Section 489-DDDD. Eligibility for benefits

1. A recipient of a certificate
  of eligibility with  an  effective  date  of  June  thirtieth,  nineteen
  hundred  ninety-two  or  before  must make one-half the minimum required
  expenditure within  eighteen  months  of  the  effective  date  of  such
  recipient's  certificate  of  eligibility, and make the minimum required
  expenditure within thirty-six months  of  the  effective  date  of  such
  certificate  to  be  eligible  to  receive the benefits of this title. A
  recipient of a certificate of eligibility with an effective date of July
  first, nineteen hundred ninety-two  or  after  must  make  one-half  the
  minimum  required expenditure within thirty months of the effective date
  of such recipient's certificate of eligibility,  and  make  the  minimum
  required  expenditure  within sixty months of the effective date of such
  certificate to be eligible  to  receive  the  benefits  of  this  title;
  provided,  however, that a recipient of a certificate of eligibility for
  renovation construction work for  property  located  in  the  renovation
  exemption  area  specified  in  subparagraph  (ii)  of  paragraph (d) of
  subdivision five of section four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this  title
  must  make  one-half  the  minimum  required expenditure within eighteen
  months  of  the  effective  date  of  such  recipient's  certificate  of
  eligibility,  or by December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-four,
  whichever is earlier, and make the minimum required  expenditure  within
  thirty-six  months  of  the  effective  date  of such certificate, or by
  December  thirty-first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-five,  whichever   is
  earlier, to be eligible to receive the benefits of this title; provided,
  further,  however,  that  a  recipient  who  filed  an application for a
  certificate of eligibility for renovation construction work for property
  located in the renovation exemption area specified in subparagraph  (ii)
  of   paragraph   (d)   of  subdivision  five  of  section  four  hundred
  eighty-nine-cccc of this title on or after July first, nineteen  hundred
  ninety-four,  but  before  February first, nineteen hundred ninety-five,
  must make one-half the  minimum  required  expenditure  within  eighteen
  months   of   the  effective  date  of  such  certificate,  or  by  July
  thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-five, whichever  is  earlier,  and
  make  the  minimum  required expenditure within thirty-six months of the
  effective date of such certificate, or by  July  thirty-first,  nineteen
  hundred  ninety-six, whichever is earlier, to be eligible to receive the
  benefits of this title provided, further, however, that a recipient  who
  filed  an  application  for  a certificate of eligibility for renovation
  construction work for property located in the renovation exemption  area
  specified  in  subparagraph (i) or (iii) of paragraph (d) of subdivision
  five of section four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this title on or  after
  July first, nineteen hundred ninety-five, must make one-half the minimum
  required  expenditure  within  eighteen  months of the effective date of
  such certificate, and  make  the  minimum  required  expenditure  within
  thirty-six  months  of  the  effective  date  of such certificate, to be
  eligible to receive the benefits of this title. Any recipient who  shall
  fail  to  make  such expenditures shall become ineligible and shall pay,
  with interest, any taxes for which an exemption or deferral was  claimed
  pursuant  to  this  section.  This  subdivision  shall  not apply to the
  recipient of a certificate of eligibility  for  construction  of  a  new
  building   or  structure  that  meets  the  requirements  set  forth  in
  subdivision nine of section four hundred eighty-nine-dddd of this  title
  in a new construction exemption area.
    2.   No   benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted  for
  construction work on any condominium unit  unless  such  unit  is  in  a
  building  or  structure  which,  if  viewed as a whole and as if it were
  under single  ownership,  would  qualify  as  commercial  or  industrial
  property.  The  minimum required expenditure applicable to any recipient

  of a certificate of eligibility for construction work on  a  condominium
  unit  shall  be  equal to the minimum expenditure which would apply if a
  certificate of eligibility were issued  for  construction  work  on  the
  entire  property where such unit is located. Nothing in this subdivision
  shall be construed to prevent owners of condominium units  in  the  same
  property from forming an association to be a recipient. This subdivision
  shall  not  apply to any applicant whose property would be, or recipient
  whose property is, the subject of a certificate of eligibility  with  an
  effective date of July first, nineteen hundred ninety-two or after.
    3.  (a)  No  benefits  pursuant to this title shall be granted for any
  construction work unless the applicant filed  an  application  for  such
  benefits on or before the date of issuance of a building permit for such
  work.  The  requirements  of this subdivision may be satisfied where the
  applicant's architect, contractor or other representative authorized  to
  file  the application for such building permit files with the department
  of  finance  on  behalf  of  the  applicant  a  preliminary  application
  containing such information as the department of finance shall prescribe
  by regulation.
