Authorizes the city of Batavia to alienate certain parklands for use as a municipal parking lot and to preserve the historic Brisbane mansion

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why George Borrello says this is needed

Austin Park was deeded to the City of Batavia in 1917 by James Brisbane. The original parcel included the Brisbane Mansion (now housing the Bata- via Police Station) and adjacent land which is now Austin Park and a free municipal surface parking lot. Austin Park and adjacent parking lot are made up of 6.54 acres. The parcel containing the Brisbane Mansion is another .96 acres. The portion of the park that is a Free Municipal Parking lot is .65 of the parcels making up the parkland. The Brisbane Mansion is an additional .96 acres. The parking lot is a Free Municipal lot used by the City of Batavia. The Brisbane Mansion currently houses the Batavia Police Station. The City of Batavia is building a new Police Station which is set to open in the Fall of 2025 and the City intends to make the building available for renovation and restoration with either a boutique hotel or market rate apartments. Public parking and parking for guests will continue to be available. The above-mentioned Brisbane Mansion was erected in 1853, two additions were made to the building in the mid 1900's. Additionally, there is an original bathroom building built in the 1930's and a picnic pavilion built in 1975. There are no archeological resources. The City of Batavia wishes to alienate the parking lot so it can remain a Free Municipal Parking lot serving the downtown business as well as the park. The Brisbane Mansion will be sold and revitalized by a devel- oper and put back on the tax rolls to become either market rate apart- ments or a boutique hotel. The reuse of the Brisbane Mansion has the potential to bring more people downtown and subsequently more people using the park. The city currently does not have a hotel or motel located downtown. There will be no effect on the remaining parkland. The alienation will define and preserve the boundary of existing green space in Austin Park, the parking lot and the Brisbane Mansion.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.