The mayor referred to the turnover of city-owned properties and the potential for development of even more sites, saying he wanted to see the city cut the number of its holdings even further. While he noted that over the course of his administration the numbers had dropped considerably, he said he planned to do more. Now, the city is seeking RFPs for industrial, retail and/or residential uses of approximately 777,000 sf of space.

The sites are located in Downtown Brooklyn; Rosedale, Queens; Kew Gardens, Queens; Bathgate Industrial Park, Central Bronx; College Point Corporate Park, Queens; East New York In-Place Industrial Park, Brooklyn; and Rockaway, Queens. The properties include municipal parking fields, industrial properties and an entire city block.

Specifics of the sites and criteria for consideration will be discussed in detail at a special Valentine's Day breakfast meeting at 9:00 am. at Guastavino's Restaurant at 409 East 59th St. Spokespeople for the EDC report developers will have to present the economic impact of their plants on the city, including expenditures and potential revenue and job growth. Also under consideration will be the team's experience, skills, ability to complete the project in a timely fashion and financing.

On the heels of the call for RFPs, the mayor issued a follow-up statement to his address, which reads, "We have been extremely successful in the past in encouraging private investment in city-owned property and I am confident that these current offerings will result in many exciting proposals. We will capitalize on the city's healthy economy and put these under-utilized sites back on the tax rolls and create hundreds of new jobs for New Yorkers."

Spokespeople for the EDC recommend calling 212-312-3969 to RSVP to the Valentine's Day informational breakfast. RFP packages can also be requested at this number and proposals are due by 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 29.

Instant Insights /

City Moves Forward in Recruitment of Private Developers to Make Over 16 Sites

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