Atlantic Yards General Project Plan, July 2006
Atlantic Yards General Project Plan, July 2006
Atlantic Yards General Project Plan, July 2006
Atlantic Yards Land Use Improvement and Civic Project General Project Plan July 18, 2006
A.
Introduction
The New York State Urban Development Corporation ("UDC") d/b/a the Empire State Development Corporation ("ESDC") is adopting this General Project Plan ("GPP") for the Atlantic Yards Land Use Improvement and Civic Project (the "Project") in accordance with the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act (the "UDC Act"). The Project comprises the construction of a major mixed-use development in the Atlantic Terminal area of Brooklyn. Occupying an approximately 22-acre area, the Project Site (the "Project Site") is roughly bounded by Flatbush and 4th Avenues to the west, Vanderbilt Avenue to the east, Atlantic Avenue to the north, and Dean and Pacific Streets to the south and includes the approximately 9acre (including the land under the 6th and Carlton Avenue Bridges), below-grade Long Island Rail Road ("LIRR") Vanderbilt Storage Yard (the "LIRR Yard") and MTA storage yard for inactive NYCT buses (the "MTA Yard"; together with the LIRR Yard, the "Yard"). The Project is being undertaken by ESDC, the City of New York (the "City"), the New York City Economic Development Corporation ("EDC") and affiliates of Forest City Ratner Companies ("Forest City Ratner"; together with its affiliates, "FCRC"), including, without limitation, Atlantic Yards Development Company, LLC ("FC-AYDC"), and Brooklyn Arena, LLC ("FC-BA"; together with FC-AYDC, the "Project Sponsors"). Additionally, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("MTA") is participating in the Project.
As indicated on the Site Plan, the Project Site is comprised of numerous parcels of land, (i) most of which are either currently owned by FCRC (the "FCRC Land") or under contract to purchase
by FCRC (the "FCRC Private Contract Land"), (ii) a significant portion of which is comprised of the Yard which is owned by LIRR and MTA, (iii) a small portion of which is currently privately owned and not under contract for sale to FCRC and (iv) a small portion of which is owned by the City, including certain City Streets (as hereinafter defined). FCRC has executed a term sheet with the MTA, pursuant to which it will acquire a portion of the Yard and the volume of air space (the "Air Space") above the balance of the Yard starting at an elevation which will generally be 22 feet above the rails (the "Platform Elevation"). Based upon the foregoing, FCRC currently owns or controls a very substantial portion of the Project Site.
FCRC has an established track record of developing large complex projects in Brooklyn, including MetroTech, Atlantic Center, and Atlantic Terminal. as well as other complex high profile projects in Manhattan, such as the New York Times Tower and the Times Square Hilton Hotel, both of which are part of ESDCs 42nd Street Redevelopment Project. FCRC is an affiliate of Forest City Enterprises ("FCE") which was established in 1921, and is a publicly traded commercial real estate development company on the New York Stock Exchange.
B.
Project Location
The Project Site comprises the following parcels in the Borough of Brooklyn, Kings County, State of New York; the beds of 5th Avenue between Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues (inclusive of the small traffic island) and Pacific Street between Flatbush and 6th Avenues and between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues (collectively, the "City Streets"); Brooklyn Tax Block 927: Lots 1,16; Block 1118: Lots 1, 5, 6, 21-25, 27; Block 1119: Lots 1, 7, 64; Block 1120: Lots 1, 19, 28, 35; Block 1121: Lots 1, 42, 47; Block 1127: Lots 1, 10-13, 18-22, 27, 29, 30, 33, 35, 43, 45-48, 50, 51, 54-56, 1001-1021 (formerly Lot 35), 1101-1131 (formerly Lot 27); Block 1128: Lots 1, 2, 4, 85-89; and Block 1129: Lots 1, 3-6, 13, 21, 25, 39, 43-46, 49, 50, 54, 62, 76, 81.
A "Project Site Plan" is attached hereto as Exhibit A-1. The Block and Lot Map is attached hereto as Exhibit A-2.
C.
The Project calls for the development of an arena, 16 mixed-use buildings and a newly reconfigured LIRR train yard, generally, to be developed within two phases. The mix and location of uses have been designed to concentrate the greatest commercial activity closest to Brooklyn's major transportation hub (the "Transportation Hub"), located in the vicinity of the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues. The Transportation Hub currently provides service from the LIRR plus 10 New York City Transit subway lines and 11 bus lines. The portion of the Project Site west of 6th Avenue (the "Phase I Site") would include Blocks 1118, 1119, 1127 and the intervening beds of 5th Avenue and Pacific Streets (inclusive of the small traffic island), and a portion of the Yard located underneath 6th Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Dean Street, as well as Block 927. A new arena (the "Arena") for the New Jersey Nets National Basketball Association Team (the "Nets") and five other buildings with commercial office and retail, residential, community facility and potentially hotel uses and a new subway entrance would be built on the Phase I Site. Phase I of the Project would also completely reconfigure, rebuild and partially relocate the LIRR Yard. The western portion of the Yard would be incorporated into the Phase I Site, and a reconfigured and upgraded yard, including a west portal, drill track and ancillary storage and parking space (the "Upgraded Yard"), which would be designed to expand the storage, cleaning and inspection capacity of the LIRR Yard as well as improve Yard functionality, would be built below grade on the eastern end of the existing Yard footprint and on a portion of Block 1121 which does not currently comprise part of the Yard. The construction and development of Site 5, the Arena block and the Upgraded Yard would include environmental remediation as well as the construction of the foundations and support necessary (collectively, the "Platform Buildings Support") to support the buildings to be built in the Air Space above the Platform Elevation. The portion of the Project Site east of 6th Avenue (the "Phase II Site") would include the platform building pad to be constructed in the Air Space at the Platform Elevation. Such Platform would also be built above that portion of Lot 1121 which is expected to be added to, and become a part of, the Upgraded Yard. The Platform, combined with the existing at-grade parcels, would allow for the planning, reorganization and redevelopment of these currently underutilized blocks, and the land on Blocks 1120, 1121, 1129 and a portion of 1128, and the bed of Pacific Street between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues. Eleven buildings would be
developed on the Phase II Site with primarily residential uses and a number of local retail and community facility uses. The Phase II Site would also include at least seven acres of publicly accessible open space. The build-out of the Project would occur in two phases, with the Project elements on the Phase I Site and the Upgraded Yard and Platform Buildings Support ("Phase I") anticipated to be completed by 2010 and the Project elements on the Phase II Site ("Phase II") anticipated to be completed by 2016.
The principal goal of the Atlantic Yards Land Use Improvement and Civic Project is to transform an area that is blighted and underutilized into a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income community that capitalizes on the tremendous mass transit service available at this unique location. In addition to eliminating the blighting influence of the below-grade Yard and the blighted conditions of the area, the Project aims, through this comprehensive and cohesive plan, to provide for the following public uses and purposes: a state-of-the-art arena to accommodate the return of a major-league sports franchise to Brooklyn while also providing a valuable athletic facility for the City's colleges and local academic institutions, which currently lack adequate athletic facilities, and a new venue for a variety of musical, entertainment, educational, social and civic events; thousands of critically needed rental housing units for low-, moderate- and middleincome New Yorkers, as well as market-rate rental and condominium units; first-class office space and possibly a hotel to ensure that Downtown Brooklyn can capture its share of future economic growth and new jobs through sustainable, transitoriented development; publicly accessible open space that links together the surrounding neighborhoods; new ground level retail spaces to activate the street frontages; community facility spaces, programmed in coordination with local community groups, including a health care center and an intergenerational facility, offering child care as well as youth and senior center services; a state-of-the-art rail storage, cleaning, repair and inspection facility for the LIRR that would enable it to better accommodate simultaneously its new fleet of multiple-unit
series of electric propulsion cars operated by LIRR which are compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (the "MU Series Trains") and other transit improvements; a subway connection on the south side of Atlantic Avenue at the intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, with sufficient capacity to accommodate fans entering or leaving an event at the Arena, eliminating the need for pedestrians approaching the Transportation Hub from the south to cross Atlantic Avenue to enter the subway, and thereby enhancing pedestrian safety; sustainability and green design through the application of comprehensive sustainable design goals that make efficient use of energy, building materials and water; and environmental remediation of the Project Site.
