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[NYguy]

Don Peebles on his proposal…


https://www.iheart.com/podcast/51-th...ion-190140977/

We're building a civil rights museum there that Reverend Sharpton and his foundation will lead, and then we're going to make it a symbol and an environment of economic opportunity for people new hotels, apartments, condos, and also I'm building forty percent affordable housing there too.

Forty percent is a big percentage of affordable housing.

What has been the biggest obstacle with affirmation tower?


I think getting the Governor of New York to actually make a decision to sell us a site. We have proposed. It's a second time now. We have proposed you know, a price and a project a couple of years ago, and then Andrew Cuomo had to leave office and so Hochul came in, canceled it and then reissued a request for proposals. We've done that and in that process, so that's the biggest obstacle.

You know, good news is is that we've been able to raise the capital to do it.

It's a three billion dollar development and uh and so I think that, you know, it should be a no brainer in my view, because we're a very qualified team…

[Ahoi]

2 things

1. why doesn't Peebles build his Affirmation Tower on another site, as he has always said he would? Because he has raised the capital.

2. Or does he want them to announce a winner soon?

Or he is playing poker now, if no result is announced soon, he will withdraw his offer and the RFP will be cancelled again.

The Affirmation Tower could also be planned at 45 east 45th Street with altered proportions.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Ahoi

2 things

1. why doesn't Peebles build his Affirmation Tower on another site, as he has always said he would? Because he has raised the capital.

2. Or does he want them to announce a winner soon?

Or he is playing poker now, if no result is announced soon, he will withdraw his offer and the RFP will be cancelled again.

The Affirmation Tower could also be planned at 45 east 45th Street with altered proportions.

Easier said than done. For one thing, the Roosevelt Hotel site is owned by another government entity (which will have its own bidding process which hasntveven begun yet). Also, they have said there have been offers from other cities to build the concept in those places, but again, easier said than done.

The question that everyone (including the community board) should be asking is why is the governor sitting on this? She stopped the original process so she could reissue the RFP with a specific stipulation for affordable housing and a ban on office space. Peebles has met that mark, as I would assume any other bidder has. Yet, the governor has remained silent. No proclamations of a need for further study, just silence. Meanwhile, those demanding more affordable housing in the area (and particularly this site) remain silent.

It’s been a year already. They were originally expected to announce a winning bid in a couple of months.

[Ahoi]

Thank you NYguy for your answer.

Is there a statute of limitations on this RFP? Or what is the latest date a winner has to be announced? We are promoting the construction of 350 Park Avenue but we as the City of New York do not need affordable housing.
After almost a year and still no decision how disappointing.

[NYguy]

Originally Posted by Ahoi

Thank you NYguy for your answer.

Is there a statute of limitations on this RFP? Or what is the latest date a winner has to be announced? We are promoting the construction of 350 Park Avenue but we as the City of New York do not need affordable housing.
After almost a year and still no decision how disappointing.

The city DOES need affordable housing. It just doesn’t need it in Hudson Yards. But this is a state owned site, and they want to make a show of it. I would argue that much more affordable housing is needed all over the city. But that’s another issue. Meanwhile, the state has required at least 30% affordable housing in the bids. Peebles has said his bid includes 40% affordable housing. But there is a holdup at the state level.