blight; and
  to repeal certain provisions of the New York state  urban  development
  corporation act relating thereto

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings and  intent.  The  legislature  hereby
finds  and  declares  that  eminent  domain, while a meaningful tool for
government to move forward on important projects, has come under a great
deal of criticism in recent years for  many  alleged  abuses  that  have
occurred  within  the  state  of  New  York. Traditionally, the right of
eminent domain, or the state's ability to seize private land was limited
for "public use". However, over the years, phrases such as "public  use"
and "blighted" have taken on more expansive meanings.
  Since  Kelo v. City of New London, the 2005 decision in which the U.S.
Supreme Court approved  the  forcible  transfer  of  property  from  one
private  owner  to another in the name of "economic development", forty-
three states have passed eminent domain reform legislation. New York has
thus far failed to take such action but continues  again  and  again  to
approve  eminent  domain  condemnation for projects that benefit private
entities at the public's expense. A 2009 report  by  the  Institute  for
Justice  entitled  "Building  Empires, Destroying Homes:  Eminent Domain
Abuse in New York" detailed widespread eminent domain  abuse  throughout
the state.
  Furthermore,  two  recent court decisions, Goldstein v. New York State
Urban Development Corporation and Kaur v. New York State Urban  Develop-
ment  Corporation demonstrate the need to balance the rights of property
owners without stifling positive economic development programs. Instead,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD04202-01-3

A. 548                              2

New Yorkers suffer under an inequitable system of  eminent  domain  laws
that  greatly  favors private developers partnered with public actors at
the expense of homeowners, businesses, and tenants.
  The use of "blight" as a basis for condemnation is vaguely defined and
in  need  of  clarification.  Under  the loose standards of existing law
practically anything can qualify as blighted. Consequently it is  imper-
ative  that  the  legislature  enact  objective  criteria to ensure that
blight determinations are consistent, predictable, and based on  factors
actually  related to the public's health and safety. There also needs to
be better protections in place so that tenants and low income  residents
are ensured that they are not excluded from the development process.
  As Judge Catterson notes for the majority in the Kaur decision, it has
been  well  documented  that  the urban renewal schemes of the 1950s and
1960s displaced millions of people and destroyed hundreds  of  neighbor-
hoods.  By  and far, these programs disproportionately harmed low income
and minority families. Legislative  reforms  are  needed  to  prevent  a
repeat  of  these  injustices.  It  is now time for New York to make the
necessary reforms that will ensure a  fair  and  equitable  use  of  our
eminent domain laws.
  S  2.  Section  103  of the eminent domain procedure law is amended by
adding five new subdivisions (H), (I), (J),  (K)  and  (L)  to  read  as
follows:
  (H)  "BLIGHTED  PROPERTY"  AND  "BLIGHTED  AREA" MEAN PROPERTY THAT IS
DECLARED BLIGHTED UNDER SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOUR-A OF THIS CHAPTER.
  (I) "SLUM" MEANS PROPERTY THAT IS DECLARED BLIGHTED UNDER SECTION  TWO
HUNDRED FOUR-A OF THIS CHAPTER.
  (J)  "SUBSTANDARD  AND  INSANITARY  PROPERTY"  MEANS  PROPERTY THAT IS
DECLARED BLIGHTED UNDER SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOUR-A OF THIS CHAPTER.
  (K) "UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION" MEANS PREMISES WHICH  HAVE  IDENTIFI-
ABLE CONDITIONS THAT ENDANGER THE LIFE, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE OWNERS,
OCCUPANTS,  OR THE PUBLIC. CONDITIONS RENDERING PROPERTY UNFIT FOR HUMAN
HABITATION INCLUDE, BUT  ARE  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  SUBSTANTIAL  STRUCTURAL
DEFECTS  OR  DETERIORATION, VERMIN INFESTATION, LACK OF NECESSARY UTILI-
TIES, AND FIRE HAZARDS.
  (L) "ABANDONED PROPERTY" MEANS:
  (1) UNOCCUPIED PROPERTY WHICH HAS BEEN TAX DELINQUENT FOR AT LEAST TWO
YEARS; OR
  (2) A BUILDING:
  (A) THAT IS UNOCCUPIED BY OWNER OR TENANT;
  (B) THAT IS UNFIT FOR HABITATION;
  (C) THAT HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE:
  (I) THE BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND OR POSES AN IMMEDIATE  THREAT
TO LIFE OR OTHER PROPERTY; OR
  (II) THE COST OF REHABILITATION SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDS THE POST-REHABI-
LITATION MARKET VALUE; AND
  (D)  THE  OWNER  IS  UNKNOWN  OR THE OWNER FAILS TO RESPOND WITHIN SIX
MONTHS TO A VIOLATION NOTICE FROM THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY REQUIR-
ING THE OWNER TO:
  (I) REHABILITATE THE BUILDING TO CONFORM TO MINIMUM CODE  HABITABILITY
REQUIREMENTS; OR
  (II) DEMOLISH THE BUILDING FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS; OR
  (3) A VACANT LOT ON WHICH A BUILDING HAS BEEN DEMOLISHED AND FOR WHICH
A MUNICIPAL LIEN FOR DEMOLITION COSTS REMAINS UNPAID FOR SIX MONTHS.
  S  3.  Paragraph  4  of  subdivision (B) of section 204 of the eminent
domain procedure law is amended and a new paragraph 5 is added  to  read
as follows:

A. 548                              3

  (4) such other factors as it considers relevant[.];
  (5)  THE  FINDINGS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (D) OF SECTION TWO
HUNDRED FOUR-A OF THIS ARTICLE.
  S 4. The eminent domain procedure law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
section 204-a to read as follows:
  S  204-A. BLIGHTED PROPERTIES AND AREAS. (A) SUBJECT TO THE EXCEPTIONS
LISTED IN PARAGRAPH TWO OF SUBDIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION,  ANY  SINGLE
PROPERTY  MAY  BE  DECLARED  BLIGHTED  IF  IT MEETS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
CONDITIONS:
  (1) ANY PREMISES, WHICH BECAUSE OF DILAPIDATION, DETERIORATION, STRUC-
TURAL DEFECTS, VERMIN INFESTATION, HEALTH HAZARDS, FIRE HAZARDS, LACK OF
UTILITIES, LACK OF FACILITIES OR EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BY STATUTE OR MUNIC-
IPAL CODE, NEGLECT, OR LACK OF MAINTENANCE:
  (A) IS UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION;
  (B) HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE:
  (I) THE BUILDING IS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND OR POSES AN IMMEDIATE  THREAT
TO LIFE OR OTHER PROPERTY; OR
  (II) THE COST OF REHABILITATION SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDS THE POST-REHABI-
LITATION MARKET VALUE; AND
  (C)  THE  OWNER  FAILS  TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME
AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF VIOLATION BY THE  APPROPRIATE  GOVERNING  BODY
REQUIRING THE OWNER TO:
  (I)  REHABILITATE THE BUILDING TO CONFORM TO MINIMUM CODE HABITABILITY
REQUIREMENTS; OR
  (II) DEMOLISH THE BUILDING FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS.
  (2) ANY ABANDONED PROPERTY AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION  (L)  OF  SECTION
ONE HUNDRED THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
  (3)  PROPERTY  THAT  IS ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTAMINATED AND THAT REQUIRES
REMEDIATION FOR CURRENT OR FUTURE USE UNDER STATE OR FEDERAL LAW, IF THE
OWNER FAILS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF RECEIVING  NOTICE
OF VIOLATION FROM THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY.
  (4)  A  PREMISES  WHICH,  BECAUSE  OF  PHYSICAL  CONDITION  OR USE, IS
REGARDED AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE AT COMMON  LAW  OR  HAS  BEEN  DECLARED  A
PUBLIC NUISANCE UNDER A STATUTE OR AN APPLICABLE MUNICIPAL CODE, AND THE
OWNER  FAILS TO ABATE THE NUISANCE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF RECEIVING NOTICE
OF VIOLATION FROM THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY.
  (5) ANY WELL, SHAFT, BASEMENT, EXCAVATION, OR UNSAFE FENCE  OR  STRUC-
TURE THAT, BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL CONDITION, USE OR OCCUPANCY, IS DEEMED AN
ATTRACTIVE  NUISANCE  TO  CHILDREN,  AND  THE  OWNER  FAILS TO ABATE THE
NUISANCE WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE OF VIOLATION FROM  THE
APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY.
  (6)  VACANT  PROPERTY THAT HAS BECOME OVERGROWN WITH WEEDS, IS A PLACE
FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF TRASH AND DEBRIS, OR A HAVEN FOR VERMIN, IF  THE
OWNER  FAILS  TO  REMEDY  THE  PROBLEM WITHIN SIX MONTHS AFTER RECEIVING
NOTICE OF VIOLATION BY THE  APPROPRIATE  GOVERNING  BODY  REQUIRING  THE
OWNER TO REHABILITATE THE PROPERTY TO CONFORM WITH MINIMUM CODE REQUIRE-
MENTS.
  (7) DEFECTIVE OR UNUSUAL CONDITIONS OF TITLE THAT MAKE THE FREE TRANS-
FER OR ALIENATION OF THE PROPERTY IMPOSSIBLE.
  (8) OCCUPIED OR UNOCCUPIED PROPERTY THAT HAS TAX DELINQUENCIES EXCEED-
ING THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
  (9) PROPERTY THAT IS USED FOR PERVASIVE AND PERSISTENT CRIMINAL ACTIV-
ITY. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SUCH ACTIVITY SHALL BE DEFINED AS TWO
OR MORE CONVICTIONS OF ANY PERSON OR PERSONS HAD, WITHIN A PERIOD OF ONE
YEAR, FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PENAL LAW OFFENSES ARISING OUT OF CONDUCT
ENGAGED IN AT THE PROPERTY:

A. 548                              4

  (A)  SALE  OF  A  CONTROLLED  SUBSTANCE  DESCRIBED IN SECTIONS 220.31,
220.34, 220.39, 220.41, OR 220.43 OF THE PENAL LAW; OR
  (B)  OFFENSES  RELATED  TO  THE  CRIME OF PROSTITUTION AS DESCRIBED IN
ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED THIRTY OF THE PENAL LAW; OR
  (C) OFFENSES RELATED TO THE CRIME OF GAMBLING AS DESCRIBED IN  ARTICLE
TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE OF THE PENAL LAW; OR
  (D)  ENTERPRISE CORRUPTION AS DEFINED IN ARTICLE FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY OF
THE PENAL LAW.
  (10) PROPERTY THAT DOES NOT OTHERWISE MEET ANY OF THE CONDITIONS LIST-
ED IN THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE DECLARED BLIGHTED.
  (B) NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION,
THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS SHALL APPLY:
  (1) PROPERTY SHALL IN NO CASE BE DECLARED BLIGHTED IF IT MEETS ONE  OR
MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:
  (A)  VACANT  AND  UNIMPROVED PROPERTY LOCATED IN ANY RURAL OR SUBURBAN
AREA WHICH IS NOT SERVED BY EXISTING UTILITIES.
  (B) PROPERTY WHICH SATISFIES THE DEFINITION OF "FARM WOODLAND",  "LAND
USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION", "UNIQUE AND IRREPLACEABLE AGRICULTURAL
LAND",  OR  "VIABLE  AGRICULTURAL  LAND",  AS THOSE TERMS ARE DEFINED IN
SECTION THREE HUNDRED ONE OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW.
  (2) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, IF A DEVELOPER OR CONDEMNOR INVOLVED
IN A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT HAS CAUSED OR  BROUGHT  ABOUT  BY  ACTION  OR
INACTION  OR  MAINTAINED FOR MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS A CONDITION LISTED IN
SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION WITHIN THE PROPOSED PROJECT  AREA,  THAT
CONDITION MAY NOT BE USED IN THE DETERMINATION OF BLIGHT.
  (3)  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, IF PROPERTY LOCATED IN AN URBANIZED
AREA GENERALLY SERVED BY MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE  AND  UTILITIES  MEETS
ONE  OR MORE OF THE CONDITIONS LISTED IN SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION
DUE TO FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNING BODY TO  PROVIDE
NECESSARY UTILITY SERVICES AND/OR INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT CONDITION MAY NOT
BE USED IN THE DETERMINATION OF BLIGHT.
  (C)  MULTIPLE PROPERTIES AND PROJECT AREAS MAY BE DECLARED BLIGHTED IF
THEY MEET ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
  (1) FOR PURPOSES OF ACQUIRING MULTIPLE UNITS OF  PROPERTY  BY  EMINENT
DOMAIN, AN AREA MAY BE DECLARED GENERALLY BLIGHTED ONLY IF:
  (A)  THE AREA IS LOCATED IN AN URBAN OR SUBURBAN AREA GENERALLY SERVED
BY EXISTING UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE; AND
  (B) SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARCELS  IN  THE  AREA  ARE
DECLARED BLIGHTED UNDER SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION.
  (2) A CONDEMNOR MAY USE EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE ANY UNIT OF PROPERTY
WITHIN A BLIGHTED PROJECT AREA.
  (3)  PROPERTIES  OWNED BY A DEVELOPER OR CONDEMNOR INVOLVED IN A REDE-
VELOPMENT PROJECT MAY BE INCLUDED IN ANY BLIGHTED PROJECT AREA  DETERMI-
NATION.
  (4) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A BUILDING CONTAINING MULTIPLE UNITS
SHALL BE TREATED AS A SINGLE PROPERTY.
  (D)  THE  FOLLOWING  FINDINGS  SHALL  BE REQUIRED BEFORE A PROPERTY OR
PROJECT AREA MAY BE DECLARED BLIGHTED:
  (1) TO DECLARE ANY SINGLE PROPERTY BLIGHTED, THE CONDEMNOR  MUST  MAKE
WRITTEN  FINDINGS  IDENTIFYING  THE SPECIFIC CONDITIONS WHICH RENDER THE
PROPERTY BLIGHTED UNDER SUBDIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION.
  (2) TO DECLARE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES  OR  PROJECT  AREAS  BLIGHTED,  THE
CONDEMNOR MUST MAKE WRITTEN FINDINGS DEMONSTRATING THAT THE REQUIREMENTS
OF  SUBDIVISION  (C)  OF THIS SECTION HAVE BEEN MET. TO DEMONSTRATE THAT
SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE PARCELS IN THE AREA ARE INDIVIDUALLY BLIGHT-
ED, EACH BLIGHTED PARCEL MUST BE IDENTIFIED AND THE SPECIFIC  CONDITIONS

