Bill Text: NY S07443 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Authorizes the state university of New York to lease a portion of the lands on the campus of SUNY Buffalo State University for the relocation and operation of the Leonardo da Vinci High School; relates to the computation of building aid for the renovation and equipping of the Leonardo da Vinci high school.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-25 - SIGNED CHAP.603 [S07443 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S07443-Introduced.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          7443

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                      May 26, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  RYAN  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education

        AN ACT authorizing the state university of New York to lease  a  portion
          of  the  lands  on the campus of SUNY Buffalo State University for the
          relocation and operation of the Leonardo da Vinci High School; and  to
          amend  the  education  law, in relation to the computation of building
          aid for the renovation and equipping of the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  high
          school

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that the  state
     2  university  of  New York at Buffalo State ("SUNY Buffalo State Universi-
     3  ty") seeks to lease Buckham Hall building number 32 and surrounding land
     4  on the north and west sides on SUNY Buffalo State University's campus to
     5  the Buckham Development Corporation for  the  purpose  of  enabling  the
     6  Buckham  Development  Corporation  to lease such grounds and facility to
     7  the city school district of the city of Buffalo for the purpose of relo-
     8  cating such district's Leonardo da Vinci High School program.
     9    The legislature further finds that such an arrangement will afford the
    10  city school district of the city of  Buffalo  the  ability  to  renovate
    11  Buckham  Hall for use by Leonardo da Vinci High School thereby providing
    12  approximately 400 grade 9-12  city  school  district  pupils  access  to
    13  college  level  courses  and  a campus-based experience, and potentially
    14  increasing future SUNY Buffalo State University enrollment, while creat-
    15  ing opportunities for partnership and enrichment between the city school
    16  district of the city of Buffalo and SUNY Buffalo State University.
    17    Finally, the legislature finds that granting the trustees of the state
    18  university of New York the authority and power to  lease  and  otherwise
    19  contract  to  make  available the aforementioned grounds and facility on
    20  the campus of the SUNY Buffalo State University for these purposes  will

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11635-02-3

        S. 7443                             2

     1  promote  the  provision  of educational opportunities for the University
     2  and the surrounding community.
     3    §  2. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the state univer-
     4  sity of New York trustees are  authorized  and  empowered,  without  any
     5  public  bidding,  to  lease  and otherwise contract to make available to
     6  Buckham  Development  Corporation,  a  not-for-profit  corporation  (the
     7  "ground  lessee"),  a  portion  of the lands of the university generally
     8  described in section four of this act for the purpose of authorizing the
     9  city school district of the city of Buffalo  to  relocate  and  develop,
    10  construct,  maintain  and  operate Leonardo da Vinci High School for the
    11  city school district's students. Such lease  or  contract  between  SUNY
    12  Buffalo  State  University and the Buckham Development Corporation shall
    13  be for a period not exceeding 37 years without any fee simple conveyance
    14  and otherwise upon terms and conditions  determined  by  such  trustees,
    15  subject  to  the approval of the director of the division of the budget,
    16  the attorney general and the state comptroller. In the  event  that  the
    17  real  property that is the subject of such lease or contract shall cease
    18  to be used for the purpose described in this act, such lease or contract
    19  shall immediately terminate and the real property and  any  improvements
    20  thereon  shall  revert to the state university of New York. Any lease or
    21  contract entered into pursuant to this act shall provide that  the  real
    22  property  that is the subject of such lease or contract and any improve-
    23  ments thereon shall revert to the state university of New  York  on  the
    24  expiration  of  such  contract or lease. Such contract or lease shall be
    25  deemed to be a state contract for purposes of article 15-A of the execu-
    26  tive law and shall include an indemnity provision whereby the lessee  or
    27  sublessee  promises  to  indemnify,  hold harmless and defend the lessor
    28  against all claims, suits, actions, and liability to all persons on  the
    29  leased premises, including tenant, tenant's agents, contractors, subcon-
    30  tractors,  employees, customers, guests, licensees, invitees and members
    31  of the public, for damage to any such person's property, whether real or
    32  personal, or for personal injuries arising out of tenant's use or  occu-
    33  pation of the demised premises.
    34    §  3.  It  is  expressly found that the relocation to the SUNY Buffalo
    35  State University campus and operation of  the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  High
    36  School  may  be  authorized by the board of education of the city school
    37  district of the city of Buffalo pursuant to the laws,  rules  and  regu-
    38  lations  which  are  applicable to a public high school unless otherwise
    39  provided for in this act. The high school shall be subject to the  over-
    40  sight  of  the  board  of  regents and the program shall be audited in a
    41  manner consistent with provisions of law and regulations that are appli-
    42  cable to other public schools. The board of education of the city school
    43  district of the city of Buffalo shall have the  responsibility  for  the
    44  operation,  supervision  and maintenance of the high school and shall be
    45  responsible for the administration of the high school, including curric-
    46  ulum, grading, discipline and staffing.
    47    § 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the  contrary,  the
    48  board  of  education  of the city school district of the city of Buffalo
    49  shall develop a comprehensive plan  outlining  the  project.  Such  plan
    50  shall  include:  an  estimate of the total project cost, including esti-
    51  mates on the design, reconstruction and  rehabilitation  costs  and  any
    52  administrative  costs for the project, attestation that the district has
    53  sufficient reserves to cover such costs and an outline of the time-frame
    54  expected for completion of the project.
    55    § 5. The city school district of the  city  of  Buffalo  shall  submit
    56  estimated project costs for the renovation and equipping of the Leonardo