Each element would be designed pursuant to the comprehensive design and open space guidelines developed by ESDC in consultation with the City and attached hereto as Exhibit B (collectively, as the same may be amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the "Design Guidelines"), which Design Guidelines are being approved in connection with this General Project Plan.
D.
History
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the City used the planning and development powers of urban renewal as a tool for reversing the decline in its communities. Several urban renewal areas were mapped in Downtown Brooklyn, including the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Area ("ATURA") (1968) which included western portions of the Project Site on Blocks 927, 1118, 1119, 1120 and 1121. Today, virtually all of the urban renewal area north of Atlantic Avenue has been redeveloped, including major retail development, and a large office building and shopping mall developed by FCRC above the LIRR Atlantic Terminal. This development has produced over 3,000 new jobs for Brooklyn, with 48% of the retail employees living within 2 miles, and 50% of all retail managers living in Brooklyn. It has also generated millions of dollars in City and State tax revenues and has helped retain operations of the Bank of New York, a major employer, in the City. Nevertheless, the blocks on the southern side of Atlantic Avenue,
cut off by Atlantic Avenue and the LIRR Yard, have not been redeveloped to complement the growth north of Atlantic Avenue in ATURA. Judged by typical measures of urban land utilizationzoning, built densities and vacant propertiesthe Project Site is fundamentally underutilized, particularly when compared to adjacent uses to the north. In addition, the Project Site's below-grade exposed rail yard and many dilapidated, vacant, and underutilized properties perpetuate a visual and physical barrier between the surrounding neighborhoods.
After the Dodgers professional baseball team left in 1957, Brooklyn, a very large city in its own right (which would currently be the nations fourth largest), had no major league sports team. A 73-year tradition of major league baseball, played to an enthusiastic and loyal fan base, ended abruptly. From time to time, ideas have been advanced for making Brooklyn home to a major professional sports team (including the return of the Dodgers), but nothing transpired. For example, the Citys 1974 feasibility study, for which the Project Site was identified as a potential location for a professional sports complex, never moved forward.
E.
Project Description
1. Overview The Project would provide the first-class Arena needed to bring a professional sports team back to Brooklyn. The Project would also create between approximately 5,790 and 6,860 affordable and market-rate housing units, with fifty percent of all rental units being affordable to low- and middle-income families, resulting in approximately 2,250 of such affordable units, and provide class A commercial office space. The Project would result in a signature mixed-use, mixed income development at one of Brooklyn's most important crossroads. This development would create a considerable number of jobs in Brooklyn, help address New York City's substantial housing needs and generate significant revenues for the City and State. The Project would transform what is currently a blighted and underutilized site into a development that incorporates world-class architecture, a dynamic streetscape, and significant public amenities for the entire borough. It is currently anticipated that the buildings would be based on designs by Frank
Gehry, a world-renowned architect. It is anticipated that the open space which would be at least seven acres of environmentally sustainable, publicly accessible open space would be based on designs by landscape architect Laurie Olin, whose designs include the open space in Battery Park City and Bryant Park. The buildings and open space will be designed in accordance with the Design Guidelines.
The Project Sponsors would implement a number of sustainable design measures, such as: (i) landscaping design with focus on storm water management, including water features within landscaped areas that would increase storm water retention capacity; (ii) use of high albedo materials for roofs and sidewalks, where possible and incorporation of a green roof on the Arena; (iii) supplementary storm water management tanks to limit runoff into the City combined sewer system and to provide possible irrigation source for open spaces; (iv) storm water reuse both for irrigation of open spaces and for cooling tower make-up; and (v) use of high efficiency water fixtures such as sensing flow restrictors, low flow toilets, faucets and showers, drip irrigation and, in the Arena, waterless urinals. The Projects boilers would operate exclusively on natural gas and be equipped with low NOx burners. The Projects construction would employ a state-ofthe-art construction emissions reduction program, which would include adoption of measures delineated in New York City Local Law 77 of 2003. To the extent practicable, the Project Sponsors would use electric engines operating on grid power rather than diesel engines. All diesel engines throughout the site would use ultra low sulfur diesel, and nonroad diesel engines with a power rating of 50 horsepower (hp) or greater and truck fleets under long-term contract with the Project would utilize the best available tailpipe technology for reducing DPM emissions. Other measures that would be taken during construction include creation of a temporary paid parking lot on Block 1129 for use by construction workers only and the development and implementation in consultation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation of a Construction Protection Plan to provide adequate protection to historic resources within 90 feet of the Project Site during construction. All construction activities for the Project would adhere to the environmental measures identified in the FEIS and would follow good engineering practices.
The Project would concentrate its density, height, and commercial uses at the western end of the Project Site to reflect the higher density commercial and residential uses associated with Downtown Brooklyn to the north, and to capitalize on the services provided by the mass transit system specifically proximity to the Transportation Hub, the largest in Brooklyn; the residential uses predominant on the eastern end of the Project Site would reflect the residential nature of the adjoining neighborhoods to the north and south.
2. Phase I - Arena Block and Site 5 The Arena is proposed to be sited at the prominent intersection of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. The approximately 150-foot tall Arena would have a capacity of approximately 18,000 seats and serve as the home of the Nets; the Arena would also host concerts and other events, including 10 community events, throughout the year (the capacity could be expanded up to approximately 20,500 seats for stage-end events). The Arena would have private open space on a portion of its roof, serving abutting buildings and an environmentally sustainable "green" roof in the center. Based on the current schedule, the Arena would open in time for the 2009 NBA season in October and is expected to be in use for approximately 225 events per year, including 41 regular season home games for the Nets.
Unlike most arena facilities where activity is hidden from view, the Project would seek to provide some visual and physical connection between the Arena's indoor activity and the Urban Room, a significant public amenity comprised of a large, glass-enclosed public space, providing access to the subway station, the Arena and Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. This space would accommodate the major flows of people to and from the subway system during the day and night, serve as a direct subway entrance to the Arena and allow for a variety of public uses and programmed events throughout the year. The Arena is designed to allow passersby to see into the "bowl" of the Arena to see the scoreboard from the Urban Room and Flatbush Avenue.
Residential development in Phase I would be a mixture of rental and condominium housing. Between approximately 1,275 and 2,350 residential units would be created, and 50% of the rental units in Phase I would be affordable. All rental buildings would be mixed-income
buildings with a combination of low-, moderate- and middle-income and market-rate units integrated throughout the building.
The creation of the Arena block on the western portion of the Project Site by joining Blocks 1118, 1119, and 1127 and closing portions of Pacific Street and 5th Avenue would allow for the footprint needed to house the Arena and Buildings 1 through 4. (See Exhibit A-1.) The Site Plan provides an opportunity to improve access to the 10 subway lines by directly connecting the Arena to the subway system through the Urban Room, which would encourage the use of mass transit to the Project Site and to Arena events, in particular. The Arena block and Site 5, directly across Flatbush Avenue, would include residential use, Class A commercial office space, ground-floor retail, community facility space in the form of a health care center, and may include a full-service 180-room hotel with a lobby at street level. Buildings 1 through 4 would surround the Arena to create mixed-uses that would activate the street level even when the Arena were not hosting an event.
Two parcels of land, Site 5 and the western-most portion of the Arena Block (where Building 1 would be located) present the most significant potential for mixed use and commercial development due to their location on the two major commercial arteries (Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues) and their ability to connect directly to the Atlantic Terminal subway station. Site 5 and the Building 1 parcels are located across the street from each other at the junction of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues at the southern end of the transit hub area. This location is a very prominent and unique terminus, well suited for high density development with an emphasis on superior architecture and urban design.
Both parcels are significantly underutilized. Site 5 contains two one-story retail buildings and a parking lot. Blank walls with no glazing and few breaks or entrances abut four public streets. The site for Building 1 currently contains vacant lots, a two story commercial building and a truck storage area among other uses.
The development of both Site 5 and Building 1, with high density mixed-use buildings, is central to the goal of the Project to transform this very public and prominent area by creating
architecturally significant buildings that would ring, and be connected to, the transit hub, and by developing uses that would activate and create a vibrant streetscape experience for the public.
