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December 7, 2021

East River Park – A Park Not Protected by the Public Trust Doctrine

Some two years ago, on May 9, 2019, I wrote about the Public Trust Doctrine in this blog.  I reported the Court of Appeals’ decision in Matter of Glick v Harvey, 25 NY3d 1175 (2015) where the Court affirmed decisions of lower courts enjoining New York University from beginning any construction with its expansion project that would result in any alienation of three parcels of land found by the Court to be public parkland, unless and until the State Legislature authorizes the alienation of any parkland to be impacted by… read more

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May 9, 2019

LITIGATING THE PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE IN NEW YORK. A PARK IS A PARK UNLESS IT’S NOT.

          New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, decided Matter of Glick v Harvey.[1]  The appeals court affirmed the reversal of a lower court order which enjoined New York University from beginning any construction in connection with its expansion project that would result in any alienation of three parcels of land found by the Court to be public parkland, unless and until the State Legislature authorizes the alienation of any parkland to be impacted by the project.  The decision itself provides very little factual information.  According to an article… read more

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Posted in Condemnation, parklands, Public Trust Doctrine, Uncategorized
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June 6, 2018

TAXES ON PARKLAND – NEVER

The Second Department handed down an interesting case today, Town of North Hempstead v County of Nassau, ___ AD3d ___, June 6, 2018.  The facts are somewhat difficult, but I shall try to simplify.  In 2005, land was conveyed to the Town of North Hempstead for use as a public park.  The real property was used as a park since that date. The Town failed to record the 2005 deed until December 2008.  Meanwhile the County was assessing taxes on the land and sold the tax liens to an individual. … read more

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Posted in parklands, RPTL 406, Tax Assessment
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February 25, 2015

Update: New York Court of Appeals to Hear NYU Expansion Case

We are posting with an important update on our previous blog regarding NYU’s planned expansion into implied parkland in NYC: The New York Court of Appeals has agreed to hear the case. By way of refresher, the case involves NYU’s planned $6 billion, 2-million square foot expansion that will impact three parks- Mercer playground, LaGuardia Park and LaGuardia Corner Gardens. These parks have been used by the public, and according to the Petitioners, should be protected from development as “implied” parkland with the City funding, labeling, and maintaining them as… read more

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Posted in New York, parklands, Recent cases
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October 28, 2014

Michael Rikon Publishes NYLJ Article on Public Trust Doctrine and NYC Parklands

Mr. Rikon’s most recent NYLJ, available by clicking here, discusses the public trust doctrine and recent New York cases involving challenges to public parklands. As Mr. Rikon writes, the parks are protected by the public trust doctrine, which was adopted by the States from well-established English Law. The landmark case was Illinois Central Railroad v. Illinois, 146 US 387 (1892). In that case, the Illinois legislature had granted most of the Chicago harbor to the railroad. The Supreme Court held that the State held title to the land underneath the… read more

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Posted in New York, parklands, Published Articles, Recent cases
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