Directs the state university trustees, without any public bidding, to lease and otherwise contract to make a portion of the lands of SUNY Stony Brook on its campus to the Stony Brook Housing Development Corp. for the purpose of building undergraduate student, graduate student, faculty and staff housing; limits such lease to a period not exceeding 100 years.
This legislation is introduced in response to the growing need for adequate student and employee housing at Stony Brook University, which is reported to be one of the largest employers in the area and a vital provider of healthcare services. By utilizing approximately 17 acres of currently underutilized land, the university aims to construct facilities that can accommodate approximately 1,900 beds, addressing the critical issue of housing shortages that impact student recruitment and retention, as well as staff employment.
Bill S07616, introduced in the New York Senate, aims to authorize the State University of New York (SUNY) trustees to lease a portion of the Stony Brook University's campus land to the Stony Brook Housing Development Corporation. The intention is to build housing facilities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for faculty and staff. The proposed lease will be for a period not exceeding 100 years and will not require public bidding, which could expedite the development process for much-needed housing on campus.
Notably, the bill has raised concerns regarding the bypassing of public bidding for the contracts associated with this lease. Critics may argue that lack of transparency can lead to issues with accountability and fair competition. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to ensure that jobs traditionally provided by state employees will remain secure and not be privatized, which should alleviate some concerns from public sector unions. However, the absence of a public bidding process is likely to remain a point of contention among stakeholders advocating for more competitive and open contracting processes.