Site 5 and Building 1 play critical roles in achieving these goals. The existing subway entrance on 4th Avenue and Pacific Street would serve the new Site 5 development. Building 1 would provide a significant new subway entrance from the Urban Room and the street that would directly serve the Arena, commercial office space, hotel and new residential uses. As reflected in the Design Guidelines, from an urban design perspective, the density and massing of these two new buildings were developed with the relationships of three buildings in mind: Site 5, Building 1 and the existing landmarked Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, which is also connected to the transit hub to the north. These three buildings would be the most prominent structures visible to the public from the north, south and west and "frame" each other when viewed from different perspectives. In addition, collectively they would signify both a gateway into and a connection to the surrounding neighborhoods of Downtown Brooklyn, Fort Greene, Boreum Hill, Prospect Heights and Park Slope. The streetscapes developed on Site 5 and in conjunction with Building 1 would be enlivened by ground floor uses and glazing requirements.
The Project would create a new neighborhood context along the Atlantic and Flatbush Avenue corridors in keeping with the stature of these streets as two of the principal (and widest) routes through the borough. The proposed buildings would be set back from the property line to create wide sidewalks along Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue. Street walls and setbacks along Atlantic Avenue would vary based on building location and size, but the overall pattern of the strong base components would enhance the urban streetscape along this major corridor. The ground floors of the buildings are expected to be highly transparent and lined with mostly local retail uses, including potential restaurant uses, continuing the strong Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue retail corridors to the west and south, respectively, on to the Project Site.
A number of access and circulation improvements are also proposed, including the restriping of streets and the creation of drop-off lanes by the setting-back of buildings onto the Project Site as needed.
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Set forth on Exhibit C hereto, is a chart that sets forth the maximum heights and maximum gross square footages for each of the 16 buildings proposed for the Project and the maximum aggregate gross square footage for all of such buildings.
3. Phase 1 - The LIRR Vanderbilt Yard At present, LIRR operations are primarily located on Blocks 1119 and 1120, and the MTA Yard occupies a majority of Block 1121. Currently, yard tracks are built of conventional rail with wooden ties and switch timbers, and there is no direct connection between the Yard and the LIRR Atlantic Terminal. Trains entering the Yard from the LIRR Atlantic Terminal must travel east, past the Yard, switch, and reverse direction to enter the Yard. Tracks are spaced closely together, allowing only narrow passageways between trains for inspections and limiting toilet servicing to the two outer tracks, requiring trains to be moved in and out of position until each train has had its turn on an outer track. In addition, with limited exceptions, Yard switches, which allow trains to change directions, must be manually operated. The proposed Atlantic Yards Land Use Improvement and Civic Project offers an opportunity to reconfigure, upgrade and partially relocate the Yard to meet current construction standards and address the current and future needs of the LIRR as part of the development plan.
The Upgraded Yard would be built below street grade on the eastern end of the existing rail yard footprint to allow for both the continuation of LIRR yard operations and the operation of the Arena. The Upgraded Yard would also include a drill track used for switching trains on the northern most portion of Block 1119. In order to provide for the continuance of LIRR Atlantic Branch operations during construction of the Arena, a staged scheme would be developed to provide a temporary storage yard in Block 1121 prior to the completion of the improved Yard. The improved Yard would include a new portal ("West Portal") providing a direct route from the LIRR Atlantic Terminal to the Upgraded Yard. The new West Portal would also provide a second means of train egress from Atlantic Terminal, adding safety, security and flexibility in the event of an emergency on the Main Line. The Upgraded Yard will be capable of storing MU Series Trains. The existing traction power substation would be relocated and replaced with a new, modern, indoor substation. The Upgraded Yard would expand storage and inspection capacity, create new employee facilities, a new signal system and improve Yard functionality
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(including equipment servicing). The Project Sponsors would be responsible for the entire cost of the Upgraded Yard, although a portion of the State and City contributions to the Project (see Project Funding section below) may be utilized for this purpose.
Above the Upgraded Yard, the Project Sponsors would build a platform which would serve as both a protective roof for LIRR operations and as a base for the new development to be built above. As part of a competitive Request for Proposals, the MTA selected the FCRC Atlantic Yards proposal, which included the renovation, reconfiguration and partial relocation of the Yard and the development of a platform and buildings over the Upgraded Yard in Blocks 1120 and Block 1121. The MTA and FCRC have entered into a memorandum of terms and are presently negotiating contracts for the purchase and sale of portions of the Yard and the air space above, and construction agreements for the Upgraded Yard and the platform above. FCRC shall be required to consummate such purchase prior to or simultaneously with the first acquisition by ESDC of a parcel within the Project Site not owned by the MTA.
4. Phase I Summary It is expected that all of the Phase I buildings would be completed and opened by 2010. The first activity in Phase I, after the demolition of existing structures and site preparation, would be the construction of the temporary yard for the LIRR on Blocks 1120 and 1121, so that LIRR operations could be moved from Block 1119 to Blocks 1120 and 1121, which over the course of approximately three to four years would be developed into a new, state-of-the-art rail yard facility for the LIRR, including a new West Portal connecting the Yard to Atlantic Terminal and a drill track on Block 1119 that would be developed along with the Arena foundations. Arena construction on Blocks 1127 and 1118 could begin immediately as well, continuing on to Block 1119 approximately ten months later when the temporary yard is complete and LIRR operations are moved. In addition to the Arena, the Upgraded Yard, the Platform Buildings Support and the new entrance to the subway system, Phase I is expected to include approximately 606,000 gsf of commercial office space, 165,000 gsf of hotel use (approximately 180 rooms), 91,000 gsf of retail, up to 2.32 million gsf of residential use (approximately 2,350 residential units) and community facility uses, which would occupy portions of the residential and retail space. In order to provide reasonable flexibility to respond to market conditions, the programs of
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Buildings 1 and 2 and the building on Site 5 may be adjusted to allow for more commercial use. This additional commercial use could replace the 165,000 gsf hotel use and about 1.06 million gsf of residential use, or some portion thereof, in Buildings 1 and 2 and the building on Site 5. The maximum extent of this allowed flexibility would still result in the creation of approximately 1,275 residential units in Phase I. There would also be approximately 2,345 parking spaces at the end of Phase I, which would include permanent parking on the Arena block and Site 5 and interim surface parking on Blocks 1120 and 1129. Additionally, (i) parking for 30 cars and five trucks would be provided and located within Block 1120 post-construction or another location satisfactory to LIRR, and (ii) usable storage space would be provided in Blocks 1120 and 1121 consistent with the needs of LIRR.
5. Phase II - Other Project Development Blocks (Blocks 1120, 1121, 1129 and a portion of 1128) Moving eastward on the Project Site and into Phase II, the average height on each block would generally decline along Atlantic Avenue, providing for a reduction in scale as the Project Site moves farther away from the commercial uses and denser buildings associated with Downtown Brooklyn, and in recognition of the more residential and lower-density buildings to the east and south. In addition, the building envelopes would step down from the Atlantic Avenue frontage and change character considerably along the southern edge of the Project Site along Pacific and Dean Streets between 6th Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue to relate to the lower scale of the neighborhoods to the south. For example, the tallest portions of the buildings on Block 1120 (Buildings 5-7), where the Project Site is only one block deep, would be located along the wide thoroughfare of Atlantic Avenue, set back over 100 feet from Pacific Street. The building masses and heights would step down to the south when approaching the lower-scale structures on Pacific Street.
Along Block 1129, Dean Street would be lined with trees and the massing and placement of buildings along this street would have a lower height and density in keeping with the character of the neighborhoods to the south. These buildings Buildings 11 through 14 would have residential uses on the ground floor fronting Dean Street along with small local retail establishments and lobby entrances to the larger residential elements would be set back from
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Dean Street. These buildings would, similar to the Atlantic Avenue buildings, have a variety of setbacks and heights, but would all be much lower than the buildings along Atlantic Avenue.
The residential uses, in both phases of construction, would help meet the current and expected need for housing in Brooklyn and the City as a whole and the density of the Project would allow for a substantial number of affordable units to be included as part of the development program. At full build-out, the Project would include between approximately 5,790 and 6,860 residential units, depending on the amount of commercial office space provided; most of the buildings on the Project Site would contain a residential component and all of the buildings east of 6th Avenue would be predominantly residential. Of the total residential units, it is expected that 4,500 units would be rentals; the remaining units would be market-value condominiums. Fifty percent of the approximately 4,500 rental units approximately 2,250 units are expected to be affordable units. Community facilities, including a health care clinic in Phase I and an intergenerational community center in Phase II with space for at least 100 children for publicly funded day care, would be built as part of the Project. The Project would provide approximately 3,800 permanent parking spaces for both the Arena and other uses on the Project Site. All permanent parking would be located below grade. A parking plan showing the various locations for permanent parking for the Project is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
6. Open Space At full build out, the Project would include at least seven acres of publicly accessible open space on the Project Site. As set forth in the Design Guidelines, the publicly accessible open space would be available for public use seven days a week, with reasonable closing hours, security and lighting. On the eastern end of the Project Site, Blocks 1121 and 1129 and the current intervening bed of Pacific Street would be combined to create a large unified, publicly accessible open space, while Block 1120 would have substantial open space on its southern edge. As a general matter, the publicly accessible open space would be developed and opened in phases as buildings are constructed within the Project Site.