A. 548                              5

RENDERING  IT  BLIGHTED  UNDER  SUBDIVISION  (A) OF THIS SECTION MUST BE
IDENTIFIED.
  (E)  ANY  DECLARATION MADE PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION (D) OF THIS SECTION
SHALL BE VALID FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS.
  S 5. Section 2 of section 1 of  chapter  174  of  the  laws  of  1968,
constituting  the  New York state urban development corporation act, the
ninth undesignated paragraph as added by chapter 280 of the laws of 1984
and the tenth undesignated paragraph as amended by chapter  747  of  the
laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
  S  2.  Statement  of  legislative  findings and purposes. It is hereby
found and declared that there exists in [urban] SOME areas of this state
a condition of substantial and persistent unemployment and  underemploy-
ment  which  causes  hardship  to  many individuals and families, wastes
vital human resources, increases the public assistance  burdens  of  the
state  and municipalities, impairs the security of family life, contrib-
utes to the growth of crime and delinquency, prevents many of our  youth
from  finishing  their  educations,  impedes  the  economic and physical
development of municipalities and  adversely  affects  the  welfare  and
prosperity  of  all  the people of the state. [Many existing industrial,
manufacturing and commercial facilities in such urban areas are obsolete
and inefficient, dilapidated, and without adequate  mass  transportation
facilities  and  public  services. Many of such facilities are underuti-
lized or in the process of being vacated, creating additional  unemploy-
ment.  Technological  advances  and  the  provision of modern, efficient
facilities in other states will speed the obsolescence  and  abandonment
of  existing  facilities  causing  serious  injury to the economy of the
state. Many existing and planned industrial, manufacturing  and  commer-
cial  facilities are, moreover, far from or not easily accessible to the
places of residence of substantial numbers of unemployed persons.  As  a
result,  problems  of  chronic unemployment are not being alleviated but
are aggravated. New industrial, manufacturing and commercial  facilities
are  required  to attract and house new industries and thereby to reduce
the hazards of unemployment. The unaided efforts of  private  enterprise
have  not met and cannot meet the needs of providing such facilities due
to problems encountered in assembling suitable building sites]
  IT IS FURTHER FOUND AND DECLARED THAT THE UNAIDED EFFORTS  OF  PRIVATE
INDUSTRIAL,  MANUFACTURING  AND  COMMERCIAL  BUSINESSES  ARE  NEGATIVELY
AFFECTED BY AGING AND INEFFICIENT FACILITIES,  DIFFICULTIES  IN  FINDING
SUITABLE  BUILDING  SITES  FOR  NEW  FACILITIES, lack of adequate public
services, the unavailability of private capital for development [in such
urban areas], and the inability of private enterprise alone  to  plan[,]
AND  finance  DEVELOPMENT  and  TO coordinate [industrial and commercial
development] SUCH DEVELOPMENT with [residential developments for persons
and families of low income and  with]  AFFORDABLE  HOUSING  DEVELOPMENT,
COMMUNITY  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, public services and mass transportation
facilities.
  It is further found and declared that  there  exist  in  many  munici-
palities  within  this  state  [residential, nonresidential, commercial,
industrial or vacant areas, and combinations thereof, which are slum  or
blighted,  or  which  are  becoming  slum  or  blighted areas because of
substandard,  insanitary,  deteriorated  or  deteriorating   conditions,
including  obsolete  and dilapidated buildings and structures, defective
construction, outmoded design, lack of  proper  sanitary  facilities  or
adequate  fire  or  safety protection, excessive land coverage, insuffi-
cient light and ventilation, excessive population density, illegal  uses
and  conversions,  inadequate  maintenance,  buildings  abandoned or not