        S. 7443                             3

     1  da  Vinci High School after completion of schematic plans and specifica-
     2  tions for review by the commissioner of education. If the total  project
     3  costs  associated  with such project exceeds the approved cost allowance
     4  of  such building project and the city school district has not otherwise
     5  demonstrated to the satisfaction of the New York state education depart-
     6  ment the availability of additional reserves for such excess costs, then
     7  the district shall not proceed with the preparation of final  plans  and
     8  specifications for such project until the project has been redesigned or
     9  value-engineered  to  reduce estimated project costs so as not to exceed
    10  the above cost limits.
    11    § 6. The property authorized by this  act  to  be  leased  to  Buckham
    12  Development  Corporation  is  generally described as Buckham Hall and is
    13  located on the Buffalo State University Campus, 1300 Elmwood Avenue,  in
    14  Buffalo, New York. The building was built in 1966 and is situated on the
    15  west  end of campus at the north-east corner of the intersection of Rees
    16  St. and Rockwell Rd. Buckham Hall is 203,437 gsf, constructed  of  steel
    17  skeleton  and  masonry  walls,  and  originally designed as a K-8 public
    18  school. The building is comprised of five wings with breezeways separat-
    19  ing four wings from the center wing: A-wing (center) 3 stories;  B-wing,
    20  2  stories; C-wing, 1 story; D-wing, 2 stories; and E-wing, 1 story. The
    21  main entrance is in the lobby between the A and E-wings facing Rees  St.
    22  with  a front lawn, concrete plaza entrance, and sidewalk along Rees St.
    23  The north side is lawn with sidewalks leading from building exits  north
    24  to  Bengal  Walk,  an east-west main pedestrian campus walkway. All that
    25  certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate,  lying  and  being  more
    26  particularly bounded and described as follows:
    27    BEGINNING  at  the  southeasterly  brick building corner of a building
    28  known as Buckham Hall Area "D";
    29    THENCE north along the easterly brick face from the said southwesterly
    30  building corner, a distance of one  hundred  sixty-five  and  two-tenths
    31  feet, plus or minus (165.2) to a corner of said building;
    32    THENCE continuing and intended to follow along the brick building face
    33  of said Buckham Hall the following fifty (50) directions and distances;
    34    1.  THENCE  West,  a distance of one hundred seven and no tenths feet,
    35  plus or minus (107.0) to a corner of said building;
    36    2. South, a distance of one hundred twenty-five and  two-tenths  feet,
    37  plus or minus (125.2) to a corner of said building;
    38    3.  West  thirty-eight  and six-tenths feet, plus or minus (38.6) to a
    39  corner of said building face;
    40    4. North, a distance of twenty-nine and  seven-tenths  feet,  plus  or
    41  minus (29.7) to a corner of said building;
    42    5.  West, a distance of thirty-five and six-tenths feet, plus or minus
    43  (35.6) to a corner of said building;
    44    6. North, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or  minus  (9.0)
    45  to a corner of said building;
    46    7.  West,  a  distance of sixteen and three-tenths feet, plus or minus
    47  (16.3) to a corner of said building;
    48    8. South, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or  minus  (9.0)
    49  to a corner of said building;
    50    9.  West,  a  distance  of  seventy  and no tenths feet, plus or minus
    51  (70.0) to a corner of said building;
    52    10. North, a distance of eighteen and five-tenths feet, plus or  minus
    53  (18.5) to a corner of said building;
    54    11. East, a distance of six and seven-tenths feet, plus or minus (6.7)
    55  to a corner of said building;