The publicly accessible open space would be easily accessed from the surrounding neighborhoods, with at least 60 foot wide landscaped spaces extending to Atlantic Avenue to the
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north and to Pacific and Dean Streets to the south between each of the buildings. The landscaped visual and pedestrian connections are intended to weave the open space into the existing pedestrian and bike circulation network. The publicly accessible open space would have a variety of both active and passive spaces and planted and paved areas, and would incorporate features such as playing fields, childrens playgrounds, water features, walking paths, a bike path, seating areas and extensive landscaping throughout. The open space would be designed, and the buildings around the open space would be arranged, to promote public access to and use of the space by the general public.
At present, street-level activity is virtually nonexistent on most of the Project Site and the only means to cross the street-level void created by the Yard is by the 6th Avenue and Carlton Avenue bridges. In the north-south direction, the open space would extend to Atlantic Avenue across from the terminus of each of the neighborhood streets to the north, linking the site to the area to the north both visually, through the creation of landscaped view corridors, and functionally, through the introduction of walking paths at each of these points. Complementary types of retail and community facility uses are expected to be located in some areas along the perimeter of the open space. These uses would provide opportunities to enliven the existing streetscape, which is characterized by the below-grade Yard, buildings in various states of disrepair, and vacant buildings and lots.
Upon the completion of construction on the Phase I Site, to the maximum extent practicable, temporary open spaces, to be usable by the general public, would be made available on the Phase II Site until such areas are required either for Arena parking or for the construction of the Phase II Site.
7. Summary At full build-out, expected by the year 2016, the Project would include the Arena and a total of approximately 606,000 gsf of commercial office space, 165,000 gsf of hotel use (approximately 180 rooms), 247,000 gsf of retail space, up to 6.8 million gsf of residential use (approximately 6,860 residential units) and community facility uses, which would occupy portions of the residential and retail space, approximately 3,800 below-grade parking spaces and at least seven
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acres of publicly accessible open space. While the Phase II building programs are fixed, as noted in the Phase I summary, there is flexibility in the programs of Buildings 1 and 2 and the building on Site 5 to change the hotel use and 1.06 million gsf of residential use, or some portion thereof, to additional commercial office space. If the maximum amount of allowed commercial office space were provided, the Project would include approximately 1,829,000 gsf of commercial office space and 5,730,000 gsf of residential use (approximately 5,790 residential units) and the same amount of retail and community facility space, parking and publicly accessible open space.
The Project would provide community facilities, including a health care center and an intergenerational community center offering space for at least 100 children for publicly funded child care and youth and senior activities. A new subway connection on the south side of Atlantic Avenue and at least seven acres of publicly accessible open space would also be created. Much of Phase II would be constructed on the new platform over a rebuilt and improved Yard, closing a visually and physically divisive gap in the urban landscape.
8. Status of Project Site Occupants and Relocation Plan All existing residential occupants within the Project Site, who are legally occupying a residential dwelling unit shall be provided with relocation assistance to find decent, safe and sanitary dwellings, in the project area or in other areas not generally less desirable, at rents or prices within the financial means of the displaced person(s). It is expected that ESDC will implement the relocation program with the assistance of a professional relocation consultant. Of 171 total residential units on the Project Site, 109 units are currently vacant (10 of which have been demolished because of unsafe conditions), accounting for 64% of the units on the Project Site, and 62 households remain in occupancy (two of which have agreed with the Project Sponsors to vacate shortly). Based on the best information available to the Project Sponsors as of the date hereof, in the 60 households that are currently occupied with no agreements to vacate, 5 of which are owner-occupied and 55 of which are rental units, there are approximately 118 people who remain in occupancy.1
These figures do not include transient occupants of the homeless facility who will be accommodated elsewhere.
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Referrals to alternative housing will be provided to displaced residential occupants. ESDCs relocation consultant will meet with the projects residential occupants to assess their particular housing needs and to assist them in finding replacement housing. Real estate brokerage services will be made available at no charge to the occupants. Moving services and expenses will be provided. This will include payment for the cost of the physical move, including the cost of transporting personal property to the replacement housing location, labor and material, insurance and storage as necessary ("Moving Costs"). ESDC or its relocation consultant will bid out all moves and select the lowest reasonable and responsible bid. The occupant either may use the selected mover or may conduct a "self-move" and receive the amount of money that ESDC would otherwise have paid to the selected mover. No Moving Costs will be paid until the premises are vacated. Moving Costs will be uncapped as to amount.
A relocation assistance payment will be made to each vacating occupant. A one-time payment of $5,000 per household will be made available to each vacating residential occupant or family to assist in meeting additional expenses encountered in establishing new living quarters, such as telephone and other utility hook-up charges, new return address labels, etc. This stipend is also intended to compensate occupants for the inconvenience of having to move, and to encourage them to vacate their units as quickly as possible.
The above described residential relocation program is the minimum assistance that will be provided. The Project Sponsors have entered into a Community Benefits Agreement whereby they agreed to provide certain enhanced benefits to occupants who were in occupancy of their residence for at least one year. Such benefits include the right to return and to rent a comparable unit within the Project Site at a comparable rate to what they are currently paying.
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There are currently only 13 businesses that are operating on the Project Site which have not signed agreements with the Project Sponsors to relocate, and based on information generated in the DEIS, it is believed that the Project will displace approximately 185 employees of those remaining businesses. There is also a homeless shelter and a Fire Department of New York equipment clean/storage facility operating at the Project Site, and based on information generated in the DEIS, it is believed that the Project will displace approximately 35 employees of those institutions.
Limited commercial relocation assistance will be provided to commercial tenants on the Project Site. Assistance will include locating and showing available space to the displaced occupant and providing information about private brokers located throughout the City.
In addition, payment will be made for the cost of the physical move, including the cost of transporting personal property to the replacement site, labor and material, insurance and storage as necessary. ESDC or its relocation consultant will bid out any such moves and select the lowest reasonable and responsible bid. No Moving Costs will be paid until the premises are vacated.
Payment will also be made to commercial tenants for other reasonable costs commonly associated with relocation, including the cost of relettering or replacing signs, replacing stationery and reinstalling telephone lines or other existing communications equipment. These re-establishment costs shall be capped at $20,000. All costs related to the residential and commercial relocation program will be borne by the Project Sponsors.
F.
1. Site Acquisition The Project Site consists of 73 individual tax lots (not including 53 individual tax lots comprising the residential condominiums). Three of these lots (Block 1119, Lot 7; Block 1120,
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Lot 1; and Block 1121, Lot 1) comprising approximately 40 percent of the land area to be included in the Project Site, are owned by the LIRR and MTA and comprise the Yard. In the spring of 2005, the MTA issued a Request for Proposals to purchase those portions of the Yard which were not needed for Railroad operations, and the Air Space above those portions which are needed by the LIRR. FCRC responded to the RFP and was selected as the prospective purchaser/developer of the Yard. MTA/LIRR and FCRC have entered into a memorandum of terms for the sale and development of the Yard and are presently negotiating contracts of purchase and sale, a reciprocal easement agreement, and construction and related agreements covering the LIRR railroad and transit improvements that FCRC will make in and in close proximity to the Yard.
The current ownership and control of the parcels comprising the Project Site is illustrated on Exhibit E attached hereto. FCRC continues to negotiate to acquire the remaining private properties within the Project Site. Parcels that are not owned by MTA/LIRR or which FCRC is unable to purchase would be acquired by ESDC through the exercise of the power of eminent domain pursuant to the Eminent Domain Procedures Law (the "EDPL"). FCRC would pay all of the costs associated with such acquisition by eminent domain and would post letters of credit in amounts satisfactory to the condemnation court prior to the commencement of condemnation proceedings.
