Lower East Side Basketball City CBA?

There has been talk for the past few weeks of a CBA for Basketball City, a recreational facility planned for Pier 36 on the New York City's East River. Based on a 1994 legal agreement requiring Pier 36 to be "permanently dedicated for use... as a community recreation facility," the developer previously agreed to make the facility available to low income residents (more info on that legal agreement here). But that promise wasn't included in the city's lease to Basketball City, leading Community Board 3 to seek a binding CBA.

The proposed community benefits agreement requires Basketball City to charge reduced fees for CB3 residents, and even smaller fees for low income and public housing residents. Free court time would be offered to nonprofits and schools, and the developer would be expected to make a good faith effort to provide living wage jobs.

Bruce Radler, president of Basketball City, says that he can't formalize a CBA because the project hasn't started. He also emphasizes that "Basketball City is committed to giving back to the community."

One question that nobody seems to have asked yet, is whether CB3 should even be involved with this CBA. Remember, back in 2007, the city planning commission recommended that CB9 create a private local development corporation to negotiate a CBA with Columbia University, instead of bargaining directly. Having the community board involved, the planning commission said, "would raise significant issues regarding sound land use planning and create either the appearance or reality that such agreements are not voluntary in nature."

In fact, there's already a community organization that's been developing ideas for the Lower East Side waterfront. The O.U.R. Waterfront Coalition produced "A People's Plan for the East River Waterfront" through a community visioning process involving three planning sessions with 150 participants, a town hall meeting with 80 participants, and an 800-person survey. They've also commissioned financial analyses and business plans, and they've reviewed existing NYC Economic Development Corporation contracts. (See also here for information on the Waterfront Alliance.) The Waterfront Coalition had been negotiating directly with Bruce Radler for community benefits, but it agreed last week to work through the CB3 framework instead of negotiating separately.

Gotham Gazette: "Will Derailing a Bad Project Lead to a Good One?"

Today's Gotham Gazette includes an excellent article by Joan Byron recapping the Kingsbridge Armory Redevelopment Alliance's campaign for responsible and accountable development in the Northwest Bronx. When Related Cos. proposed to redevelop the armory as a shopping center, KARA insisted on a CBA with a living wage requirement, and when Related refused to guarantee living wage jobs, KARA succeeded in convincing the city council to reject the project.

And so, Byron asks, will defeating the shopping mall proposal lead to a better development plan?

KARA is ready to go back to the drawing board, with an even clearer understanding of what the Bronx stands to lose, and to gain. Realizing the damage that a mega-mall would inevitably inflict, KARA and its allies are seeking a community-led vision that will maximize local benefits without destroying the neighborhood.

They won’t have to look far for a precedent. Another armory opened its doors to its host community this month, gracefully accommodating a women’s shelter, community space and a YMCA whose gym will also serve local kids during the school day. The redevelopment of Brooklyn’s Park Slope Armory took years to move from vision to reality, but KARA members are already asking "why not here?"

Minority and local hiring numbers for the Consol Center (Penguins Arena) CBA

The Penguins Arena One Hill CBA doesn't contain specific minority and local hiring targets, but it does include a lot of provisions intended to foster minority and local involvement in the project. (See here for more info on the One Hill Coalition.) According to numbers released last week, "African-Americans make up about 3 percent of those employed on the Consol Energy Arena development project. Of that number, 1 percent live in the Hill District. Women also make up about 1 percent."

Carl Redwood, co-chair of the Hill Consensus Group, is disappointed in the numbers, but is focusing on achieving higher minority hiring rates for permanent jobs.