A. 548                              6

utilized in whole or substantial part, obsolete  systems  of  utilities,
poorly  or improperly designed street patterns and intersections, inade-
quate access to areas, traffic congestion hazardous to the public  safe-
ty,  lack of suitable off-street parking, inadequate loading and unload-
ing facilities, impractical street widths, sizes and shapes, blocks  and
lots  of  irregular  form,  shape  or insufficient size, width or depth,
unsuitable topography, subsoil or other  physical  conditions,  all  of]
BLIGHTED PROPERTIES AND BLIGHTED AREAS, WHICH ARE CHARACTERIZED BY PREM-
ISES  UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION AND DANGEROUS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY, AND
which hamper or impede proper and economic development of such areas and
which impair or arrest the sound growth of the area, community or  muni-
cipality, and the state as a whole.
  It is further found and declared that there is a serious need through-
out the state for adequate educational, recreational, cultural and other
community  facilities, the lack of which threatens and adversely affects
the health, safety[, morals] and welfare of the people of the state.
  It is further  found  and  declared  that  there  continues  to  exist
throughout  the  state  a seriously inadequate supply of [safe and sani-
tary] DECENT dwelling accommodations for persons  and  families  of  low
income.  This condition is contrary to the public interest and threatens
the health, safety, welfare, comfort and security of the people  of  the
state.  The  ordinary operations of private enterprise cannot provide an
adequate  supply  of  safe  and  sanitary  dwelling  accommodations  [at
rentals] which persons and families of low income can afford.
  IT  IS  FURTHER  FOUND  AND  DECLARED  THAT THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO
PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, TO ENCOURAGE
THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF EXISTING  AND  ALTERNATIVE  SOURCES  OF
ENERGY  AND  THE  CONSERVATION  OF  ENERGY, AND TO ABATE AND PREVENT THE
GENERATION OF HAZARDOUS WASTE, TOXIC BY-PRODUCTS,  AND  OTHER  TYPES  OF
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION.
  It  is  hereby  declared  to  be  the policy of the state to promote a
vigorous and growing economy, to  prevent  economic  stagnation  and  to
encourage  the  creation  of  new  job opportunities in order to protect
against the hazards of unemployment, reduce the level of public  assist-
ance  to now indigent individuals and families, increase revenues to the
state and to its municipalities and to achieve  stable  and  diversified
local  economies. In furtherance of these goals, it is the policy of the
state to retain  existing  industries  and  to  attract  new  industries
through  the  acquisition,  construction,  FINANCING, reconstruction and
rehabilitation of industrial and  manufacturing  plants  and  commercial
facilities,  and  to  develop  sites  for  new industrial and commercial
building. It is further declared to  be  the  policy  of  the  state  to
promote the development of such plants and facilities, reasonably acces-
sible  to residential facilities, in those areas where substantial unem-
ployment or underemployment exists, to the end that the  industrial  and
commercial  development [of our urban areas] will proceed in sound fash-
ion and in coordination with development of housing, mass transportation
and public services, and that job opportunities  will  be  available  in
those areas where people lack jobs.
  It  is  further  declared to be the policy of the state to promote the
safety, health[, morals] and welfare of the people of the state  and  to
promote  the  sound growth and development of our municipalities through
the [correction of such substandard, insanitary, blighted,  deteriorated
or  deteriorating  conditions, factors and characteristics by the clear-
ance, replanning, reconstruction, redevelopment, rehabilitation,  resto-
ration  or  conservation of such areas,] REDEVELOPMENT OF BLIGHTED AREAS