Several New York City streets and other City-owned properties indicated on Exhibit E are also within the Project Site; these streets would be closed and would become part of the Project Site pursuant to an ESDC override of local regulations done in consultation with and with the support of the City. As defined above, the City Streets are 5th Avenue between Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues (inclusive of the small traffic island), Pacific Street between Flatbush and 6th Avenues, and Pacific Street between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues. ESDC will acquire these streets and other City properties with the consent of the City through exercise of eminent domain and will override the City map in order to permit development on these streets.
All of the properties within the Project Site would be acquired by ESDC, on the conditions set forth below, at the outset of Project implementationeither through direct conveyance as a
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result of FCRC's purchase thereof in the case of the MTA/LIRR properties, through uncontested condemnation in the case of properties owned by the City or FCRC, or through exercise of eminent domain in the case of properties and interests in properties that FCRC has been unable to acquire through negotiation. The cost of acquiring the Project Site, regardless of how acquired, will be paid for by FCRC (subject to capital funds being provided by the City as described below). ESDC's acquisition of all such properties will not occur until such time as ESDC receives commitments, guaranties and other evidence satisfactory to ESDC that FCRC will (i) promptly commence construction of the Arena, the Upgraded Yard and all of the infrastructure necessary for the Arena (collectively, the "Arena Infrastructure"; together with the Arena and the Upgraded Yard, the "Initial Development"), and (ii) complete such construction within agreed-upon time periods.
With the consent of the City, City streets and other City property underlying the Arena would be acquired for $1.00; other City streets and properties within the Project Site would be acquired at their fair market appraised value to be paid by FCRC.
ESDC (directly or through a special purpose subsidiary) will hold fee title to the Project properties acquired by it, at least through construction of the improvements on these properties. The 73 tax lots to be acquired by ESDC will be subdivided and/or combined, at the sole expense of FCRC, to create the individual development parcels contemplated in the plan for the Project. It is expected that each development parcel will comprise an individual tax lot which, except for the Arena parcel, will be leased back to a special purpose FCRC developer affiliate for $1.00. FCRC expects that the financing they have used to acquire properties within the Project Site will be replaced by leasehold financing when the properties are acquired by ESDC and leased back, so that ESDCs fee interest will not be encumbered other than by (i) the leases to FCRC developer affiliates, (ii) in the case of properties within or above the MTAs Yard, certain reciprocal easement agreements and (iii) in the case of properties on the Arena Block, certain arrangements which will allow for the integration of the buildings to be located thereon with the Arena which will utilize areas underneath such other buildings. Each developer entity will have an option to purchase the fee to its development parcel for $1.00 at any time after the completion of the Initial Development. With the exception of the Arena parcel, upon completion of the
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improvements on a specific parcel, ESDC shall convey its fee interest to the parcel and improvements thereon to FCRC developer affiliate. Prior to development, while ESDC is holding title to the properties, arrangements will be made by ESDC for property management, security, insurance, etc. Such expenses shall be borne by the Project Sponsors.
It is expected that the developers of all housing on the Project Site will receive exemptions from State and City mortgage recording taxes. This is customary for affordable housing developments. Although such exemption would also be available for construction financing for the market-rate condominiums developed on the Project Site, no credits for such exemptions would be available upon the sale of condominium units. In addition, no construction loan mortgage, or any portion thereof, will be assigned to lenders who are financing the purchase of condominium units. Accordingly, all financing utilized to acquire condominium units shall be subject to State and City mortgage recording taxes without the benefit of any credit which would have been available had the mortgage recording taxes been paid in connection with the underlying construction financing. The foregoing shall not apply to a severance of the construction loan upon the condominiumization of the development as a whole and/or to the replacement of the construction loan with permanent financing for the development.
2. Development of the Arena In the case of the Arena site, ESDC would lease the land for $1.00 to a Local Development Corporation ("LDC") organized under Article 14 of the Not-for-Profit Corporations Law. The LDC, which is expected to be organized at the direction of ESDC, will issue one or more series of tax-exempt "PILOT" bonds to pay the costs of constructing and fitting-out the Arena and its ancillary facilities. The LDC will lease the land and Arena to an FCRC affiliate ("ArenaCo") for a base rent of $1.00, and ArenaCo will agree to construct, maintain, operate and lease the Arena for professional basketball and other sports and entertainment events for an initial term of not less than 30 years and not more than 40 years. ArenaCo will use the bond proceeds to construct and fit-out the Arena. Certain costs of constructing the Arena may be financed through issuance by the LDC of taxable bonds; debt service on these bonds will be paid by assignment to the bond trustee of additional rent to be paid by ArenaCo under its lease from the LDC.
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ESDC will retain ownership to the Arena and the land under the Arena through the initial term of its lease to the LDC. As a result, the land and improvements will be exempt from real estate taxes throughout the initial term. ArenaCo would enter into a payment-in-lieu-of-tax ("PILOT") agreement with ESDC and the LDC under which it would agree to make payments equal to the lesser of (i) debt service on the tax-exempt bonds (plus perhaps a 10% overage) and (ii) the amount that full real estate taxes would be if the land and improvements were not exempt from such taxes as a result of ESDC's ownership thereof. ESDC will assign these PILOT payments to a PILOT trustee who, in turn, will assign to a bond trustee so much of the payments as is needed to pay debt service on the tax-exempt bonds. PILOT bonds will be payable solely out of PILOT payments, which will be funded from revenues received by ArenaCo from operation of the Arena. Excess PILOT payments during the life of the bonds would be used to defray the cost of operating and maintaining the Arena. It is expected that ArenaCos obligations under the PILOT agreement will be secured by PILOT mortgages on its leasehold interest; the taxable bonds will also be secured by a mortgage on the leasehold.
None of the City, the State or ESDC will be liable on the LDC bonds which will be non-recourse obligations of the LDC, payable solely out of certain revenues received by ArenaCo from operation of the Arena. None of the City, the State, ESDC or the LDC will be liable to make PILOT payments. PILOT payments under the PILOT Agreement will be the sole obligation of ArenaCo.
ESDC ownership of the Arena property will, in addition to providing exemption from real estate taxes, enable the Arena to receive the benefit of ESDC's sales tax exemption (the "Arena Sales Tax Exemption") on materials incorporated in the initial construction and fit-out of the Arena, and capital repairs and replacements to the Arena, and exemption from mortgage recording taxes on the mortgages securing the tax-exempt and taxable bonds.
ESDC and the City shall use good faith efforts to obtain the approvals and/or authorizations to obtain energy cost savings for the Arena through either the Con Ed Business Incentive Rate Program and Rider J applicable to Service Classification Nos. 4 and 9, as amended, or the New
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York Power Authority, the New York State Economic Development Power Board and the New York Public Utility Service and the Energy Cost Savings Program, if applicable.
The initial term of the ESDC lease to the LDC, and the LDC sublease to ArenaCo is expected to be 30 to 40 years, which is also expected to be the term of the tax-exempt bonds. The Nets professional basketball team will enter into a sublease or license agreement with ArenaCo to play its "home games" at the Arena. The Nets will also enter into a non-relocation agreement with the City and ESDC pursuant to which the team will agree to play substantially all of its home games at the new Arena for the initial term of the lease.
ArenaCo will have an option to extend its lease after the initial term up to a total of 99 years, or to purchase the underlying fee interest from ESDC at its appraised fair market value. If the lease is extended beyond the initial term, the LDC will drop from the lease chain and ArenaCo will become the direct tenant of ESDC. In that case, ArenaCo will continue to make PILOT payments equal to what the real estate taxes would have been but for ESDCs ownership of the property. Ten percent of these PILOT payments will be used to pay for maintenance and operation of the Arena; the balance will flow to the City. If ArenaCo exercises its option to purchase the Arena site, the property will revert to the tax rolls. At all times during the existence of ArenaCo's lease, ArenaCo shall be responsible, at its sole cost and expense, to maintain the Arena as a first class Arena suitable for a professional sports team.
3. Project Funding The Project budget is currently estimated at approximately $4.19 billion2. Compared to the budget estimate included in the EIS, this estimate includes costs, such as land and other soft costs which were excluded from the estimate used to calculate the economic benefits of the Project in the EIS. In addition, neither the Project budget included in the EIS nor this GPP includes financing costs.
Use
Amount
The amounts set forth in this section relate to the residential variation for the Project.