        S. 7443                             4

     1    12.  North,  a  distance of one hundred forty-four and one-tenth feet,
     2  plus or minus (144.1) to a corner of said building;
     3    13.  West,  a  distance  of  one hundred thirty-seven and three-tenths
     4  feet, plus or minus (137.3) to a corner of said building;
     5    14. South, a distance of one hundred forty-four  feet  and  no  tenths
     6  feet, plus or minus (144.0) to a corner of said building;
     7    15. East, a distance of sixty-five and nine-tenths feet, plus or minus
     8  (65.9) to a corner of said building;
     9    16.  South, a distance of eighteen and five-tenths feet, plus or minus
    10  (18.5) to a corner of said building;
    11    17. West, a distance of six and no tenths feet, plus or minus (6.0) to
    12  a corner of said building;
    13    18. South, a distance of thirty-five  and  six-tenths  feet,  plus  or
    14  minus (35.6) to a corner of said building;
    15    19.  West,  a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or minus (9.0)
    16  to a corner of said building;
    17    20. South, a distance of sixteen and four-tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    18  (16.4) to a corner of said building;
    19    21.  East,  a  distance  of  eight and nine-tenths feet, plus or minus
    20  (8.9) to a corner of said building;
    21    22. South, a distance of ninety-three and  six-tenths  feet,  plus  or
    22  minus (93.6) to a corner of said building;
    23    23.  West,  a distance of eighteen and five-tenths feet, plus or minus
    24  (18.5) to a corner of said building;
    25    24. North, a distance of nine and  nine-tenths  feet,  plus  or  minus
    26  (9.9) to a corner of said building;
    27    25. West, a distance of eighty-one and nine-tenths feet, plus or minus
    28  (81.9) to a corner of said building;
    29    26.  South, a distance of one hundred forty-one and seven-tenths feet,
    30  plus or minus (141.7) to a corner of said building;
    31    27. East, a distance of eighty-two and no tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    32  (82.0) to a corner of said building;
    33    28.  North,  a  distance of eighty-eight and five-tenths feet, plus or
    34  minus (88.5) to a corner of said building;
    35    29. East, a distance of eighteen and four-tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    36  (18.4) to a corner of said building;
    37    30.  South, a distance of four and no tenths feet, plus or minus (4.0)
    38  to a corner of said building;
    39    31. East, a distance of thirty-five and  eight-tenths  feet,  plus  or
    40  minus (35.8) to a corner of said building;
    41    32.  South, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or minus (9.0)
    42  to a corner of said building;
    43    33. East, a distance of sixteen and three-tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    44  (16.3) to a corner of said building;
    45    34.  North, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or minus (9.0)
    46  to a corner of said building;
    47    35. East, a distance of ninety-nine and  three-tenths  feet,  plus  or
    48  minus (99.3) to a corner of said building;
    49    36.  South, a distance of eighteen and four-tenths feet, plus or minus
    50  (18.4) to a corner of said building;
    51    37. West, a distance of seventeen and nine-tenths feet, plus or  minus
    52  (17.9) to a corner of said building;
    53    38. South, a distance of one hundred two and nine-tenths feet, plus or
    54  minus (102.9) to a corner of said building.
    55    39. East, a distance of eighty-nine and six-tenths feet, plus or minus
    56  (89.6) to a corner of said building;

