New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Subtitle A - Governor's Office
Chapter I - Executive Orders
Part 3 - Executive Orders (Hugh L. Carey)
Section 3.86 - Executive Order No. 86: Targeting the location of State facilities in downtown areas

I, Hugh L. Carey, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of the State of New York, do hereby issue this Executive Order to solidify the State's commitment to help local governments promote the redevelopment of downtown areas by targeting the location of State facilities in downtown areas, including the leasing of space for State use, and by examining the potential for the conversion of surplus properties to private use.

Over the past two decades, municipalities of New York State have experienced a decline in their central business districts and downtown areas. Nevertheless, urban areas remain important generators of employment and centers of economic and cultural activity. They contain sizeable public investments and house major storehouses, producers and consumers of goods. In a time of dwindling resources, they are efficient conservers of energy.

The State must use its resources, in cooperation with local governments and the private sector, to promote the redevelopment of downtown areas. The location of State facilities in downtown areas, including the leasing of space for State use, can complement these redevelopment efforts. In addition, nonutilized or underutilized State facilities, available for conversion to private use, offer a potentially significant incentive to attract private sector investment in urban areas.

To ensure this State policy is properly coordinated and implemented, I hereby direct:

- the Director of the Division of the Budget and the Commissioner of General Services to carry out an intensified effort to locate and use State facilities in downtown areas, including the leasing of space for State use, and to explore the conversion of surplus properties to private use;

- the heads of State departments and agencies to assign priority to the rehabilitation of State facilities and the development of new facilities in downtown areas;

- the heads of State departments and agencies, in cooperation with the Commissioner of General Services, to assign priority to the leasing of space in downtown areas, when additional space is required to conduct State business. In this regard, State agencies and departments shall review and modify their procedures for requesting leasing assistance from the Office of General Services to include a written report detailing the extent to which consideration was given to downtown locations, when additional office space is necessary; and

- the Commissioner of General Services, using the directory of "State-Owned Real Property Available for Economic Development," to cooperate with State development agencies to offer surplus State properties for conversion to private use.

The Urban Affairs Cabinet will monitor the implementation of this Executive Order and report to the Governor from time to time as necessary.

Signed: Hugh L. Carey

Dated: March 22, 1979