Empire State Development Announces RFEI for 330 Acres at Former Wassaic Developmental Center Site Redevelopment Proposals Are Due On Wednesday, May 31st

 

Empire State Development Announces RFEI for 330 Acres at Former Wassaic Developmental Center Site

Redevelopment Proposals Are Due On Wednesday, May 31st

 

March 28, 2017

Empire State Development (ESD) today issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking proposals for the disposition and redevelopment of the remaining portion of the former Wassaic Developmental Center, also known as the Wassaic Campus of the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Services Office.

“Located near growing tech and creative sectors, abundant transit access and vibrant cultural resources, the Wassaic Campus has the potential to generate exciting economic opportunities for the Harlem Valley,” said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. “We are looking for creative proposals that maximize community goals and strengthen the Harlem Valley’s local economy.”

As part of the State’s ongoing initiative to support individuals with developmental disabilities within the community, the residential portion of the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Services Office campus was closed in 2014. The campus is currently used for administrative functions of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, occupying four buildings on the Site as well as the on-site power plant.

The Site that is the subject of the RFEI consists of approximately 330 acres, including nine acres of ground floor area (constituting approximately 740,000 built square feet).

The goal of this RFEI is to solicit ideas that will advance public policy goals and maximize economic benefits to the Harlem Valley and the State of New York. ESD will use responses and recommendations generated by the RFEI to inform a planned Request for Proposals (RFP) process.

Proposals should strive to address the following development objectives:

  • Enhance the Site as an economic engine for the Harlem Valley region and New York State;
  • Enhance and complement the area’s existing resources and amenities;
  • Capitalize on the proximity of mass transit located on the Site by creating new workforce housing opportunities and/or jobs for New Yorkers;
  • Maximize incorporation of green building and sustainable design practices;
  • Maximize economic benefit to the State while minimizing the State’s economic and environmental risk; and
  • Feature meaningful participation of Minority Owned Business Enterprises, Women Owned Business Enterprises and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned-Businesses, per Articles 15-A and 17-B of the New York State Executive Law.

Responses are due by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. An optional site visit is scheduled for Friday, April 21, 2017. Respondents are not required to attend; however, if they wish to participate, they must RSVP to wassaicRFEI@esd.ny.gov.

The RFEI and additional information is available on the Empire State Development website here.

About Empire State Development
Empire State Development (ESD) is New York’s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of “I LOVE NEW YORK,” the State’s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.regionalcouncils.ny.gov  and www.esd.ny.gov.

Author: Harlem Valley News