Establishment of a task force to study and make recommendations regarding the potential conversion of vacant or commercially unviable office space to other uses.

A Local Law in relation to the establishment of a task force to study and make recommendations regarding the potential conversion of vacant or commercially unviable office space to other uses

This bill would establish an Office Conversions Task Force (“Task Force”) to study options and make recommendations for converting vacant or commercially unviable office space to other potential uses, including affordable housing. The Task Force would be comprised of the Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (“HPD”), the Director of the Department of City Planning (“DCP”), the President of the Economic Development Corporation, the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings, or their respective designees. Additionally, the Task Force would include eight appointed members with knowledge or expertise relevant to office conversions: one by the Speaker of the Council, one by the Public Advocate would appoint one member, and six by the Mayor, at least one of whom must be a union representative. The Task Force would be required to report its findings and recommendations to the Mayor, the Speaker and the Public Advocate no later than two years after the effective date of this local law and would publish the report on HPD and DCP’s websites.