A. 548                              7

and [of areas reasonably accessible thereto] the undertaking  of  public
and  private  improvement  programs  [related  thereto],  including  the
provision of educational, recreational and cultural facilities, and  the
encouragement  of participation in these programs by private enterprise.
IN FURTHERANCE OF THESE GOALS, IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE  TO  ENGAGE
AND EMPOWER THE PUBLIC THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH,
AND  AN OPEN AND INCLUSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROCESS; TO COORDINATE
REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS  WITH  LOCAL  GOVERNMENT
PLANNING  GOALS;  TO  RESPECT  COMMUNITIES' EXISTING SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
FABRIC AND TO LIMIT RESIDENTIAL AND  BUSINESS  DISPLACEMENT  TO  MAXIMUM
EXTENT  POSSIBLE;  TO  REUSE  EXISTING  RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND
RECYCLE MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES; TO  ENCOURAGE  ENERGY  EFFICIENCY  AND
SUSTAINABLE  BUILDING; TO CONSERVE UNDEVELOPED LAND AND ENCOURAGE INFILL
AND BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT; TO IMPROVE OR RESTORE NATURAL  SYSTEMS  SUCH
AS  STREAMBEDS, DRAINAGE COURSES, WETLANDS, RIVERS, AND OTHER ECOLOGICAL
FEATURES, AND TO ENCOURAGE THE CREATION OF PUBLICLY AVAILABLE OPEN SPAC-
ES; TO ENSURE THAT ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION DOES NOT  DISPARATELY  AFFECT
AREAS WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF MINORITY OR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS; TO
INCORPORATE  CULTURAL  RESOURCES  AND LANDSCAPES INTO PROJECT DESIGNS BY
PRESERVING AND REHABILITATING BUILDINGS  WITH  CULTURAL,  HISTORICAL  OR
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, ENCOURAGING ADAPTIVE REUSE AS AN ALTERNATIVE
TO DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION, AND ENCOURAGING COMPATIBLE DESIGN OF
NEW CONSTRUCTION; TO ENCOURAGE THE RETENTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORD-
ABLE HOUSING THROUGH INCENTIVES, LOANS, AND OTHER PROGRAMS; TO ENCOURAGE
DEVELOPMENT  THAT  IS ACCESSIBLE AND INVITING TO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS
AND TRANSIT USERS, AND TO DISCOURAGE  DEVELOPMENT  THAT  IS  RELIANT  ON
PERSONAL   AUTOMOBILE  TRANSPORTATION;  TO  INCREASE  OPPORTUNITIES  FOR
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES,  LOCAL  BUSINESSES,
AND  BUSINESSES  OWNED  BY MINORITIES AND WOMEN, THROUGH PROCEDURES THAT
ARE FAIR, OPEN, EQUITABLE, TRANSPARENT, AND DEMONSTRATED TO BE THE  BEST
CHOICE  FOR  THE  PUBLIC  INTEREST; TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT GUARANTEES AND
PROTECTIONS IN THE EVENT THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WITHDRAW  FROM  PARTIC-
IPATION  IN  A REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT OR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM; TO INCREASE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR  LOCAL  RESIDENTS,  ESPECIALLY  LOW  INCOME
RESIDENTS,  HOMELESS  PERSONS,  SINGLE  PARENTS,  FORMERLY  INCARCERATED
PERSONS, AND PERSONS WITH OTHER  BARRIERS  TO  EMPLOYMENT,  THROUGH  JOB
TRAINING,  LOCAL  HIRING AND OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; AND TO ENCOURAGE
THE CREATION OF QUALITY JOBS THAT PROVIDE A LIVING WAGE, ADEQUATE HEALTH
BENEFITS, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT.
  It is further declared to be the policy of the state  to  promote  the
safety,  health[, morals] and welfare of the people of the state through
the provision of adequate, safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations and
facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto for persons and families of
low income.
  For these purposes, there should be created a  corporate  governmental
agency to be known as the "New York state urban development corporation"
which,  through  issuance  of  bonds and notes to the private, investing
public, by encouraging maximum participation by the  private  sector  of
the  economy,  including the sale or lease of the corporation's interest
in projects at the earliest time deemed feasible,  and  through  partic-
ipation  in  programs undertaken by the state, its agencies and subdivi-
sions, and by municipalities and the federal government, may provide  or
obtain  the  capital  resources  necessary to acquire, construct, recon-
struct, rehabilitate or improve such industrial, manufacturing,  commer-
cial,  educational,  recreational  and  cultural facilities, and housing
accommodations for persons and families of low  income,  and  facilities

A. 548                              8

incidental  or  appurtenant  thereto,  and  to carry out the [clearance,
replanning, reconstruction and rehabilitation of  such  substandard  and
insanitary] REDEVELOPMENT OF BLIGHTED areas.
  It is further declared to be the policy of New York state to encourage
the development of research and development facilities and high technol-
ogy  industrial  incubator  space  at  institutions  of higher education
located in this state and authorized to confer degrees by law or by  the
board  of  regents,  or  on lands in reasonable proximity to such insti-
tutions provided that (i) in the case of research and development facil-
ities such facilities are for the cooperative use of one  or  more  such
institutions  and  one or more business corporations, research consortia
or other industrial organizations  involved  in  research,  development,
demonstration,  or other technologically oriented industrial activities;
and (ii) in the case of high technology industrial incubator space, such
space shall be for rental to business concerns which are in their  form-
ative  stages  and  which  are  involved  in high technology activities,
including but not limited to business concerns  initiated  by  students,
employees  of  such  institution,  including  faculty  members and other
persons or firms academically associated with such institution.
  It is hereby declared that the acquisition,  construction,  FINANCING,
reconstruction,  rehabilitation or improvement of such industrial, manu-
facturing and commercial facilities, and of such  cultural,  educational
and  recreational  facilities  including  but  not limited to facilities
identified as projects and called for to implement  a  state  designated
heritage  area  management  plan  as  provided  in title G of the parks,
recreation and historic preservation law;  the  [clearance,  replanning,
reconstruction  and  rehabilitation  of such substandard and insanitary]
REDEVELOPMENT OF BLIGHTED areas; and the provision of adequate, safe and
sanitary housing accommodations for persons and families of  low  income
and  such  facilities  as  may  be incidental or appurtenant thereto are
public uses and public purposes for which public money may be loaned and
private property may be acquired and tax exemption granted, and that the
powers and duties of the New York state urban development corporation as
hereinafter prescribed are necessary  and  proper  for  the  purpose  of
achieving the ends here recited.
  S  6.  Section  3  of  section  1  of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968,
constituting the New York state urban development  corporation  act,  is
amended by adding two new subdivisions 31 and 32 to read as follows:
  (31)  "BLIGHTED  PROPERTY"  AND  "BLIGHTED  AREA".  PROPERTY  THAT  IS
DECLARED BLIGHTED UNDER SECTION 204-A OF THE  EMINENT  DOMAIN  PROCEDURE
LAW.
  (32) "SLUM". PROPERTY THAT IS DECLARED BLIGHTED UNDER SECTION 204-A OF
THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW.
  S  7.  Subdivision  12 of section 3 of section 1 of chapter 174 of the
laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban  development  corpo-
ration  act,  is  REPEALED  and a new subdivision 12 is added to read as
follows:
  (12) "SUBSTANDARD AND INSANITARY PROPERTY". PROPERTY THAT IS  DECLARED
BLIGHTED UNDER SECTION 204-A OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW.
  S  8.  Subdivision  7  of section 5 of section 1 of chapter 174 of the
laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban  development  corpo-
ration act, is amended to read as follows:
  (7)  To  acquire  or contract to acquire from any person, firm, corpo-
ration, municipality, federal  or  state  agency,  by  grant,  purchase,
condemnation  or otherwise, leaseholds, real, personal or mixed property
or any interest therein, SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS IN SECTION 204-A  OF