        S. 7443                             5

     1    40. North, a distance of one hundred two and nine-tenths feet, plus or
     2  minus (102.9) to a corner of said building;
     3    41.  West,  a  distance  of thirty-seven and five-tenths feet, plus or
     4  minus (37.5) to a corner of said building;
     5    42. North, a distance of eighteen and four-tenths feet, plus or  minus
     6  (18.4) to a corner of said building;
     7    43.  East,  a  distance  of seven and three-tenths feet, plus or minus
     8  (7.3) to a corner of said building;
     9    44. North, a distance of thirty-five  and  six-tenths  feet,  plus  or
    10  minus (35.6) to a corner of said building;
    11    45.  East,  a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or minus (9.0)
    12  to a corner of said building;
    13    46. North, a distance of sixteen and five-tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    14  (16.5) to a corner of said building;
    15    47.  West,  a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or minus (9.0)
    16  to a corner of said building;
    17    48. North, a distance of eighty and four-tenths feet,  plus  or  minus
    18  (80.4) to a corner of said building;
    19    49.  East,  a  distance  of thirty-eight and four-tenths feet, plus or
    20  minus (38.4) to a corner of said building;
    21    50. South, a distance of nine and  five-tenths  feet,  plus  or  minus
    22  (9.5) to a corner of said building;
    23    THENCE continuing east along existing building face, a distance of one
    24  hundred  seven and no tenths feet, plus or minus (107.0) to the POINT of
    25  BEGINNING.
    26    Containing within said bounds 2.29 acres, more or less, and;
    27    BEGINNING at the southwesterly brick building face corner of a  build-
    28  ing known as Buckham Hall Area "B";
    29    THENCE south from the said southwesterly building corner, along a line
    30  drawn  parallel  to  the  westerly  brick building face as extended in a
    31  southerly direction, a distance of seventy-five and  three-tenths  feet,
    32  plus  or  minus (75.3) to the existing curb line of the main parking lot
    33  used for Buckham Hall;
    34    THENCE west along said parking  lot  curb  line,  a  distance  of  one
    35  hundred five and five-tenths feet, plus or minus (105.5) to the existing
    36  curb-line on the easterly side of Rees Street;
    37    THENCE  north  along said curb line of Rees Street five hundred twelve
    38  and seven-tenths feet, plus or minus (512.7);
    39    THENCE east along a line drawn parallel with and ten feet (10.0) north
    40  of the existing brick  building  known  as  Buckham  Hall  Area  "E",  a
    41  distance  of  two  hundred  forty  and  nine-tenths  feet, plus or minus
    42  (240.9) to a point five and no tenths feet, plus or minus (5.0) east  of
    43  the easterly edge of an existing sidewalk;
    44    THENCE south parallel with and five and no tenths, plus or minus (5.0)
    45  east  of the easterly edge of said sidewalk, a distance of seventy-seven
    46  and four-tenths feet, plus or minus (77.4);
    47    THENCE east at right angles, a distance of one hundred thirty-five and
    48  two-tenths feet (135.2) to the northwesterly brick  building  corner  of
    49  Buckham Hall Area "D";
    50    THENCE  intended to follow along the brick building face of said Buck-
    51  ham Hall the following twenty-four (24) directions and distances;
    52    1. South, a distance of one hundred twenty-five and  two-tenths  feet,
    53  plus or minus (125.2) to a corner of said building;
    54    2.  West  thirty-eight  and six-tenths feet, plus or minus (38.6) to a
    55  corner of said building face;

