Authorizes the commissioner of general services to convey real property at the former Buffalo psychiatric center to the Richardson Center Corporation for the purposes of constructing a mixed-use campus for the community benefit.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10733A
SPONSOR: Rivera TITLE OF BILL:
An act authorizing the commissioner of general services to transfer and
convey certain state land to the Richardson Center Corporation
PURPOSE:
This bill authorizes the Commissioner of General Services, with the
consent of the Commissioner of Mental Health, to transfer and convey
approximately 1.62 acres of state-owned land located on the former
Buffalo Psychiatric Center campus to the Richardson Center corporation
for the development of a mixed-use campus that will serve the public and
advance community revitalization..
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: authorizes the Commissioner of General Services to convey
specified parcels of land, notwithstanding any other provision of law,
upon terms and conditions deemed appropriate.
Section 2: provides a general description of the parcels to be conveyed,
totaling approximately 1.62 acres in the City of Buffalo.
Section 3: clarifies that the description is not intended as a legal
description and requires the Richardson Center Corporation to provide an
accurate survey prior to conveyance.
Section 4: requires that the Corporation submit an application for the
transfer within one year of the bill's effective date.
Section 5: mandates that the conveyed land be used exclusively for the
development of a mixed-use campus for community benefit, including
affordable housing. Should such use cease, the property will revert to
the State of New York, ensuring long-term public interest protections.
Section 6: sets the effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
The former Buffalo Psychiatric Center campus represents one of Western
New York's most architecturally and historically significant sites. In
recent years, portions of the campus have been successfully revitalized
through a public-private partnership led by the Richardson Center Corpo-
ration, transforming underutilized state property into a hub for econom-
ic activity, tourism, and community engagement.
However, several smaller parcels remain under state ownership and are
currently underutilized, creating gaps in the cohesive redevelopment of
the campus. Without legislative authorization, the transfer of these
parcels cannot proceed, limiting the ability to fully realize a unified
vision for the site.
The subject parcels are no longer needed for state operations. Convey-
ing them to a capable steward ensures they are returned to productive
use rather than remaining idle. The Richardson Center Corporation has
demonstrated a strong commitment to preserving the historic integrity of
the campus while creating accessible, community-oriented spaces. This
bill ensures the land will be used for a mixed-use campus that benefits
residents and visitors alike.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10733--A
IN ASSEMBLY
March 27, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of general services to transfer and
convey certain state land to the Richardson Center Corporation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subject to the provisions of this act but notwithstanding
2 any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner of general
3 services, upon the consent of the commissioner of mental health, is
4 hereby authorized to transfer and convey to the Richardson Center Corpo-
5 ration the state land described in section two of this act for fair-
6 market value, said property being a portion of the former Buffalo
7 Psychiatric Center. Conveyance of such land shall be made at such time
8 and upon such terms and conditions, including consideration, as the
9 commissioner of general services may fix and determine.
10 § 2. The lands authorized by section one of this act to be transferred
11 and conveyed are as follows:
12 ALL that certain tracts, pieces or parcels of land situate, lying and
13 being in the City of Buffalo, County of Erie, State of New York, lying
14 generally Northerly of Forest Avenue, Easterly of Rees Street and South-
15 erly of Rockwell Road, and being more particularly bounded and described
16 as follows:
17 Commencing at the point of intersection of the westerly bounds of
18 Elmwood Avenue with the southerly bounds of Rockwell Road; thence North
19 89°31' West along said Rockwell Road a distance of 888+/- feet to the
20 point of beginning; thence through the lands of the People of the State
21 of New York (Buffalo Psychiatric Center) the following six (6) courses
22 and distances:
23 1) South 00°29' West, a distance of 151+/- feet to a point;
24 2) South 67°52' West, a distance of 248+/- feet to a point of curvature;
25 3) Along a non-tangent curve to the right having a radius of 60+/- feet,
26 an arc length of 97+/- feet, and a chord North 14°07' West, 87+/- feet
27 to a point;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15102-03-6
A. 10733--A 2
1 4) North 32°25' East, a distance of 63+/- feet to a point of curvature;
2 5) Along a curve to the left having a radius of 365+/- feet, an arc
3 length of 118+/- feet, and a chord North 23°07' East, 118+/- feet to a
4 point on the southerly bounds of Rockwell Road; and
5 6) South 89°31' East, a distance of 172+/- feet to the point or place of
6 beginning.
7 Containing 1.00 acres of land, more or less.
8 Commencing at the point of intersection of the easterly bounds of Rees
9 Street with the northerly bounds of Forest Avenue, thence North 89°06'
10 East along said Forest Avenue, a distance of 230+/- feet to the point of
11 beginning; thence through the lands of the People of the State of New
12 York (Buffalo Psychiatric Center) the following four (4) courses and
13 distances:
14 1) North 02°36' East, a distance of 265+/- feet to a point;
15 2) South 89°59' East, a distance of 95+/- feet to a point;
16 3) South 00°38' East, a distance of 263+/- feet to a point on the north-
17 erly bounds of Forest Ave; and
18 4) South 89°06' West along said avenue, a distance of 110+/- feet to the
19 point or place of beginning.
20 Containing 0.62 acres of land, more or less.
21 § 3. The description in section two of this act of the lands to be
22 conveyed is not intended to be a legal description, but is intended only
23 to identify the premises to be conveyed. As a condition of purchase, the
24 Richardson Center Corporation shall submit to the commissioner of gener-
25 al services for such commissioner's approval an accurate survey and
26 description of the lands generally described in section two of this act,
27 which may be used in the conveyance thereof.
28 § 4. The commissioner of general services shall not transfer or convey
29 the land described in section two of this act unless application is made
30 therefore to the office of general services by the Richardson Center
31 Corporation within one year after the effective date of this act.
32 § 5. Any lands transferred pursuant to this act shall be used exclu-
33 sively for the purposes of the Richardson Center Corporation to
34 construct a mixed-use campus for the community benefit, including
35 affordable housing use, and upon termination of such use, title to the
36 lands so transferred shall revert to the state of New York. The forgoing
37 sentence shall not negatively impact a certain right of reversion of
38 such lands that runs to the benefit of the city of Buffalo.
39 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
