N.Y. Public Lands Law § 50: Sale of abandoned canal lands

§ 50. Sale of abandoned canal lands. The commissioner of general

services may sell and convey at public or private sale the right, title

and interest of the state in and to any real property, acquired for

canal purposes, which the commissioner of transportation may determine

to have been abandoned for such purposes, or as to which a determination

of abandonment shall have been heretofore made pursuant to law. The

commissioner of general services may sell and convey such abandoned

lands in the same manner and with the same discretion as he may sell and

convey unappropriated state land pursuant to article three of this

chapter. The commissioner may sell such abandoned canal lands for not

less than the appraised value thereof to occupants of such abandoned

canal lands or owners of adjacent land who have used or improved such

abandoned canal lands either under a permit issued pursuant to section

one hundred of the canal law or in good faith without knowledge that

such canal lands were owned by the state; provided that such appraised

value shall be exclusive of the value of improvements made on the

property by the purchaser.