Empire State Development (ESD) today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase 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 in the rolling hills of the Harlem Valley. This RFP presents a unique opportunity to redevelop a beautiful site in the desirable Town of Amenia.

"The Wassaic Campus presents a tremendous development opportunity in the Harlem Valley," said ESD President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky. "The site's proximity to thriving tech and cultural resources, strong transit networks, and the Harlem Valley's natural scenic beauty present exciting potential. We encourage respondents to submit creative responses that stimulate vibrant community and economic growth in the region.” 

As part of the State’s ongoing initiative to support individuals with developmental disabilities within their community, the residential campus was closed in 2014. Four buildings onsite are currently used for administrative functions of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, but the campus will be vacated by OPWDD upon its sale. In March 2017, ESD issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to generate ideas to inform this RFP.

The site that is the subject of this RFP is located at 26 Center Circle, in the Town of Amenia. Situated on a hill above the Tenmile River and adjacent to the Tenmile River Metro-North station, the site consists of approximately 320 acres, including nine acres of ground floor area constituting approximately 740,000 built square feet. Although there is no requirement to preserve the existing buildings, a number are architecturally interesting and offer adaptive reuse possibilities. The site’s vast size, bucolic location and accessibility to New York City, the Hudson Valley and Connecticut make it an exciting opportunity for creative, well-planned development.

The goal of this RFP is to maximize economic opportunities for the surrounding community by creating a premier destination in the scenic Harlem Valley that meets the policy goals of ESD and New York State. Respondents are invited to propose well-integrated, mixed-use development proposals that may include, but are not limited to, lodging and event space; residential, commercial and cultural uses; and agricultural or other seasonal land uses.

 Specifically, ESD’s development objectives seek to: 

• Utilize 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 rail transit at the site by creating new workforce housing opportunities and/or jobs for New Yorkers;
• Maximize green building and sustainable design practices;
• Maximize economic benefit to the State while minimizing the State’s economic and environmental risk; and
• Incorporate meaningful participation by Minority-Owned Business Enterprises (“MBE”), Women-Owned Business Enterprises (“WBE”), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned-Businesses (“SDVOB”), per Articles 15-A and 17-B of the New York State Executive Law.

Responses are due by Friday, September 28, 2018 at 2:00 PM. An optional site visit is scheduled for Monday, July 30, 2018. Respondents are not required to attend; however, if they wish to participate, they must RSVP to [email protected].

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

Contact:

Amy Varghese | [email protected] | (212) 803-3740

ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313