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ESDC is expected to fund $100 million of the currently budgeted approximately $554 million of Project costs attributable to infrastructure improvements necessary for the construction of the Arena and for the redevelopment of the Yard. The City is also expected to fund $100 million of Project costs. City funds may be used for infrastructure improvements and for site acquisition costs related to the Arena site (other than for the acquisition of properties owned by the MTA/LIRR).
Once all discretionary Project approvals have been received, ESDC expects to enter into a funding agreement with FCRC and the City of New York (the "Funding Agreement"). The initial funding (the "Initial Funding") under the Funding Agreement is expected to be approximately $50 million in the aggregate, $25 million from each of the City and State, to be used to reimburse FCRC for infrastructure costs, including any approved soft costs, and in the case of City funds infrastructure costs or land acquisition costs for the Arena site (other than for the acquisition of properties owned by the MTA/LIRR). Additional advances of State and City Funds (collectively, the "Additional Fundings") under the Funding Agreement shall equal 50% of eligible land acquisition costs for the Arena site (other than for the acquisition of properties owned by the MTA/LIRR) and future eligible infrastructure costs incurred by FCRC until the State and City have funded their contributions.. In the event that prior to the completion of the Initial Development the Project is discontinued by FCRC, enjoined, terminated or stopped, FCRC shall be obligated to reimburse (the "Reimbursement Obligation") the State and City in an amount equal to at least the sum of the Initial Funding and all advanced Additional Fundings. Prior to the Initial Funding and each Additional Funding, FCRC shall be required to provide each
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of the City and State with guaranties and/or other security, in form, substance and from entities acceptable to the City and State, securing the Reimbursement Obligation.
As set forth above, the Arena will be developed through LDC financing secured by revenues to be generated at the Arena. All other Project financing will be arranged by the Project Sponsors.
4. Development of the Vanderbilt Yard FCRC and the MTA/LIRR will enter into a contract pursuant to which MTA will convey to an FCRC affiliate (or directly to ESDC or its subsidiary) certain fee interests in the ground and air spaces within Blocks 1119, 1120 and 1121. Under a second contract, FCRC (or ESDC) will convey to MTA/LIRR the fee interest in Block 1121, Lot 47 and a portion of Block 1121, Lot 42, retaining a fee interest in the air above both parcels. (Lot 42 is one of the parcels depicted on Exhibit E which may require exercise of eminent domain.) FCRC will also agree to construct certain improvements for LIRRs use within the Yard, including temporary and permanent storage tracks capable of storing MU Series Trains, an electric substation and LIRR employee facilities, and the parties will enter into reciprocal easement agreements providing for necessary access and egress, maintenance, etc. In addition, FCRC will have the right to construct a platform above the Upgraded Yard which will be at the Platform Elevation, which shall be approximately the same elevation as the streets surrounding the Upgraded Yard. On this platform, FCRC will develop 6 buildings and publicly accessible open space, in accordance with the Projects master plan. FCRC will agree to pay to MTA/LIRR its net incremental costs of operating in an enclosed Yard, such as lighting and ventilation, subject to an agreement with the MTA/LIRR.
As part of its agreements with the MTA, and pursuant to separate agreements, FCRC will also construct certain improvements for the New York City Transit Authority, including new entrances and connections to the Atlantic Terminal subway station under Atlantic Avenue with sufficient capacity to better accommodate fans entering or leaving an event at the Arena. (See Project Description, Section E.2.)
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ESDC will retain title to the land underlying other Project developments through their initial construction periods and will lease development parcels to the individual entities created for each of these developments for $1.00. FCRC shall be required to remit payments in lieu of sales taxes to ESDC under the lease or access agreement for each portion of the Project Site equal to all sales and compensating use taxes which FCRC would have been required to pay in connection with the development of such portion of the Project Site absent ESDC's ownership thereof other than the Arena Sales Tax Exemption. After completion of construction, the fee interest to each development parcel will be conveyed for $1.00 to the development entity established for that parcel. Following such conveyance, the conveyed parcel will be returned to the tax rolls and will be eligible for any as-of-right tax benefits for which it qualifies, and the fee owner thereof will be liable for real estate taxes due thereon.
Residential developments within the Project are expected to be financed in a number of ways, depending on the type of development. Affordable housing is expected to be financed through tax-exempt bonds provided under existing and proposed City and State housing programs, such as the Citys 50-30-20 program. Market-rate condominiums will be financed through conventional means, as will commercial office and retail developments. Through construction, because ESDC will continue to hold the fee interests, leasehold financing will be used. After conveyance of the fee interests to the developer/owner entity, the mortgages could be spread to cover the fee. FCRC will create condominium regimes for the residential condominium development.
FCRC expects to utilize the State and City contributions to the Project to help reimburse FCRC for, in the case of the City contributions, the costs of land under the Arena (other than for the acquisition of properties owned by the MTA/LIRR) and, in the case of the State and City contributions, the cost of new infrastructure, including streets and sewers, garages, transit connections, the LIRR improvements and publicly accessible open space. These will be funded through funding agreements with ESDC and/or the City. It is expected that the publicly accessible open spaces will be deeded to a not-for-profit entity established by the Project Sponsors to maintain and operate the spaces. This not-for-profit entity will be perpetually funded by the owners of the Project's buildings. This entity shall be primarily responsible for
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such maintenance and operation, pursuant to standards to be approved by the City or ESDC. Furthermore, the maintenance and operation obligations will be evidenced by restrictive declarations recorded against the surrounding Project properties. Such declarations shall also include obligations on the owners of the surrounding Project properties to (1) perform maintenance and operation in the event the not-for-profit entity defaults on its obligation to maintain and operate, (2) fund maintenance and operation at a sufficient annual level, and (3) provide adequate assurances satisfactory to ESDC and the City that the publicly accessible open spaces will be maintained and operated.
Improvements for the MTA or LIRR will be owned by the MTA or LIRR. The platform above the Upgraded Yard, which will support FCRC developments and the publicly accessible open spaces, will be treated in the same way as land underlying other FCRC project developments that is, it will be owned by ESDC and leased, until substantial completion of construction, to one or more single-purpose, FCRC development affiliates. After construction, ownership will be conveyed to the developer entity.
G.
Economic Impact
ESDC has performed an independent economic impact analysis of the Project.3 ESDC has Projected that the Project will have the following impacts during construction and for the first 40 years of operations:
(i)
Construction of the Project will generate 15,344 new direct job years and 26,803 total job years (direct, indirect and induced);
(ii)
Direct personal income related to construction activities will be $721.0 million and total personal income will be $1.5 billion (direct, indirect and induced);
(iii)
Total construction employment will generate $50.4 million in City personal income tax and sales tax on consumption expenditures and $109.5 million for New York State;
The economic impact analysis set forth herein may vary from that set forth in the DEIS due to the use of different financial models and assumptions applied to the Project. The analysis set forth herein is based upon the residential variation of the Project.
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(iv)
Operations at the Arena and additional spending in the region will support an annual average 6,573 new jobs in New York City (direct, indirect and induced) and an annual average 7,378 jobs (direct, indirect and induced) in New York State (inclusive of New York City); and
(v)
On a present value basis, the Project will generate $845.5 million of City tax revenues and $1.1 billion of State tax revenues. Thus the Project will generate $1.4 billion in net tax revenues in excess of the public contribution to the Project.
In addition, the Project will produce an estimated $554 million in public improvements and infrastructure including improvements for the LIRR and for New York City Transit.
H.
Project Purpose Basis for Land Use Improvement Project and Civic Project Findings
The primary purposes of ESDCs participation in the Project are (i) to transform an area that is blighted and underutilized into a vibrant, transit-oriented, mixed-use and mixed-income community with significant publicly accessible open space and community facility amenities that has appropriate density close to Brooklyns largest Transportation Hub; (ii) to provide a state-ofthe-art Arena to accommodate the long awaited return of a major-league sports franchise to Brooklyn while also providing a first-class athletic facility for the City's colleges and local academic institutions, which currently lack adequate athletic facilities, and a new venue for a variety of musical, entertainment and civic events; (iii) to generate additional economic activity and City and State tax revenues (including sales tax revenues from operations and income tax revenues from events at the Arena and from Project Site households) by providing a venue for professional basketball and other events within New York City (and specifically in Downtown Brooklyn) that otherwise would occur elsewhere and by offering first-class office space, retail space and possibly a hotel to attract new jobs; (iv) to supply critically needed affordable and market-rate housing; (v) to provide a state-of-the-art rail storage, cleaning, and inspection facility for the LIRR which will enable it to better accommodate its MU Series Trains and other mass transit improvements; (vi) to provide publicly accessible open space; and (vii) to cause environmental remediation to be performed on the Project Site.
