REMARKS
Long-term economic development strategy for life sciences
1:08:23
ยท
3 min
Cecilia Kushner explains the city's long-term economic development strategy for the life sciences sector, emphasizing the importance of clustering and flexibility in the SPARC Kips Bay project.
- The project is part of a long-term economic development investment building on previous investments like Alexandria and Airfield Cure.
- Clustering is crucial for growing the life sciences sector in New York City.
- The SPARC campus is intended to be primarily a science campus with commercial life science focus.
- The special permit aims to provide flexibility for future development and tenancy in the life sciences industry.
- The city is in dialogue with a life science advisory council and relevant departments to respond to industry changes.
Cecilia Kushner
1:08:23
Yeah.
1:08:23
So I'm happy to address this question.
1:08:26
The Spark Keeps Bay and Innovationist is part of a long term economic development investment that the city is making that is building on another generational investment that the city has made with Alexandria and with the Airfield Cure.
1:08:40
So we are fully committed to this development to be a life science commercial development.
1:08:46
What we've learned, through all of our years really trying to grow the sector in New York City is that clustering deeply matter.
1:08:54
And so the Cubes Bay Science District is the premier current health care research and life science district in New York City, which is why we really want the SPARC campus to be primarily a science campus with, commercial life science.
1:09:10
So we have never wavered on this really strong city commitment, which is backed by all of the partnership that we have around us to really create, like, a comprehensive and well rounded project.
1:09:23
Again, the choice of the special permit for us looking into a project that is very long term for which we will seek a developer in 2025 for a request for proposal is to be able to give, the development community and the life science community the most flexibility, in their, envision of tenancy and uses at the site.
1:09:45
So that's the our that's our approach and that's the one that we are presenting here today.
Keith Powers
1:09:50
And and have there been potential applicants for this or let's say, if it's a point, Pedro, with your engagement with the industry, is that a need that they're stating they they clearly need right now?
1:10:05
Is that differentiated manufacturing space?
Cecilia Kushner
1:10:09
Yeah.
1:10:09
Absolutely.
1:10:10
I mean, as part of the life science initiative that EDC has been leading since 2016, we have a life science advisory council, which is made of prominent scientists, including a Nobel Prize.
1:10:20
You know, he's one of our co chair.
1:10:22
And so we are continuously in dialogue with them around how the industry is changing, and we are, in regular dialogue with the department of city planning and the department of building as well on how city land use regulation actually respond to changes in industry.
1:10:38
And so I think it was everyone's, strong recommendation that we
UNKNOWN
1:10:41
be as flexible as possible on this block,
Donna Schneiderman
1:10:41
and that
UNKNOWN
1:10:41
the inclusion
Cecilia Kushner
1:10:41
of the newly possible on this block, and that the inclusion of the newly created special permit for the city of Yaz with city planning was a good idea.
Keith Powers
1:10:51
Thanks.
1:10:53
Understanding that answer, and I know council member Rivera had this question, so I'll just repeat it, is have you looked at other other opportunities in the area to do additive housing?
1:11:06
It could you have 2 council members here.
1:11:08
So Mhmm.
1:11:09
I know she's talked to someone to you about some of them.
1:11:12
And, have can you can you talk about what those identified opportunities are around community board 6 and, where that that conversation lies right now?
Cecilia Kushner
1:11:22
Yeah.
1:11:23
So I think we we first are very, enthused that CB 6 is a very strong pro housing community board that has been asking for the city repeatedly to look at housing in their districts.
1:11:36
And so that's a commitment that we are making with city planning as well, which is to sit down and to look at different opportunities both, like, from an area wide rezoning corridor wide approach or specific sites that are of interest, and to do this work moving forward.
Keith Powers
1:11:50
And what's the timing of that?
Cecilia Kushner
1:11:52
I think we would be ready to sit down with the community board as soon as, they so wish we could sit down with them right away.