After much anticipation — and concern — about when New York would reveal its first locations for cannabis shops, the state authority overseeing the leasing of dispensaries has announced the first site, near the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem.
During the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York’s meeting Monday, President and CEO Reuben R. McDaniel III announced that it had signed its first lease for a property located at 248 W 125th Street. He also mentioned that the authority hopes to sign additional leases by year’s end.
“I’m pleased to announce that last night we signed our first lease,” McDaniel told the board. “For those of you familiar with Harlem, you can stand at the Apollo and throw a baseball right across the street.”
McDaniel said the design team had finished preliminary plans for the 128 square foot space, and that construction would start soon after DASNY approves a final plan.
At the meeting, McDaniel did not say who would operate the dispensary. DASNY did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The announcement comes amid doubts about whether the state will meet its goal of opening its first legal dispensaries by the end of this year. The first permits issued by