A. 548                              9

THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW; to own, hold, clear, improve and reha-
bilitate,  and to sell, assign, exchange, transfer, convey, lease, mort-
gage, or otherwise dispose of or encumber the same;
  S  9.  Section  10  of  section  1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968,
constituting the New  York  state  urban  development  corporation  act,
subdivision  (d) as amended by chapter 847 of the laws of 1971, subdivi-
sions (e) and (f) as added and subdivisions (g) and (h) as relettered by
chapter 839 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
  S 10. Findings of the corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this act, the corporation shall not be  empowered  to  undertake  the
acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or improvement
of a project unless the corporation finds:
  (a) in the case of a residential project:
  (1)  That  there  exists,  in  the  area in which the project is to be
located, or in an area reasonably accessible to such area,  a  need  for
[safe  and  sanitary] DECENT housing accommodations for persons or fami-
lies of low income, which the operations of  private  enterprise  cannot
provide;
  (2)  That  the  project  has  been  approved as a project of a housing
company pursuant to the provisions of the private housing finance law.
  (b) in the case of an industrial project:
  (1) That the area  in  which  the  project  is  to  be  located  is  a
[substandard or insanitary area, or is in danger of becoming a substand-
ard or insanitary area] BLIGHTED AREA, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDI-
VISION  (H)  OF SECTION 103 OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW, wherein
there exists a condition of substantial and persistent  unemployment  or
underemployment;
  (2) That the acquisition or construction and operation of such project
will  prevent,  eliminate  or  reduce unemployment or underemployment in
such area;
  (3) That such project shall consist of a building or  buildings  which
are  suitable for manufacturing, warehousing or research or other indus-
trial, business or commercial purposes[.];
  (4) That adequate provision has been, or will be made for the  payment
of the cost of the acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance and
upkeep of such project[.];
  (5) That the acquisition and construction, proposed leasing, operation
and use of such project will aid in the development, growth and prosper-
ity of the state and the area in which such project is located;
  (6)  That  the  plans  and  specifications assure adequate light, air,
sanitation and fire protection.
  (c) in the case of a land use improvement project:
  (1) That the area  in  which  the  project  is  to  be  located  is  a
[substandard or insanitary area, or is in danger of becoming a substand-
ard  or  insanitary  area and tends to impair or arrest the sound growth
and development of the municipality] BLIGHTED  AREA,  AS  THAT  TERM  IS
DEFINED  IN  SUBDIVISION (H) OF SECTION 103 OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCE-
DURE LAW;
  (2) That the project consists of a plan or undertaking for the  clear-
ance, replanning, reconstruction and rehabilitation of such area and for
recreational and other facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto;
  (3)  That  the  plan  or  undertaking  affords maximum opportunity for
participation by private enterprise, consistent with the sound needs  of
the municipality as a whole.
  (d) in the case of a civic project:

A. 548                             10

  (1)  That THE AREA IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS TO BE LOCATED IS A BLIGHTED
AREA, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION (H) OF SECTION 103  OF  THE
EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW, WHEREIN there exists [in the area in which
the  project  is  to  be located,] a need for the educational, cultural,
recreational, community, municipal, public service or other civic facil-
ity to be included in the project;
  (2) That the project shall consist of a building or buildings or other
facilities  which  are suitable for educational, cultural, recreational,
community, municipal, public service or other civic purposes;
  (3) That such project will be leased to or owned by the  state  or  an
agency  or  instrumentality  thereof,  a  municipality  or  an agency or
instrumentality thereof, a public corporation, or any other entity which
is carrying out a community, municipal, public service  or  other  civic
purpose,  and that adequate provision has been, or will be, made for the
payment of the cost of acquisition, construction, operation, maintenance
and upkeep of the project;
  (4) That the plans and specifications assure or will  assure  adequate
light, air, sanitation and fire protection.
  (e) in the case of an industrial effectiveness project:
  (1)  That a feasibility study or productivity assessment exists demon-
strating the potential for future profitability of the  firm  requesting
financial  assistance and such study or assessment has been reviewed and
approved by the commissioner of economic development;
  (2) That for loans to implement a  corporate  restructuring  or  turn-
around plan, the management of the industrial firm requesting assistance
is  capable  and  the  firm  has  a sound business development plan that
includes measures to ensure labor  and  management  cooperation  and  to
effect changes required to continue as a successful business;
  (3)  That  the  requested  financial  assistance is not available from
other public or private financing sources; and
  (4) That the area  in  which  the  project  is  to  be  located  is  a
[substandard or insanitary area, or is in danger of becoming a substand-
ard or insanitary area] BLIGHTED AREA, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDI-
VISION  (H)  OF SECTION 103 OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE LAW, wherein
there exists a condition of substantial and persistent  unemployment  or
underemployment.
  (f)  in  the  case  of  a  small  and medium-sized business assistance
project:
  (1) That the area in which the project will be located is a [substand-
ard or insanitary area, or is in danger of  becoming  a  substandard  or
insanitary  area]  BLIGHTED AREA, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION
(H) OF SECTION 103 OF THE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEDURE  LAW,  wherein  there
exists  a condition of substantial and persistent unemployment or under-
employment;
  (2) That the project demonstrates  market,  management  and  financial
feasibility and has a clear likelihood of success;
  (3)  That the [industrial] firm provides at least a ten percent equity
contribution and such contribution is not  derived  from  other  govern-
mental sources;
  (4)  That  the  requested  financial  assistance is not available from
other public or private financing sources on terms compatible  with  the
successful completion of the project;
  (5)  That the project will not result in the relocation of any [indus-
trial] firm from one municipality within the state  to  another  munici-
pality,  OR  IN  THE  ABANDONMENT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FIRMS' PLANTS OR
FACILITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE, except under one of  the  following

A. 548                             11

conditions: (i) when [an industrial] A firm is relocating within a muni-
cipality  with  a population of at least one million where the governing
body of such municipality approves such relocation; [or] (ii) the corpo-
ration notifies each municipality from which such [industrial] firm will
be  relocated  and each municipality agrees to such relocation; OR (III)
THE CORPORATION SHALL DETERMINE ON THE BASIS OF THE  APPLICATION  BEFORE
IT  THAT THE PROJECT IS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO DISCOURAGE THE FIRM FROM
RELOCATING TO A LOCATION OUTSIDE THE STATE AND TO PRESERVE  THE  COMPET-
ITIVE POSITION OF THE FIRM WITHIN ITS RESPECTIVE INDUSTRY; and
  (6) That the project is not for the purpose of refinancing any portion
of  the  total  project  cost  or  other  existing loans or debts of the
project sponsor or owner.
  (g) in the case of all projects, that [there is a feasible method  for
the  relocation  of  families and individuals displaced from the project
area into decent, safe and sanitary dwellings] THE DISPLACEMENT OF RESI-
DENTS AND BUSINESSES IS LIMITED TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, AND THAT
ALL DISPLACED RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WILL BE AFFORDED ADEQUATE COMPEN-
SATION AND/OR ASSISTANCE TO BE  RELOCATED  TO  SUBSTANTIALLY  COMPARABLE
PROPERTIES,  which are or will be [provided] LOCATED in the project area
or in [other areas] AN AREA REASONABLY PROXIMATE TO THE PROJECT AREA AND
not generally less desirable in regard to public  utilities  and  public
and  commercial  facilities, at SUBSTANTIALLY COMPARABLE rents or prices
[within the financial  means  of  such  families  or  individuals],  and
reasonably  accessible  to  their  places of DWELLING AND/OR employment.
[Insofar as is feasible, the] THE corporation shall offer  SUBSTANTIALLY
COMPARABLE  housing  accommodations  to  [such families and individuals]
DISPLACED RESIDENTS in [residential] projects [of the corporation]  THAT
INCLUDE  A RESIDENTIAL COMPONENT, AND INSOFAR AS IS FEASIBLE, THE CORPO-
RATION SHALL OFFER SUBSTANTIALLY  COMPARABLE  INDUSTRIAL  OR  COMMERCIAL
ACCOMMODATIONS  TO  DISPLACED  BUSINESSES  IN  PROJECTS  THAT INCLUDE AN
INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL COMPONENT. The corporation may render to  busi-
ness and commercial tenants and [to families or other persons] displaced
[from  the  project area,] RESIDENTS ANY OTHER such assistance as it may
deem [necessary to enable them to relocate] APPROPRIATE.
  (h) in the case of all projects, the corporation shall state the basis
for its findings.
  S 10. This act shall take effect immediately.