(Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
The City of Cortland is moving from its original request-for-proposal and issuing a revised RFP that will focus on mixed-use development for the former Parker school building.
The Cortland Common Council, at its meeting on Tuesday, unanimously voted to scrap the original RFP from March of this year and issue a new RFP that will accommodate the community surrounding the former Parker School building on Madison Street.
“It’s about taking care of things that the constituents in that community want to have,” City mayor Scott Steve said at Tuesday’s meeting.
The original RFP drew on a proposed affordable housing project by the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services (INHS). The Tompkins County-based organization proposed earlier this year development that would bring 50 to 60 units of affordable housing at the former Parker school building on Madison Street.
INHS’s proposal came with overwhelming opposition from the community that surrounds the former school building, including a community input meeting at the school building in June and the council meeting in July.
This led to city officials reconsidering the proposal. Mayor Steve requested Parker School Ad Hoc Advisory Committee to hold monthly meetings with residents involved. The committee would include “membership be expanded to include neighborhood residents and other community perspectives and reconvene for the purpose of reviewing the submitted proposal, community input and the viability of various uses,” according to Tuesday’s agenda.
After a handful of meetings, the expanded committee put together a “broad community consensus” for the following:
- The submitted housing development proposal would create density greater than that intended by the city zoning code.
- The building’s redevelopment should emphasize community-centered, mixed-use and include categories of use, services and activities that meet community educational, developmental and social needs.
The committee then proceeded to list recommendations for the revised RFP, including:
- Multi-use on the first floor for purposes including offices, community services, educational and developmental services, social activities, small commercial businesses and economic development initiatives.
- Use on the second floor purposes listed above and/or residential units, which shall not exceed 25 in number of units, be at least 700 square feet each or not exceed 35 collective occupants (total for all apartments).
- Long-term commitment (minimum of 25-plus years; preferred to be 50-plus years).
- Limited or no expansion of building footprint.
- Development design that preserve the historic architecture and character of the building and preserve and enhance the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
- Retention of the Parker School sign at the front of the building.
- Maintain the current playground.
- No access point on Maple Avenue.
- Utilization of innovative and technology for sustainable development, green construction standards, and energy efficiency.
- Early and periodic engagement with the community, including evidence of integrated planning with community organizations.
Steve noted that residents want to keep “the flavor” of the building, including the architecture, structure and remnants like the sign out front.
“They’re not looking to expand or change the look (of the building),” Steve added.
Steve noted that INHS could potentially revisit the new RFP, but added that multi-use development is “at the forefront.”
“This is an appropriate way to approach the retracted RFP,” Steve said.
The former school building’s committee will review future RFP submission, and the public is invited to provide comments on proposals.
“I hope we get some strong responses to this RFP,” said councilperson Katy Silliman (D-2nd Ward), a member of the Parker school building committee.
