The auction date for the long-vacant property at 605 E. Ninth St. between Avenue B and Avenue C is Nov. 8... and the qualified bid deadline is Oct. 18.
Yesterday, the Illinois-based Hilco Real Estate, a national real estate disposition services provider, issued a news release about the upcoming sale.
Most of the information is the same that was on Hilco's website — with an exception (bold ours):
With an interior that is now down to the studs, the building presents an opportunity for the approved construction of 535 beds for a student/college dormitory or alternatively offers a developer or investor the potential to help mitigate the current homeless and migrant crisis by using the building for that purpose.
The 135,000-square-foot building is zoned for "community facility use." According to city records, a full stop-work order has been in place via the Department of Buildings since August 2015.
This piece published by THE CITY in March has more background about owner Gregg Singer's efforts here ...
In the 22 years since Singer evicted local activists, he has been unable to get needed approvals to modify the building and garner revenue. In 2006, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission protected the building as historically significant, which prevented any construction of additional floors and protected those elements of the building’s edifice that Singer had not already destroyed.
Singer’s subsequent plan to turn the building into collegiate dorms were complicated by the arrival of Rule 51, also known as the Dorm Rule, which gives control over the building to the educational institution — rather than the landlord — and mandates 10-year leases. At different times, Adelphi University and Cooper Union tentatively agreed to lease the building before backing out of negotiations, according to court documents.
Local elected officials have urged all three mayors who have passed through City Hall since the building's purchase to intervene and return the building to the community. None have acted.
11 comments:
This is the time to return the building to the community from which it had been withheld over 21 long years in violation of the deed. Where is Mayor Adams swagger? His buildings commisioner resigned amidst corruption allegations. Now for him to do the right thing. The speculator's plan (at times masquerading behind bonus dort plans) to profiteer big by getting around the deed, has failed. This community continued to be vigilant and will not forget.
yes, like PS 9 where everyone has been thrown out to make place for a private theatre.
@6:27am? Who pays for it because "swagger" will not. Still have never seen one comment here that addresses the cost of turning this derelict building back to a viable community space. And don't give me the billionaires can because that's not how they became billionaires.
@2:46 PM
Who pays? Sweat equity? (that's humor)
Unless things have changed in the last few years the district does not need more public school seats. Without financing for something civic or community minded we're bound for condodom with ground floor retail. Ideas for glass tower condo names. Tompkins East?
I do think we should sweat the developer for a Charlie Parker statue.
If you enforce the deed that was anscheinend is on the building, the speculation price will be limited, and become affordable for the city or philanthropists. If fines were properly levied against the speculators for violating the deed, then this alone could have easily paid for re-acquisition, re-hab, and even programming for many years to come. Note: It us all about politics al will!
Look what can be done when there is a will to succeed
https://www.artspace.org/ps109
22 Years later and there is still no proposal on how this would be turned into a community space, what it will cost, and who will pay for it. Its a shame this has been vacant for so long and hope this auction moves the development of this place along and some housing is provided in this space.
The supporters of CHARAS and related politicians seem to be detached from reality. The city will not buy the property back - especially now with its own economic crisis and cost cutting. The only way this is going back to the community is: 1) the community itself raises the funds to buy and develop the property (highly unlikely in my opinion). 2) the community partners with a developer to produce something that makes financial sense and at the same time a piece of the development is carved out for the community. Its a large property so this is feasible.
There are many, many proposals, ideas, and needs! As proof of concept, there is multi-year track record of vibrant programming, among which Fuller's geodome is just one art-historical example. It had been a thriving, multifunctional cultural and community center already for decades before Guiliani, his speculator and allied bank kicked the community out.
Would this imply that artists without funds or without the interest or pity from the rich should not get back their Center that they had for so many years before the Guiliani/Singer eviction??? This is one of the wealthiest cities on Earth. It's within the power of the elected mayor and politician to correct a historic wrong.
MORUS what is your plan ? Squat it and take it back or keep doing Italian dead punk band photo shows at C Squat and Anarchist Book Fairs at La Plaza Cultural ?
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