    (b)  Notwithstanding  paragraph  (a) of this subdivision, an applicant
  may file  an  application  for  benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  for
  renovation construction work for property located in the areas specified
  in  paragraph  (c) of this subdivision, regardless of whether a building
  permit for such work was  issued  before  such  application  was  filed,
  provided  that such permit was not issued before January first, nineteen
  hundred ninety or after June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two, and
  provided further that a final application is filed  with,  and  accepted
  by,  the  department  of  finance,  on  or before December thirty-first,
  nineteen hundred ninety-two. The department of  finance  shall  issue  a
  certificate  of  eligibility  to such an applicant upon determining that
  the applicant satisfies  all  other  requirements  of  this  title.  The
  effective  date  of  such certificate shall be the date of acceptance by
  the department  of  finance  of  a  final  application  containing  such
  information  as  prescribed  by  rule  of  the department of finance. No
  benefits pursuant to this title shall be granted for  construction  work
  performed  before  the  effective date of the recipient's certificate of
  eligibility.
    (c) Pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision,  an  applicant  may
  file  an  application for benefits pursuant to this title for renovation
  construction work for property located in the  following  areas  in  the
  borough of Manhattan lying south of 96th Street:
    (i)  the  area  delineated  by a line beginning at the point where the
  center line of 96th Street would intersect the East River Pierhead  line
  and  running westerly along the center line of 96th Street to the center
  line of Fifth Avenue; thence southerly along said  center  line  to  the
  center  line of 59th Street; thence westerly along said center line to a
  point one hundred fifty feet west of the center line of  the  Avenue  of
  the Americas; thence southerly parallel to the Avenue of the Americas to
  the  center  line of 34th Street; thence easterly along said center line
  to the East River Pierhead line; thence northerly  along  said  Pierhead
  line to the point of beginning; and
    (ii)  the  area  delineated by a line beginning at the point where the
  center line of Fulton Street would intersect  the  East  River  Pierhead
  line  and running westerly along the center line of Fulton Street to the
  center line of Church Street; thence southerly along said center line to
  the center line of Liberty Street; thence  westerly  along  said  center
  line  to the Hudson River Pierhead line; thence southerly and along said
  Pierhead line to the point of beginning.

    (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this  subdivision,  an  applicant
  may  file  an  application  for  benefits  pursuant  to  this  title for
  renovation construction work for  property  located  in  the  renovation
  exemption  area  specified  in  subparagraph  (iii)  of paragraph (d) of
  subdivision  five of section four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this title
  within sixty days of the effective date of chapter six hundred sixty-one
  of the laws of nineteen hundred ninety-five,  regardless  of  whether  a
  building  permit  for  such  work was issued before such application was
  filed, provided that such permit was not issued before  February  first,
  nineteen   hundred  ninety-five,  and  provided  further  that  a  final
  application is filed with, and accepted by, the department  of  finance,
  on  or  before  December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-five. The
  department of finance shall issue a certificate of eligibility  to  such
  an  applicant  upon  determining  that the applicant satisfies all other
  requirements of this title. The effective date of such certificate shall
  be the date of acceptance by  the  department  of  finance  of  a  final
  application  containing  such  information  as prescribed by rule of the
  department of finance. No benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be
  granted  for  construction  work  performed before the effective date of
  such certificate of eligibility.
    4. No benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted  to  any
  recipient  for  construction work on property any part of which is to be
  used for a restricted activity.
    5. No benefits pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted  for  any
  construction  work  unless  the  applicant shall file, together with the
  application, an affidavit setting forth the following information:
    (a) a statement that within the seven years immediately preceding  the
  date  of  application  for  a  certificate  of  eligibility, neither the
  applicant, nor any person owning a substantial interest in the  property
  as  defined  in  paragraph  (c)  of  this  subdivision, nor any officer,
  director or general partner of the applicant or such person was  finally
  adjudicated  by  a  court  of  competent  jurisdiction  to have violated
  section two hundred thirty-five of the real property law or any  section
  of  article  one hundred fifty of the penal law or any similar arson law
  of another state with respect  to  any  building,  or  was  an  officer,
  director  or  general  partner  of  a person at the time such person was
  finally adjudicated to have violated such law; and
    (b) a statement setting forth any pending charges  alleging  violation
  of  section  two  hundred  thirty-five  of  the real property law or any
  section of article one hundred fifty of the penal  law  or  any  similar
  arson  law  of  another jurisdiction with respect to any building by the
  applicant or any person owning a substantial interest in the property as
  defined in paragraph (c) of this subdivision, or any  officer,  director
  or general partner of the applicant or such person.