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Specifically, ESDC, pursuant to Section 10 of the UDC Act, makes the findings set forth below. These findings are supported and complemented by the findings, determinations and statements of fact described in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement ("DEIS") and the Blight Study attached hereto as Exhibit F .
1. Land Use Improvement Project Findings A. That the area in which the project is to be located is a substandard or unsanitary area, or is in danger of becoming a substandard or unsanitary area and tends to impair or arrest the sound growth and development of the municipality.
A study (the "Blight Study") of the Project Site performed by the consultant engaged by ESDC in connection with the preparation of the DEIS concluded that the Project Site is characterized by blighted conditions that are unlikely to be removed without public action. The Blight Study found that the Project Site has substandard and unsanitary conditions including vacant and underutilized buildings, debris-filled vacant lots, building facades that are in ill-repair, structures suffering from serious physical deterioration, environmental concerns, and high crime rates. In addition, eleven lots had buildings so physically deteriorated that they were found to be structurally unsound and a threat to public safety, and consequently, they have been demolished. The Blight Study also found that five of the eight blocks that comprise the Project Site are located within ATURA, which was created by the City approximately four decades ago due to blighted conditions, and that unlike most of the blocks in ATURA, the Project Site blocks have failed to meet the goals outlined in the ATURA Plan. The Blight Study further found that the continued blight on the Project Site is due in part to the presence of the below-grade open rail Yard that creates a significant visual and physical gap in the urban landscape and impairs the sound growth of the surrounding area. The Blight Study concluded that the Project will remove these blighted conditions. The Blight Study is attached hereto as Exhibit F. The Yard itself contains approximately 9 acres (including the land under the 6th and Carlton Avenue Bridges) of potential prime real estate in the borough of Brooklyn in close proximity to a major transportation hub and along a major arterial, but its current location and configuration
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serves as an impediment to future development both on the Yard blocks and for the surrounding blocks.
B.
That the project consists of a plan or undertaking for the clearance, replanning, reconstruction and rehabilitation of such area and for recreational and other facilities incidental or appurtenant thereto.
This General Project Plan calls for redevelopment of the Project Site, which is currently a blighted area, with uses and density that will best suit the opportunities presented by the large Transportation Hub and activity of Downtown Brooklyn on the western end of the site and the residential character of surrounding neighborhoods. There would be extensive environmental remediation of contaminated materials on the site. The platform to be built over the rebuilt, upgraded and partially relocated Yard will allow for development above the Upgraded Yard, thereby removing a significant blighting influence, while improving Yard operations. The platform also allows a significant amount of publicly accessible open space that creates a physical connection between the surrounding neighborhoods. The Arena, commercial, retail, residential and community facility uses will invigorate the economic life and street activity of the area.
The Project would provide between approximately 5,790 and 6,860 residential units. Of these, there would be approximately 4,500 rental units, approximately 2,250 of which will be affordable to low- and middle-income families. All of the housing, affordable and market rate, is needed to serve housing demands.
At least seven acres of publicly accessible open space will be provided for numerous recreational activities. Both active and passive uses will be accommodated in a design that includes paths and seating areas, lawns and playgrounds, and water features. This open space will be developed largely on the platform over the Upgraded Yard and in the bed of Pacific Street between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues, replacing an open cut in the landscape and a lightly used street with a pedestrian-friendly, recreational area that connects surrounding neighborhoods.
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The Project will generate substantial tax revenues for the City and State and will generate a payment to the MTA, in the form of cash and improvements, for the fee interest in land and air space, as well as provide the MTA with a modern and efficient Upgraded Yard that can better accommodate its recently purchased fleet of MU Series Trains. New jobs will be generated and much needed affordable and market-rate housing will be created by the Project. The Arena will attract significant numbers of people, enhancing local business, both on the Project Site and in the surrounding area. In addition, the City will benefit from transit improvements and infrastructure improvements that are part of the Project.
C.
That the plan or undertaking affords maximum opportunity for a participation by private enterprise, consistent with the sound needs of the municipality as a whole.
The Project Sponsors will develop most of the Project components and will provide financing for many of these components. In addition, it is expected that revenues from the Arena will be used to make payments-in-lieu-of taxes sufficient to repay the bonds used to finance construction of the Arena. The Arena will be operated by the Project Sponsors and will primarily be utilized for private sports events and shows. FCRC affiliates will develop, own and operate all the commercial and residential rental structures, and will develop the residential condominium. FCRC will maintain the Urban Room as a publicly accessible space with a subway entrance.
2. Civic Project Findings A. That 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 facility to be included in the Project.
The Arena will provide a needed venue for the Nets professional basketball team to be relocated to Brooklyn from its current home in New Jersey, as well as provide a venue for the City's colleges and local academic institutions, which currently lack adequate athletic facilities, and for other sport events that cannot currently be accommodated in Brooklyn. The Arena will also provide needed support for cultural and community events such as concerts, family entertainment and graduation ceremonies. These events will generate economic benefits for
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Brooklyn and for the City and State, while promoting civic pride. An Urban Room connected to the Arena will serve as a significant public amenity by accommodating the major flows of people to and from the transit center during the day and night, serving as a direct subway entrance to the Arena and allowing for a variety of public uses and programmed events throughout the year. The Arena will make Brooklyn competitive with other municipalities that have undertaken development of similar public facilities.
At least seven acres of publicly accessible open space would be created with pedestrian and bike path connections between the surrounding neighborhoods, which are currently separated by the below-grade Yard. The neighborhoods are underserved by open space resources and the Project's open space would be a significant public amenity that serves the surrounding neighborhoods as well as the Project Site with a variety of active and passive uses. Additionally, such open space would play an important part in the area's storm water management system by significantly reducing runoff to the Gowanus Canal.
The new subway entrances on the south side of Atlantic Avenue at the Flatbush intersection would significantly improve circulation to and from the 10 subway lines at this major Transportation Hub and would accommodate fans entering or leaving an event at the Arena. Public safety will be substantially enhanced and public convenience increased by eliminating the need to cross Atlantic Avenue at a busy and complicated street intersection in order to access the subway system.
The new Upgraded Yard is needed to accommodate modern transportation demands at Brooklyns major Transportation Hub. The Upgraded Yard will better accommodate the recently-purchased fleet of MU Series Trains, which are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, will improve Yard operations by allowing toilet servicing to occur on all tracks, and will create enhanced spaces for inspections and servicing to occur and provide an enclosed space protected from the elements. In addition, the Upgraded Yard will provide a direct connection to the main line through the West Portal, increasing efficiency, and providing a secondary egress track in the event of an emergency on the main line increasing public safety.
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This Project would create the opportunity for significant, and needed, improvements to the Yard's functionality and efficiency, which will benefit the public.
B. 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.
The Arena will be designed to accommodate the types of events described in this General Project Plan and will be suitable for the above purposes. The Arena will provide for the return of a professional sports team to Brooklyn, as well as entertainment and community events for the amusement and cultural enrichment of the residents of the City and the State.
The open space will have a combination of active and passive uses as part of a single, comprehensive master plan that encourages use by the surrounding neighborhood residents. The open space extends to the streets with large spaces as wide as a city street between each of the buildings so that the space feels like a unified whole with visual and pedestrian connections through and out of the space that weave it into the existing urban fabric. It will be open seven days a week with reasonable posted closure hours for security and maintenance purposes.
The new subway entrance will improve public access to the 10 subway lines serving Brooklyns major transportation hub and increase public safety by providing subway access from the south side of Atlantic Avenue.
As described herein, the Upgraded Yard will be designed to increase functionality and efficiency, providing significant civic benefits at Brooklyns largest Transportation Hub. The Upgraded Yard will accommodate the MU Series Trains.
C. 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
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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.
ESDC will retain ownership of the land under the Arena through the initial term of its lease to the LDC, and ESDC or the LDC will retain ownership of the Arena during the initial term. The initial term would equal the term of the tax-exempt bonds issued by the LDC and is expected to be 30 to 40 years. As described herein, adequate funds will be made available for construction of the Arena and FCRC will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and upkeep of the Arena.