        S. 7443                             6

     1    3. North, a distance of twenty-nine and  seven-tenths  feet,  plus  or
     2  minus (29.7) to a corner of said building;
     3    4.  West, a distance of thirty-five and six-tenths feet, plus or minus
     4  (35.6) to a corner of said building;
     5    5. North, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or  minus  (9.0)
     6  to a corner of said building;
     7    6.  West,  a  distance of sixteen and three-tenths feet, plus or minus
     8  (16.3) to a corner of said building;
     9    7. South, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or  minus  (9.0)
    10  to a corner of said building;
    11    8.  West,  a  distance  of  seventy  and no tenths feet, plus or minus
    12  (70.0) to a corner of said building;
    13    9. North, a distance of eighteen and five-tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    14  (18.5) to a corner of said building;
    15    10. East, a distance of six and seven-tenths feet, plus or minus (6.7)
    16  to a corner of said building;
    17    11.  North,  a  distance of one hundred forty-four and one-tenth feet,
    18  plus or minus (144.1) to a corner of said building;
    19    12. West, a distance of  one  hundred  thirty-seven  and  three-tenths
    20  feet, plus or minus (137.3) to a corner of said building;
    21    13.  South,  a  distance of one hundred forty-four and no tenths feet,
    22  plus or minus (144.0) to a corner of said building;
    23    14. East, a distance of sixty-five and nine-tenths feet, plus or minus
    24  (65.9) to a corner of said building;
    25    15. South, a distance of eighteen and five-tenths feet, plus or  minus
    26  (18.5) to a corner of said building;
    27    16. West, a distance of six and no tenths feet, plus or minus (6.0) to
    28  a corner of said building;
    29    17.  South,  a  distance  of  thirty-five and six-tenths feet, plus or
    30  minus (35.6) to a corner of said building;
    31    18. West, a distance of nine and no tenths feet, plus or  minus  (9.0)
    32  to a corner of said building;
    33    19.  South,  a distance of sixteen and four-tenths feet, plus or minus
    34  (16.4) to a corner of said building;
    35    20. East, a distance of eight and  nine-tenths  feet,  plus  or  minus
    36  (8.9) to a corner of said building;
    37    21.  South,  a  distance  of ninety-three and six-tenths feet, plus or
    38  minus (93.6) to a corner of said building;
    39    22. West, a distance of eighteen and five-tenths feet, plus  or  minus
    40  (18.5) to a corner of said building;
    41    23.  North,  a  distance  of  nine and nine-tenths feet, plus or minus
    42  (9.9) to a corner of said building;
    43    24. West, a distance of eighty-one  and  nine-tenths,  plus  or  minus
    44  (81.9) to a corner of said building;
    45    THENCE South along the westerly wall of said Buckham Hall, Area "B", a
    46  distance  of  one hundred forty-one and seven-tenths feet, plus or minus
    47  (141.7) to the POINT of BEGINNING.
    48    Containing within said bounds 1.78 acres, more or less, and;
    49    BEGINNING at the southeasterly brick building  corner  of  a  building
    50  known as Buckham Hall Area "D";
    51    THENCE north along the easterly brick face from the said southwesterly
    52  building  corner,  a  distance  of one hundred sixty-five and two-tenths
    53  feet, plus or minus (165.2) to a corner of said building;
    54    THENCE West, a distance of one hundred seven and no tenths feet,  plus
    55  or minus (107.0) to a corner of said building;

        S. 7443                             7

     1    THENCE  continuing  west,  a  distance  of one hundred thirty-five and
     2  two-tenths feet, more or less (135.2) to a point  distant  five  and  no
     3  tenths feet (5.0) east of the easterly edge of the existing sidewalk;
     4    THENCE north at right angles parallel with and five feet (5.0) east of
     5  said  easterly  line  of  an  existing  concrete sidewalk, a distance of
     6  seventy-seven and four-tenths feet (77.4) to a point  distant  ten  feet
     7  (10.0)  north  of the northerly brick building face of Buckham Hall Area
     8  "E";
     9    THENCE east parallel with and ten feet (10.0) north of said  northerly
    10  building  face,  a  distance  of  two hundred fifty-six and eight-tenths
    11  feet, plus or minus (256.8) to a point distant five feet (5.0) southwest
    12  from the southwesterly edge of the existing concrete sidewalk;
    13    THENCE southeast parallel with and five feet (5.0) southwest  of  said
    14  edge  walk,  a  distance of forty-two and six-tenths, plus or minus feet
    15  (42.6) to the westerly edge of said existing concrete walk;
    16    THENCE south parallel with and five feet (5.0) west of  said  westerly
    17  edge  walk, a distance of two hundred thirteen and one-tenths feet, plus
    18  or minus (213.1);
    19    THENCE West at right angles, a distance of forty-five and  four-tenths
    20  feet, plus or minus (45.4) to the POINT of BEGINNING.
    21    Containing within said bounds .67 acres, more or less.
    22    § 7. Paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 3602 of the education law
    23  is amended by adding a new subparagraph 10 to read as follows:
    24    (10)  Notwithstanding  any other provision of law to the contrary, for
    25  the purpose of computation of building aid for the renovation and equip-
    26  ping of the Leonardo da Vinci high school authorized  for  operation  by
    27  the  city  school district of the city of Buffalo the building aid units
    28  assigned to this project shall reflect a building aid enrollment of four
    29  hundred twenty students.
    30    § 8. Insofar as the provisions of this act are inconsistent  with  the
    31  provisions of any law, general, special or local, the provisions of this
    32  act shall be controlling.
    33    § 9. This act shall take effect immediately.
feedback