
Proposed development site bordered in red. Image credit: New York Botanical Garden
The request seeks proposals that incorporate a hotel, residential units, and retail space. On January 19, 2016, the New York Botanical Garden issued a request for proposals to construct a mixed-use development on an “acre-plus parcel” of land that sits at the south-east corner of Webster Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard, which is directly adjacent to the Botanical Garden’s parking garage. The development would be part of a larger district-wide transformation that has been underway since 2011.
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Visit EDC's website to download the RFP
City seeks proposals for industrial-use lots in parts of the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. On June 25, 2012, the Economic Development Corporation issued a rolling request for proposals for the purchase or lease of four City-owned industrial parcels in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. The sites are: North Zerega in Unionport, Bronx; Chestnut-Dinsmore in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn; Moore McCormack in Sunset Park, Brooklyn; and College Point in the College Point Industrial Park section of Queens. The RFP is a part of EDC’s efforts to support the retention and growth of industrial businesses in the City, and complements the 22 industrial initiatives announced by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn in June 2011. The goals of the RFP include increasing access to affordable industrial spaces and aligning City resources with industrial businesses’ needs. All four lots are eligible for the City’s Brownfield Incentive Grant program and federal Environmental Protection Agency grants. The sites are zoned for manufacturing, which allows manufacturing, industrial, and most commercial uses.
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City is in process of reclaiming property after Citarella failed to fully develop site. The City’s Economic Development Corporation issued a request for expressions of interest for the purchase, redevelopment, and rehabilitation of the former Taystee Bakery complex on West 125th and West 126th Street between Amsterdam and Morningside Avenues in West Harlem.
The 134,000 sq.ft. complex includes an occupied through-block building at 461 West 125th Street and five vacant buildings at 426 through 458 West 126th Street. EDC in 2001 selected gourmet grocer Citarella to rehabilitate the buildings. Citarella opened a grocery at the West 125th Street property, but failed to develop the remaining lots. The State Supreme Court in June 2009 awarded title back to EDC. Citarella challenged the decision and remains title holder of the property pending the outcome of the appeal. (more…)

- The former East 125th Street firehouse, located between Lexington and Park Avenues. Photo: Jonathan Reingold.
Proposal lists a $1 purchase price for Harlem firehouse. The New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development are jointly seeking proposals to purchase and redevelop the former East 125th Street Firehouse as a community or cultural facility.
The Romanesque Revival-style firehouse, located between Park and Lexington Avenues, dates back to the late 19th century and was designated a City landmark in June 1997. In May 2003, the City decommissioned the firehouse for budgetary reasons. Four years later, the City Council approved DCAS’ plan to sell the firehouse so long as the City transferred it to a community service provider. 4 CityLand 71 (June 15, 2007).
The firehouse is located within the Department of City Planning’s proposed 125th Street Rezoning Plan, which would increase the maximum allowable residential and commercial FAR to 7.2 and 4.0 respectively, while decreasing community facility FAR to 6.0. Although disposition of the building was previously approved by the City, HPD must obtain further government approvals per statutory requirements that govern HPDinitiated dispositions.
The RFP seeks proposals to convert the 8,500-square-foot building into an active space for community, educational, and cultural uses. Proposals must respect the building’s landmark status. Any proposed changes to the building must be reviewed and approved by Landmarks.
EDC set an April 28, 2008 deadline for all responses.
EDC: Request For Proposals – East 125th Street Firehouse (Jan. 22, 2008).
Proposal lists a $1 purchase price for Williamsburg firehouse. The New York City Economic Development Corporation issued requests for proposals for the two former Brooklyn FDNY firehouses that spurred controversy when DCAS proposed to sell the buildings at public auction. Opposition by local community boards and Borough President Marty Markowitz to the outright sale resulted in a compromise under which the City Council voted to limit future users to community facility providers and to prohibit a sale of the firehouse at 299 DeGraw Street in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood. 4 CityLand 71 (June 15, 2007).
The RFPs follow-up on the Council’s vote. At 299 DeGraw Street in Cobble Hill, the proposal seeks a viable not-for-profit tenant to redevelop the 4,250-square-foot firehouse for a community, education or cultural use. The $1-a-year lease would be limited to one ten-year term with two five-year renewal options. (more…)