Of the 14 developers that submitted proposals for the project, several, including Toll Brothers CEO David Von Spreckelsen, have been served with subpoenas.
The investigation into how the substantially outbid Hudson Cos. was selected to develop the city-owned property on Clinton Street marks the de Blasio administration's 7th pay-to-play probe to date.
After the Brooklyn Public Library asked the city to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for the project, a joint city and BPL RFP was issued in June, 2013, with the city's Economic Development Corporation standing in for the BPL to evaluate the bids.
After the Brooklyn Public Library asked the city to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for the project, a joint city and BPL RFP was issued in June, 2013, with the city's Economic Development Corporation standing in for the BPL to evaluate the bids.
At least two competing proposers offered the BPL both more money than the winning bidder, and on-site affordable units. The winning bid included affordable housing, but two miles away.
Hudson CEO David Kramer, a friend of deBlasio's and a major contributor to both the deBlasio campaign and deBlasio's non-profit Campaign for One New York, lobbied hard for the project
Hudson beat out Toll Brothers for the award in September, 2014. Demolition and construction are slated for this fall.
The deBlasio administration defended the RFP process, calling Hudson's bid the "best overall package" for the library.
1 comment:
this deal was corrupt from day one. the library was left to decay so that a case could be made for a tear down. Levin never got the funds needed to fix the A/C. This was despite spending millions on a bridge in brooklyn bridge park that has now fallen apart. Levin never properly vetted the facts despite repeated calls from those in the heights.Lander Who Levin described as "my big brother pushed the deal for his patron the mayor. Lander wants to be mayor and is harvesting big real estate money through favors. He is best pals with Library CEO linda johnson who makes over $400.000 a year... The problem is that Levin and Lander do not work for us... they work for themselves and their next job
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