Makes changes relating to an authorization of land conveyance by the city of New Rochelle relating to reversion of title to the Armory Building, the annex and the underlying land of such structures, and the reversion of dedicated space for veterans organization use, to the state of New York upon the breach of certain conditions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8559A
SPONSOR: Otis TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 799 of the laws of 2021, relating to authorizing
the city of New Rochelle, county of Westchester to sell, convey and
alienate certain land, in furtherance of an economic development inter-
est of the state and/or city of New Rochelle, in relation to reversion
of title to the Armory Building, the annex and the underlying land of
such structures, and reversion of the dedicated space for veterans
organization use, to the state of New York upon the breach of certain
conditions
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To narrow the reverter clause in Chapter 799 of the laws of 2021 to
remove the reverter related to the preservation of the Armory Building
once the certificate of occupancy is obtained and 'apply the reverter
clause to the dedicated space for veterans organization.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill adds a new subdivision (c) of section 2 of chap-
ter 799 of the laws of 2021 to limit the application of the reverter
clause related to the restoration of the Armory Building and the annex
until the owner receives the certificate of occupancy, at which time the
reverter would be extinguished, and maintains a reverter of the dedi-
cated space for veterans organization. Adds a new subdivision (d) of
chapter 799 of the laws of 2021 to clarify that, despite the removal of
the reverter, the state shall still have enforcement mechanisms to
enforce the conditions established in subdivision (b) of chapter 799 of
the laws of 2021
Section two establishes the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The bill is amended to make technical changes to the language.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would make changes to the underlying legislation in Chapter
799 of 2021, which allowed the dedication of new waterfront parkland as
part of a development project, with the requirement to preserve the
armory building, including the annex, and maintain a dedicated space for
veterans organization use at no or a de minimis rental amount as
approved by the city council.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8559--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 20, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. OTIS -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Cities -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend chapter 799 of the laws of 2021, relating to authorizing
the city of New Rochelle, county of Westchester to sell, convey and
alienate certain land, in furtherance of an economic development
interest of the state and/or city of New Rochelle, in relation to
reversion of title to the Armory Building, the annex and the underly-
ing land of such structures, and reversion of the dedicated space for
veterans organization use, to the state of New York upon the breach of
certain conditions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision (b) of section 2 of chapter 799 of the laws of
2 2021, relating to authorizing the city of New Rochelle, county of West-
3 chester to sell, convey and alienate certain land, in furtherance of an
4 economic development interest of the state and/or city of New Rochelle,
5 as amended by chapter 467 of the laws of 2022, is amended and a new
6 subdivision (d) is added to read as follows:
7 (b) any such deed transferring the parcel described in section four of
8 this act provides (i) for the preservation of the Armory Building,
9 including the annex, and (ii) a dedicated space for veterans organiza-
10 tion use at no charge or a de minimis rental amount as approved by the
11 city council.
12 (c) Such deed or other document of conveyance shall provide (i) that
13 in the event of a breach of the [conditions] condition in [this] para-
14 graph (i) of subdivision (b) of this section, title to the [land trans-
15 ferred to the city of New Rochelle by section four of this act] Armory
16 Building and the annex and the underlying land of such structures shall
17 revert to the state of New York. Provided however, upon the receipt by
18 the owner of a certificate of occupancy for the Armory Building and the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13092-05-5
A. 8559--A 2
1 annex, any and all rights of reverter and/or reversion that the state
2 may have in and to such real property shall be permanently released and
3 extinguished and relinquished forever; and (ii) that in the event of a
4 breach of the condition in paragraph (ii) of subdivision (b) of this
5 section, such dedicated space shall revert to the state of New York.
6 (d) The state shall continue to have the right to enforce in law or
7 equity, including the right to seek injunctive relief or specific
8 performance, the conditions established pursuant to subdivision (b) of
9 this section.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
