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Gutman Hall and North Building space issues
0:50:38
ยท
154 sec
Council Member Brewer raises concerns about space issues at Gutman Hall and inquires about the status of the North Building near John Jay. CUNY officials provide updates on the situation and ongoing efforts to address space needs.
- CUNY is reviewing proposals for the North Building RFP
- There is an ongoing dispute regarding Gutman Hall
- CUNY emphasizes its focus on securing academic space rather than housing
- Brewer suggests considering nonprofit partnerships for development above Gutman Hall
Gale A. Brewer
0:50:38
Now my question thank you.
0:50:39
Because John John Mulgrew is watching me, you know, watching us.
0:50:44
Gutman poor Gutman.
0:50:46
They need space.
0:50:47
So I guess the board is suing CUNY because they don't have new space.
0:50:53
Can you comment on that?
0:50:54
What happened to the the the North Building near John Jay?
0:50:59
I guess nobody responded to the RFP, but I'll find a nonprofit to respond and we'll have some affordable housing in Gutman.
0:51:06
So just wanna know what's going on with Gutman.
0:51:09
And it does seem to be a waste of money for you to have to hire lawyers or use internal to fight this.
0:51:15
Go ahead.
Hector Batista
0:51:17
Well, it's good to see you, councilwoman.
Eric Dinowitz
0:51:19
Nice to
Gale A. Brewer
0:51:19
see you.
Hector Batista
0:51:21
With regards to government well, let's talk about North Hall.
0:51:23
We we have an RFP that's been out.
0:51:27
We're reviewing we're reviewing we're reviewing proposals connected to that to that RFP to make sure that it sort of accommodates the things that we are looking for.
0:51:37
So that's with regards to no fault.
0:51:39
With regards to government, you know, obviously we're there, as you stated, there is an ongoing dispute with CUNY and we're dealing with that dispute.
0:51:51
So I'm not gonna comment on particular dispute.
0:51:53
We're committed to the growth of that college and are looking to see what other options we have as we're now as we're entertaining proposals connected to to North Hall.
0:52:07
So more to come.
0:52:09
And I know this is something that is
Gale A. Brewer
0:52:11
Yeah.
0:52:11
I keep asking about it.
0:52:12
I want nonprofit above and Gutman.
0:52:15
And I don't understand why we couldn't try to do more of a not a sole source, but something that's more targeted.
0:52:21
It's because I don't know that any of these, you know, developers, they're gonna get Community Board seven on their case, they're gonna have me on their case.
0:52:29
So why not go with something that people want to start with?
Hector Batista
0:52:33
Well, we're as as I stated, we are reviewing proposals and and determining.
0:52:37
And we're as I as I told you once before privately, know, we're, my job is to make sure that we have the academic space for our programs.
0:52:47
Not in, we're not in the in the housing business.
0:52:49
So we're gonna allow the marketplace to dictate sort of what what goes above that that particular project, whether it's NOFO or something else.
0:52:59
Okay.
0:53:00
I mean, government or something else.
0:53:01
But the reality is that as we're allowed, you know, sort of looking at those proposals, obviously, we will be making the decisions that is in the best interest of CUNY
Gale A. Brewer
0:53:12
We'll skip it for now because we're not agreeing on that one.