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Q&A
Protocol for finding new properties for community-based organizations
2:25:56
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96 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the protocol for finding new properties for community-based organizations (CBOs) when lease conditions are unfavorable. Simone Hawkins from NYC Public Schools explains their approach, and Cora Liu from SCA provides additional context.
- NYC Public Schools does not typically find properties for programs, as this is not their standard practice.
- For the five sites in question, they explored vacant properties in the same communities as potential options.
- Helping independent businesses find sites is not considered an equitable practice, as most providers do this on their own.
- If a provider finds a new site, discussions about the impact on their contract would be necessary, including rent subsidies.
- SCA does not have a dedicated broker for assessing available properties but is willing to provide assistance where possible.
- SCA manages a large portfolio of leases for various educational programs and schools.
Rita Joseph
2:25:56
So some of these sites have faced similar situation with lease negotiations in the past.
2:26:00
If the site does not have favorable lease condition, what is the protocol for finding new properties for CBOs?
Simone Hawkins
2:26:09
Again, we don't find properties for programs, right?
2:26:12
That is that is not our norm.
2:26:14
However, in you know looking at these five sites, again I mentioned we have vacant properties.
2:26:19
We did explore if any of those vacant properties are in the same communities because we would have offered them the option to transition there.
2:26:26
We have offered that to a program already who was having who was approaching a lease in date.
2:26:32
That those opportunities didn't exist in these cases and so we weren't able to provide that option.
2:26:37
And so we would not normally help an independent business find a site, again that's an equitable practice since most of our providers do that on their own.
2:26:45
In the case that they did find their own separate site then we would need to have conversations about the impact on their contract.
2:26:52
As you might know, rent is something we do subsidize and support through the per pupil cost.
2:26:57
And so if we if they were able to transition again we would have to talk about the details on that, that's something we can consider.
Rita Joseph
2:27:04
Do you have a broker that does assessments of available properties in neighborhoods so you can find favorable leases for the providers?
Cora Liu
2:27:15
Again, since it's not our responsibility to provide them the sites, we don't, but we're happy to provide assistance where we can.
2:27:23
Again, we do have a very large portfolio of leases not just for the early childhood center but for all other leases where we have schools and other programs occupying.