The open space will be owned by a not-for-profit corporation established by the Project Sponsors, which will be responsible for maintenance, operation and security of this public amenity. The not-for-profit corporation will be funded by the owners of the surrounding buildings pursuant to restrictive declarations recorded against the surrounding Project properties. The declarations, as described above, would require sufficient annual funding for maintenance and operation of the open space, as well as providing adequate assurances that it will be maintained and operated.
MTA will retain ownership of the subway station in which the Project Sponsors are making substantial improvements. As described herein, the cost of subway improvements will be borne by FCRC.
MTA will retain ownership of the Upgraded Yard and of easements through other portions of ground and air space on the Project Site as needed. MTA will retain ownership of a portion of Block 1120, Lot 1, and Block 1121, Lot 1 and will acquire the fee interest in Block 1121, Lot 47 and a portion of Block 1121, Lot 42. The fee interest in the air above Lots 42 and 47, and the fee interest in the portion of Lot 42 not conveyed to the MTA will be retained by FCRC or ESDC. After its acquisition of the same, ESDC will hold fee title to the air above Lot 47, the portion of Lot 42 not conveyed to the MTA and the air above the portion of Lot 42 conveyed to the MTA and lease all of the same to FCRC in accordance with the terms set forth herein. As described herein, adequate funds will be made available for construction of the Upgraded Yard and FCRC
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will be responsible for MTAs net incremental cost increase for operating in an enclosed Yard pursuant to an agreement with the MTA.
With respect to the 16 buildings to be developed, each building will be leased from ESDC to a development affiliate of FCRC, and in each instance the tenant will be responsible for constructing, maintaining and operating the building throughout the term of the lease. It is expected that each lease, other than that underlying the Arena, will terminate upon completion of construction of the improvements to be located on the parcel of land leased thereby, with title to such land being conveyed to FCRC upon such lease termination.
D. That the plans and specifications assure or will assure adequate light, air, sanitation and fire protection.
The ESDC Department of Design and Construction will review and approve Arena plans and specifications and will assure that the above criteria are satisfied. The Arena and other improvements, other than the Upgraded Yard and other transit improvements, will be designed and built in accordance with the New York City Building Code or pursuant to approvals by the New York City Department of Buildings and building permits which will be issued by the New York City Department of Buildings, to the extent applicable. The publicly accessible open space will be designed and constructed pursuant to the Design Guidelines developed by ESDC in consultation with the City and attached hereto as Exhibit B.
The MTA will review and approve plans and specifications and issue permits for the new subway entrance and the Upgraded Yard. The platform above the Upgraded Yard will be designed and built in accordance with the New York City Building Code or pursuant to approvals by the New York City Department of Buildings. The LIRR/MTA will review and approve the plans and specifications in their proprietary capacity as well.
3. Findings for all ESDC 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, which are or will be provided in the project
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area or in other areas not generally less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities, at rents or prices within the financial means of such families or individuals, and reasonably accessible to their places of employment.
ESDC will implement a relocation plan as described herein. FCRC has and will continue to provide additional benefits for residential tenants which will provide tenants with reasonably comparable space at their then current rent or, at their election, a one-time relocation payment. Residents who so choose will be relocated on the Project Site, into brand new, safe and sanitary units, as soon as feasible. Until their on-site unit is available, the resident will receive a rent subsidy so that they continue to pay their then-current rent for decent, safe and sanitary off-site units in the neighboring areas, thus ensuring that housing is at all times within the financial means of the residents and in a location that is not less desirable in regard to public utilities and public and commercial facilities and that is reasonably accessible to their places of employment.
I.
The Yard has been utilized for over 100 years for railroad and other industrial purposes. Contaminated materials may be present on the surface or in the subsurface. Under the terms of a temporary license agreement between MTA and FCRC, FCRC and their consultants have been provided access to the Yard to gather information and collect data that is reflected in the DEIS.
In addition to the Yard, many other parcels on the Project Site contained industrial and other uses, including gas stations, and may have contaminated materials present on the surface or in the subsurface. FCRC has begun investigations on parcels that it controls and would undertake investigations on certain other properties, under a license or under a lease, once ESDC has completed acquisition of the Project Site or earlier, to the extent feasible. Environmental testing results analyzed as of May 2006 are reflected in the DEIS.
Collectively, under the terms of the licenses and the transaction documents, FCRC will be obligated to perform any mitigation or remedial program that may be required under applicable laws and regulations or as otherwise agreed to among ESDC, MTA (with respect to the Yard) and FCRC.
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J.
Although the City has been consulted throughout the planning process and has provided significant input to the Design Guidelines, the Project would require ESDC to override certain local regulations pursuant to the UDC Act. These overrides would permit a development more reflective of, and consistent with, land use policy envisioned for Downtown Brooklyn and would include the following:
(i) Override of Use Regulations to allow: (a) Commercial uses in a residential district and commercial uses above the height of the first or second floor in commercial overlay districts; (b) Residential uses in a manufacturing zone; (c) Community facility use in a manufacturing zone without obtaining a special permit from the City Planning Commission (the "CPC"); (d) Arena use in a residential and residential/commercial overlay district, and arena use in C6 and C4 commercial and M1-1 manufacturing districts located closer than 200 feet from a residential zone and without obtaining a special permit from the CPC; (e) Uses within the beds of City streets; (f) Commercial and residential uses to occupy portions of the development without regard to the location restrictions contained in the Zoning Resolution; and (g) physical culture establishments without obtaining a special permit from the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals.
(ii) Override of floor area and open space regulations to allow: (a) Commercial and residential floor area in excess of that permitted in the underlying districts; (b) Location of residential floor area without regard to open space ratio or lot coverage requirements, where applicable; and (c) Location of floor area in the bed of mapped City streets.
(iii) Override of height and setback controls, including modification of minimum base heights in contextual districts and Special Downtown Brooklyn District streetwall controls, and modification of maximum base heights, setback requirements, sky exposure planes, and maximum building heights.
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(v) Override of signage regulations to allow arena signage to exceed the applicable height, surface area, and illumination controls on the arena block.
(vi) Override of parking regulations to allow for accessory parking to be provided on zoning lots within the Project Site without regard to requirements regarding restrictions on location of accessory off-street parking spaces.
(vii) Override of loading requirements for commercial uses on the Project Site.
(viii) Override of Zoning Resolution special permit requirements to allow for a platform over or within a railroad right of way or transit air space to be included within a zoning lot and used for development.
(ix) Override of the land use controls of the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal Area (ATURA) Plan, as they relate to Site 5 and Site 6A to the extent the ATURA Plan requires compliance with zoning.
(x) Override the restriction on the use of streets shown on the City Map as it relates to Pacific Street between Flatbush and 6th Avenues, 5th Avenue between Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues (inclusive of the small traffic island), Pacific Street between Vanderbilt and Carlton Avenues and an area underneath 6th Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street.
K.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
ESDC, acting as lead agency pursuant to the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act ("SEQRA"), is required to comply with SEQRA and the implementing regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in connection with the Project. The City and the MTA have been participating as involved agencies in the preparation
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and review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project. The DEIS issued by ESDC will be circulated and made available for public review and comment in coordination with the review process for the GPP. Public comments will be considered in the preparation of a Final EIS (the "FEIS"). ESDC will issue a findings statement under SEQRA. The Project will be built and operated as described in the findings statement, and FCRC will implement the mitigation measures as described in the findings statement.
L.
CONCLUSION
This Land Use Improvement and Civic Project will redevelop a blighted area with a mixed-use, mixed-income project that provides a first-class Arena, critically needed residential units, significant commercial development, and a large public open space. This development will take advantage of Brooklyns largest Transportation Hub to capture economic opportunities for Brooklyn and the City of New York and to address significant housing demands, within the sound planning framework of transit-oriented development. In order to accomplish these and other herein articulated goals, the challenge of building over Vanderbilt Yard would be successfully undertaken by relocating the facility to the eastern end of the Yard with modern and efficient facilities and building a platform over the Yard to heal the existing incision in the streetscape. This General Project Plan adopts a comprehensive vision that would eliminate the blighted and underutilized condition of the Project Site and provide new, thoughtful and artful designs for buildings and open spaces that mediate the scales of the differing adjacent neighborhood characteristics and foster connections between the surrounding neighborhoods.
Attachments
Exhibit A-1 Project Site Plan Exhibit A-2 Project Block and Lot Map Exhibit B Design Guidelines Exhibit C Maximum Building Heights and Square Footage
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Exhibit D Parking Plan Exhibit E Property Ownership and Control Exhibit F Blight Study
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