    (c)  "Substantial  interest"  as  used  in this subdivision shall mean
  ownership and control of an interest of ten per  centum  or  more  in  a
  property or any person owning a property.
    6.  If any person described in the statement required by paragraph (b)
  of subdivision five of this section is finally adjudicated by a court of
  competent jurisdiction to  be  guilty  of  any  charge  listed  in  such
  statement,  the  recipient  shall  cease  to  be  eligible  for benefits
  pursuant to this title and shall pay with interest any taxes  for  which
  an exemption, abatement or deferral was claimed pursuant to this title.
    7.  In  addition  to  any  other  qualifications for exemption from or
  abatement or deferral of payment of taxes set forth in  this  title,  an
  applicant must be:
    (a)  obligated  to  pay real property tax on the property for which an
  exemption, abatement or deferral  is  sought,  whether  such  obligation

  arises  because  of  record  ownership  of such property, or because the
  obligation to pay such tax has been assumed by contract; or
    (b)  the  record owner or lessee of property which is exempt from real
  property taxation who has entered into an agreement  to  sell  or  lease
  such  property  to  another  person. Such person shall be a co-applicant
  with such owner or lessee.
    8. A co-applicant with a public entity shall be an eligible  recipient
  pursuant  to  this  title, provided that for such period as the property
  which is the subject of the certificate of eligibility  is  exempt  from
  real  property  taxation  because  it is owned or controlled by a public
  entity no benefits shall be available to  such  recipient,  pursuant  to
  this title. Such recipient shall receive benefits pursuant to this title
  when such property ceases to be eligible for exemption pursuant to other
  provisions  of law, as follows: the recipient shall, commencing with the
  date such tax exemption ceases, and continuing until the  expiration  of
  the benefit period pursuant to this title, receive the benefits to which
  such  recipient  is  entitled  in the corresponding tax year pursuant to
  this title.
    9. (a)(i) No benefits pursuant to this  title  shall  be  granted  for
  construction  of  a  new  building  or structure in the new construction
  exemption area specified in paragraph (a) of subdivision six of  section
  four  hundred  eighty-nine-cccc of this title unless (A) construction of
  the foundation of such building or structure has been  completed  within
  twelve  months  of  the effective date of the recipient's certificate of
  eligibility, or by December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-seven,
  whichever is earlier; and (B) construction of such building or structure
  has been completed within thirty-six months of the effective date of the
  recipient's certificate of eligibility,  or  by  December  thirty-first,
  nineteen hundred ninety-nine, whichever is earlier.
    (ii)  No  benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted  for
  construction of a new building or  structure  in  the  new  construction
  exemption  area specified in paragraph (b) of subdivision six of section
  four hundred eighty-nine-cccc of this title unless: (A) construction  of
  the  foundation  of such building or structure has been completed within
  twenty-four months of the effective date of the recipient's  certificate
  of  eligibility;  and (B) construction of such building or structure has
  been completed within forty-two months of  the  effective  date  of  the
  recipient's certificate of eligibility.
    (iii)  Notwithstanding  subparagraph  (i)  of this paragraph, benefits
  pursuant to this title may be granted for construction of a new building
  or structure  in  the  new  construction  exemption  area  specified  in
  paragraph   (a)   of   subdivision   six   of   section   four   hundred
  eighty-nine-cccc of this title, provided that (A)  construction  of  the
  foundation  of such building or structure has been completed by December
  thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-eight; (B)  construction  of  such
  building  or  structure has been completed by December thirty-first, two
  thousand; (C) such building or structure is located in  the  portion  of
  such  new  construction exemption area lying south of the center line of
  34th  Street;  and  (D)  the  applicant  meets  all  other   eligibility
  requirements  for  benefits  pursuant  to this title, including, but not
  limited to, the requirement that an application  for  a  certificate  of
  eligibility  for  construction  of  such new building or structure shall
  have been made before January first, nineteen hundred ninety-seven.
