§ 2557. Purchase and sale of real property. The board of education
may purchase real property for any of the purposes authorized by law and
shall take title thereof in the name of the city, which shall hold said
property in trust for the use of such school district and the city is
hereby empowered to sell and convey the same when it deems it for the
interest of such school district, and when the owner of such property
refuses to sell the same or such board is unable to agree with the owner
of such property on the purchase price thereof, it shall have the power
and authority to institute such proceedings and take any action
necessary to acquire title to such property under and pursuant to the
provisions of the eminent domain procedure law, except that in a city
in which the common council, board of contract and supply or other city
officers or body were authorized and empowered by law to acquire title
to real property for school purposes under the laws in force on June
eighth, nineteen hundred seventeen, said council, board, officers or
body shall continue to possess such powers and shall exercise the same,
including the power to acquire real property for said purposes except
further that such real property shall be acquired pursuant to the
eminent domain procedure law.