Hearing to Reopen Coliseum Exhibiition Space

[Hellskitchen]

HEARING TO REOPEN COLISEUM EXHIBIITION SPACE

New York City Council Committee on Economic Development will hold 
a hearing on Thursday, June 18, 1998, at 1:00 p.m, in the 
Committee Room, City Hall, 2nd floor, Manhattan. regarding 
Council Resolution 277 calling upon the MTA to reopen the
NY Coliseum exhibition hall for use by exhibitors.

Resolution No. 277

By Council Members Eldridge and Duane:

Whereas, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) issued a Request 
for Proposal (RFP) for the development of the Coliseum site in 
July of 1996; and

Whereas, the MTA originally planned to announce a developer for 
the Coliseum site in July of 1997; and

Whereas, the July 1997 announcement was postponed for eight months, 
and in March 1998 the MTA issued an amended RFP for the site; and

Whereas, the MTA discontinued use of the exhibition space in 
January of 1998; and

Whereas, there is currently a shortage of exhibition space in the 
City of New York; and

Whereas, Exhibitors want to use the Coliseum on a month to month 
basis and have petiioned the MTA and the Mayor to reopen the 
exhibition hall; and

Whereas jobs and wages have been lost in the months since the 
Coliseum has been closed to the dismay of the employees; and

Whereas the MTA loses an estimated amount of $30,000 to $50,000 
a day in revenues as a result of the closure of the Coliseum, 
which could be used to support the transit system; and

Whereas the New York Times reported on April 30, 1998 that the 
MTA does not plan to turn the property over to the selected 
developer until the spring of 1999; now therefore, let it be 

RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of New York calls 
on the MTA to reopen the New York Coliseum exhibition hall 
pending thes selection of a developer of the site.