    (iv)  No  benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted  for
  construction  of  a  new  building  or structure in the new construction
  exemption area specified in paragraph (c) of subdivision six of  section
  four  hundred  eighty-nine-cccc of this title unless (A) construction of
  the foundation of such building or structure has been  completed  within

  twenty-four  months of the effective date of the recipient's certificate
  of eligibility; and (B) construction of such building or  structure  has
  been  completed  within  forty-two  months  of the effective date of the
  recipient's certificate of eligibility.
    (b)   No  benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted  for
  construction of a new  building  or  structure  in  a  new  construction
  exemption  area unless such building or structure meets the requirements
  set forth in subparagraphs (i)  and  (ii)  of  this  paragraph  and,  in
  addition,  meets  at  least  two  of  the five requirements set forth in
  subparagraphs (iii) through (vii) of this paragraph.
    (i) The height of at least fifty per centum  of  the  floors  in  such
  building  or  structure  shall be not less than twelve feet, nine inches
  measured from the top of the slab comprising the floor to the bottom  of
  the  slab comprising the ceiling, provided, however, that in the case of
  a new building or structure that is eligible for  benefits  pursuant  to
  subparagraph  (iii)  of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the height of
  at least forty per centum of the floors in such  building  or  structure
  shall be not less than twelve feet, nine inches measured from the top of
  the  slab  comprising the floor to the bottom of the slab comprising the
  ceiling;
    (ii) Such  building  or  structure  shall  be  served  by  fiber-optic
  telecommunications  wiring  and  shall contain vertical penetrations for
  the distribution of fiber optic cabling to individual  tenants  on  each
  floor;
    (iii)  The  total  square footage of such building or structure is not
  less than five hundred thousand gross square feet;
    (iv)  A  minimum  of  two  hundred  thousand  gross  square  feet   or
  twenty-five  per  centum  of  such building or structure is comprised of
  floors of not less than forty thousand gross square feet;
    (v) At least ten per centum  of  the  gross  square  footage  of  such
  building  or  structure is comprised of floors that contain no more than
  eight structural columns, excluding any columns within the  core  or  on
  the periphery of such building or structure;
    (vi) The electrical capacity of such building or structure is not less
  than six watts per net square foot;
    (vii)  Emergency  backup power sufficient to accommodate a need of six
  watts per net square foot is available in at least two hundred  thousand
  gross  square  feet  or  twenty-five  per  centum  of  such  building or
  structure.
    10.  No  benefits  pursuant  to  this  title  shall  be  granted   for
  construction  work  performed pursuant to a building permit issued after
  July thirty-first, two thousand eight, except that if a building  permit
  is  issued  on  or  before  July  thirty-first,  two  thousand eight for
  construction work on a building or structure described in an application
  for a certificate of eligibility filed on or before June thirtieth,  two
  thousand  eight,  construction  work  performed  as  described  in  such
  application pursuant to any additional  building  permit  issued  on  or
  after  August  first,  two thousand eight shall be eligible for benefits
  pursuant to this title in accordance with this subdivision.
    (a) Except as provided in  paragraph  (b)  of  this  subdivision,  all
  construction  work  performed  pursuant to any such application shall be
  completed on or before December thirty-first, two thousand thirteen.  No
  benefits  shall  be  granted  for construction work performed after such
  date, and any exemption granted pursuant to this title  in  relation  to
  property  on which such construction work was performed shall not exceed
  the amount of the exemption in effect for such property on the tax  roll
  for  which  the  taxable  status  date  is  January  fifth, two thousand
  fourteen.

    (b) All construction work performed pursuant to any  such  application
  for  the  construction  of  a  new  building  or  structure  in  the new
  construction exemption area specified in paragraph  (c)  of  subdivision
  six  of  section  four  hundred  eighty-nine-cccc of this title shall be
  completed  in  accordance  with  subparagraph  (iv)  of paragraph (a) of
  subdivision nine of this section and, if  not  completed  in  accordance
  with  such  subparagraph, shall not be eligible for benefits pursuant to
  this title.
    (c) For purposes of this subdivision, construction work  as  described
  in  an  application  for  a  certificate  of eligibility shall be deemed
  completed on the date on which the department of  buildings  of  a  city
  that  has  enacted a local law pursuant to this title issues a temporary
  or final certificate of occupancy or, if such construction work does not
  require the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the  date  on  which
  the applicant and the applicant's architect or professional engineer for
  such  construction work submit to the department of finance an affidavit
  certifying that such construction work has been completed. For  purposes
  of  this  subdivision,  a  demolition  permit  shall  be  deemed to be a
  building permit issued for construction work.