Bedford Union Armory Financials Demanded By Crown Heights Officials (Updated)

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Five of the elected officials representing Crown Heights have submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the city's Economic Development Corporation (EDC) asking for detailed financial information on a proposed redevelopment project targeting the Bedford Union Armory.

The EDC selected developer BFC Partners to redevelop the 138,000 square foot site, located at Bedford Avenue and Union Street in Crown Heights. BFC's vision, known as Bedford Courts, would include a new recreation center, office space, and 330 apartments, of which 164 would be market rate and 166 would be affordable.

But in an October 2016 letter, State Senator Jesse E. Hamilton, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Assemblyman Walter T. Mosely, and Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, the authors of the FOIA request, called for changes to the project, which has yet to move forward —including making the development's residential component entirely affordable, and open to those making less than 50 percent of area median income (AMI).

Among its asks, the FOIA letter (reprinted below) requests "the financials of the project," including "the projected profits to the developer," the project's timeline, "the penalties for failing to live up to any of the terms of the agreement," and information on the project's "environmental impact during construction and after completion."

In a joint press release, the officials claimed that they've requested the information since last year from both EDC and BFC Partners, but have yet to receive it "in a way [that] the public may fully assess the proposals."

In response to the FOIA, a spokesman for the EFC released the following statement:

“We have met extensively with both elected leaders and community members at every stage of the process, and have consistently shared relevant details of the project. We are always happy to engage in additional conversations, and look forward to ultimately delivering much needed community and recreational space for Crown Heights.”

Additionally, a spokesman for BFC pointed out that Mosley and Clarke both announced their support for the redevelopment project in December 2015.

The text of the officials' FOIA request is below:

January 23, 2017

Records Access Officer

New York City Economic Development Corporation

110 William Street

New York, NY 10038

Dear Records Access Officer:

Re: Freedom of Information Law Request, “Bedford Courts LLC”

Under the provisions of the New York Freedom of Information Law, Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, we hereby request records or portions thereof pertaining to for the project for the “Bedford Courts LLC” at the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights. The New York City Economic Development Corporation initially chose two developers — BFC Partners and Slate Property Group — to jointly redevelop the armory under the name “Bedford Courts LLC”.

We are interested in the financials of the project, specifically the projected profits to the developer, the expectations of the developer, the timeline of the project, the penalties for failing to live up to any of the terms of the agreement (including timeline, affordability of apartments, quality of construction, et cetera), environmental impact during construction and after completion, and details on any benefits that the EDC is offering, including loan guarantees and other indirect subsidies. Now that Slate has dropped out of the project, we would like any documents relating to their replacement, any penalties for change of the developer, any prior agreements about change of development partners, and any correspondence between the EDC and Slate or between the EDC and BFC regarding Slate.

As you know, the Freedom of Information Law requires that an agency respond to a request within five business days of receipt of a request. Therefore, we would appreciate a response as soon as possible and look forward to hearing from you shortly. If for any reason any portion of my request is denied, please inform me of the reasons for the denial in writing and provide the name and address of the person or body to whom an appeal should be directed.

If my request appears to be extensive or fails to reasonably describe the records, please contact Senator Hamilton’s chief of staff Jarvis Houston at 718-284-4700 orHouston@nysenate.gov.

We look forward to a timely and favorable response.

Yours in Service,

NYS Senator Jesse E. Hamilton

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley

Assemblywoman Diana Richardson

Pictured at top: the Bedford-Union Armory. Photo by John V. Santore