Exclusive: Broadway Stages deal for prison site back on track

A view of the entrance to the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility in February 2014. (Advance photo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The sale of the closed Arthur Kill Correctional Facility in Charleston to Broadway Stages -- which was rejected by the state comptroller's office late last year because of the company's ties to investigations into Mayor Bill de Blasio's political fundraising -- is back on the table.

The office of State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli had returned the original sale contract to state agencies unapproved for "lingering vendor responsibility issues" and questions over the public's investment in the land deal.

Sources tell the Advance that the project was resubmitted by Empire State Development (ESD) and the Office of General Services (OGS) to the state comptroller's office on Wednesday.

"We hope this project can finally move forward, which will create economic opportunity and more than a thousand jobs on Staten Island," said Amy Varghese, press secretary for ESD.

After purchasing the site for $7 million, Broadway Stages plans to spend an additional $20 million to build five sound stages on the 69-acre property and open a new film and television studio there.

ALREADY FILMING

Not yet owning the site of the former prison hasn't stopped Broadway Stages from promoting film production at the Charleston location.

It was announced last week that "Seven Seconds," a new Netflix series, and major motion picture, "Ocean's 8," will be filmed at the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility.

In fact, many shows have been filmed on the former prison property, including "The Blacklist," "Blacklist Redemption" and "Blindspot" on NBC.

While the deal has not yet gone through, Broadway Stages says it has already invested $2 million in the property. That money has been spent on security, utility  service and general maintenance.

FUTURE PLANS

The company plans to offer additional sound stages, while keeping some of the structure intact to provide an authentic prison setting for production companies.

Broadway Stages says the project will create 1,500 jobs.

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