Provides for the corporation to do studies in targeted areas of Buffalo as part of a retail revitalization program; requires final report to legislature no later than July 1, 2014.

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S6933-2011 Actions

• Apr 13, 2012: REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

S6933-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S6933

TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
relation to requiring the corporation to study the city of Buffalo for
the purpose of fostering the growth of business and industry in New York
state; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration
thereof

PURPOSE:
The purpose of the study is to examine and evaluate the prospects for
retail redevelopment in the city of Buffalo. The commission shall devel-
op a retail revitalization program including, choosing target indus-
tries, developing voluntary programs, and creating tax credits or other
similar incentives.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The "Retail Redevelopment Commission" shall establish a pilot program,
whose primary responsibility shall be to produce a study of the possible
retail industries that would benefit residents and visitors to Buffalo.
This pilot program study shall be conducted within the city of Buffalo
and include a comprehensive market analysis study.

The commission shall report on current and projected trends in retail
for the city, develop initiatives, programs and policies for the devel-
opment and growth of retail businesses in Buffalo, as a model for other
cities in the state. The study would require that the results be
presented in a report to the legislature of its conclusions and recom-
mendations, including legislative proposals necessary to implement the
suggested programs, not later than July 1, 2012 and a final report on or
before January 1, 2013.

JUSTIFICATION:
With high rates of joblessness, homelessness, poverty and crime; many
Buffalo residents struggle, as evidenced in the 2000 Census. The per
capita income in the City of Buffalo is $14,991. This number is well
below the national per capita income of $21,587.  Twenty six percent of
residents in the City of Buffalo live beneath the poverty level, as
determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Addi-
tionally, unemployment is on the rise at 10.4%, as reported by the New
York State Department of Labor in December of 2003.  Facing these grim
statistics, Buffalo still has many advantages and is strategically
oriented to build on its assets.

For much of its history, Buffalo's economy has been dominated by manu-
facturing, and when the jobs moved, so did the people. Over the past
several decades, and especially today, the economic climate is changing.
As manufacturing employment continues to decline, the growth of the
area's 'a new economy,' defined by information technology, cross-sector
partnerships, urban reinvestment and changing demographics, has begun
soar.

As a city rich with culture and history, record commercial development
In downtown Buffalo, a resurgence in downtown living, and serving as a
Gate way to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, Buffalo is at
the cusp of a new era. With a new master plan for our schools, the newly
designed award-winning airport, and innovative efforts to bring Buffalo
and the region's economy to a new level, Buffalo is poised to attract
progressive retail chains to the area. Therefore, it is imperative that
the city devise a comprehensive strategy to rebuild its suffering retail
industry to complement other positive developments.  The retail industry
is one of the most important sectors in the economy, providing over 15
per cent of all employment and including some of the largest and most
admired companies worldwide. Retailing deals with a large variety of
products - ranging from physical products, such as packaged goods, to
intangible products, such as financial services or travel. The impor-
tance of retailing for consumers does not need much explanation: most
people deal as consumers with retailers almost every day and for many
people shopping plays an important part in their lives.

Through this Retail Redevelopment Commission, Buffalo becomes a strong,
urban epicenter - as it once was in its hey day -- where citizens of the
city and the surrounding region can live, work, entertain and have
access to a progressive and diverse retail industry.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Same As: A.976A Peoples-Stokes

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Compensation may be required for actual and necessary expenses to
conduct this study.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until March
31, 2014.

S6933-2011 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    6933

                              I N  SENATE

                               April 13, 2012
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations,  Authorities
    and Commissions

  AN ACT to amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in
    relation to requiring the corporation to study the city of Buffalo for
    the  purpose  of  fostering the growth of business and industry in New
    York state; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expi-
    ration thereof

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1. Section 1 of chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting
  the New York state urban development  corporation  act,  is  amended  by
  adding a new section 16-v to read as follows:

    S  16-V.  RETAIL  REDEVELOPMENT  IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO. 1. THE CORPO-
  RATION SHALL COMPLETE A STUDY ON THE PROSPECTS FOR RETAIL  REDEVELOPMENT
  IN  THE  CITY  OF BUFFALO.   THROUGH A MARKET ANALYSIS STUDY, THE CORPO-
  RATION SHALL REPORT ON CURRENT AND PROJECTED TRENDS IN  RETAIL  FOR  THE
  CITY.  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
  INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES FOR THE GROWTH OF  RETAIL  BUSINESSES
  IN  BUFFALO,  AS  A MODEL FOR OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE. THE CORPORATION
  SHALL DEVELOP A RETAIL REVITALIZATION PROPOSAL INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMIT-
  ED, TO THE FOLLOWING:

    (A) CHOOSING TARGET INDUSTRIES WHICH  ARE  UNDERREPRESENTED  OR  WOULD
  HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON BUFFALO, ITS RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS, AND WOULD
  BE BENEFICIAL TO THE GROWTH AND FINANCIAL WELL BEING OF THE CITY.
    (B)  DEVELOPING  VOLUNTARY  PROGRAMS  WITH NEW YORK STATE COLLEGES AND
  UNIVERSITIES TO TRAIN STUDENTS TO WORK IN  THE  SELECTED  TARGET  INDUS-
  TRIES,  INCLUDING  SPECIFIC  EDUCATION  IN STARTING AND RUNNING A RETAIL
  BUSINESS.
    (C) CREATING TAX CREDITS OR OTHER SIMILAR INCENTIVES FOR RETAILERS WHO
  ARE WILLING TO OPEN UNDER-REPRESENTED OR FUTURE TREND RETAIL  BUSINESSES
  OR  INDUSTRIES  IN  THE  CITY  OF  BUFFALO;  AND WHO ARE WILLING TO HIRE
  STUDENTS FROM THE VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS INCLUDING FULL-TIME, PART-TIME  AND
  SUMMER EMPLOYMENT.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD04699-03-2

 S. 6933                             2

    2.  THE CORPORATION SHALL MAKE A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
  OF ITS CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING LEGISLATIVE  PROPOSALS
  NECESSARY  TO  IMPLEMENT  THE SUGGESTED PROGRAMS, NOT LATER THAN JULY 1,
  2013 AND A FINAL REPORT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2014.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall remain in effect
  until  March  31,  2014,  when upon such date the provisions of this act
  shall expire and be deemed repealed.