Selling Buildings Helps City
by Mayor Rudy Giuliani

One of the keys to New York City’s success throughout its history has been willingness to embrace change. As our city begins a new century, it is appropriate that we look for ways to ensure that New York remains vital and committed to the pursuit of excellence. That is why we are taking steps to upgrade facilities for the Board of Education.

Following last year’s release of a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to purchase the Board of Education headquarters at 110 Livingston Street and its two other buildings in Downtown Brooklyn, the City is now moving ahead with the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) from developers interested in purchasing some or all of the buildings.

In conjunction with this sale, we are also releasing an RFEI to lease or develop a new state-of-the-art building in Downtown Brooklyn that will house Board headquarters and include a new high standards public school.

For far too long, 110 Livingston Street has served as a symbol of a bloated bureaucracy in desperate need of systemic reform, instead of educational excellence. We have the highest Board of Education budget ever—$12 billion annually—combined with the lowest student-teacher ratio ever, and the largest five-year capital plan ever. We need to ensure that this money is spent wisely and responsibly. By selling the Board’s headquarters and moving it to a smaller facility, we will redirect these resources to where they are needed most—in the classroom.

The properties included in the RFP, all located in Downtown Brooklyn, are 110 Livingston Street, 65 Court Street and 131 Livingston Street. The sale of these three sites should bring enough money to build a modern headquarters for the Board of Education, and also keep alive the possibility of including a school in that building, which would keep the Board’s focus where it should be—on educating children.

Consolidating Board headquarters into one location will allow it to streamline its operations and trim its central staff. I look forward to working with the Board to expedite the sale of its existing headquarters, to develop this new facility.

The sale of city-owned buildings provides opportunities for change that can lead to substantial economic development. To request a copy of the solicitations, please call the Economic Development Corporation Contract Hotline at 212-312-3969.

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
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