§ 103. Acquisition of lands. Whenever any real estate or interest
therein shall be required for any municipal purpose, except as otherwise
provided by law, the commissioner of public works may acquire for the
city the necessary land and real estate by gift or by purchase, at a
price approved by the board of estimate and apportionment, or by the
proceedings specified in the eminent domain procedure law, or in the
case of property required for street purposes, by the proceedings
provided by law for acquiring and ascertaining damages for property
taken for purposes of street openings.