RFP places a strong emphasis on housing, offering a variety of unit sizes and affordability levels.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Empire State Development, in partnership with the Office of General Services and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, has issued a request for proposals for the former Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, Dutchess County. This request for proposals proposes the following: Prison Reconstruction Committee As prison populations dwindle and prisons close, the project is the foundation of a first-of-its-kind strategic effort to repurpose the former prison site with a focus on economic development. The request for proposals is part of the governor’s ongoing effort to identify state land for potential residential use to increase the state’s housing supply in light of the housing crisis.
“Announced nearly a year ago to create the Prison Reconstruction Commission, the nation’s first comprehensive analysis of the reuse and reconstruction of closed facilities in New York,” Governor Hocher said. “The committee has compiled thoughtful, practical information and recommendations, taking into account input from experts and community stakeholders, and we are taking significant steps to advance these recommendations in a way that gives affected communities a voice in the future of these projects .close the site.”
Governor Hochul also announced that Empire State Development Corporation has received the necessary approvals to transfer the Livingston Correctional Facility to the Livingston County Industrial Development Authority, advancing another important 2022 recommendation from the Prison Reconstruction Commission release opportunity Report.
Proposals sought for redevelopment of state southern correctional facility
The primary development goal for the Downstate Correctional Institution redevelopment was to maximize the benefits of the surrounding community and region while prioritizing housing.Follow the Governor’s instructions and follow the Governor’s advice release opportunity The report reveals that requests for proposals (RFPs) place a strong emphasis on housing of mixed unit sizes and affordability ranges, offering eligible respondents incentives of up to $8 million to address remediation and demolition costs.View Request for Proposal here.
The former maximum security site covers approximately 80 acres, of which 50 acres are located around the cordon and 30 acres are located outside the cordon. The property consists of 34 buildings totaling 558,000 square feet. The site is located in the town of Fishkill, adjacent to the city of Beacon. It is about 70 miles north of New York City and about 95 miles south of Albany.
Located along the Hudson River, Fishkill has a rich history as a strategic North-South corridor. Today, the town consists mainly of residential areas, but there are also several commercial centers. The town has also seen a surge in technology and advanced manufacturing businesses in recent years. GlobalFoundries, a multinational semiconductor manufacturing and design company, opened a factory in East Fishkill in 2015 within the former IBM offices. Additionally, Dutchess Stadium in West Fishkill, one mile southwest of the base, seats 4,500 and is home to the Hudson Valley Rebels minor league baseball team.
The location is also close to several institutions of higher education, including SUNY Orange, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Ulster, Vassar College, Dutchess Community College, The Culinary Institute of America and Military Academy (West Point).
Proposals must be received by ESD via DropBox by August 23, 2023 at 2pm. Potential interviewees will also be able to attend an on-site tour scheduled for on or about August 2, 2023. Please reply to DownstateCFacilityRFP23@esd.
Livingston Correctional Institution
In addition, the ESD Board of Directors and the Public Authority Control Committee have authorized ESD to move forward with the process of transferring the closed Livingston Correctional Facility to the Livingston County Industrial Development Authority. Once the transfer is complete, Livingston County will begin developing the site, creating job-creating economic activity at the southern end of Livingston County, thereby reclaiming the site that previously cost the state money in local taxes. It will be the first completed site transfer that the Prison Redevelopment Commission has studied for economic development purposes.
Prison Reconstruction Committee
In May 2022, Governor Hochul convened the Prison Reconstruction Commission, composed of top experts in community and economic development, real estate, criminal justice reform, and government, to address vacant and dilapidated prison facilities and develop a set of recommendations for creative uses. The commission released its findings, including 13 recommendations to facilitate the reconstruction of closed prisons, release opportunity December report.
ESD, in cooperation with DOCCS and OGS, is working to advance the recommendations in the report. Since the report was released, razor wire has been removed on time and within budget at the McGregor Hills, Willard and Ogdensburg facilities. Removing this wire will make these sites more conducive to rebuilding and provide significant savings from future rebuilding costs.
In addition, four sites have been “insulated” on the advice of the Prison Redevelopment Commission. These locations include Willard, Moriah, Ogdensburg and Livingston. This practice preserves on-site buildings and infrastructure during closure and reconstruction, reducing costs associated with future renovations or demolition of aging buildings.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said: “As co-chairs of the Prison Reconstruction Commission, its recommendations have been a top priority. We look forward to ensuring that communities affected by prison closures have the resources they need to shape their economic future and breathe new life into these vacant facilities.”
Daniel F. Martuscello III, Acting Commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, stated, “Since the Commission’s report was released, DOCCS, in collaboration with other state agencies, continues to review, assess, and recommend rebuilding strategies for prisons that are no longer needed due to dramatic declines in incarceration. I applaud the Governor for his leadership in convening this group, whose work is critical to the economic development of community partners impacted by prison closures, and I am honored to play a role in this rebuilding mission.“
New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “As a member of Governor Hochul’s Prison Reconstruction Commission, it has been gratifying to see this Administration quickly follow through on its commitment to advancing the reconstruction and adaptive reuse of closed correctional facilities in a way that bolsters New York’s economy and meets the needs of impacted communities. The OGS team looks forward to continuing to work with our state and local partners to implement the recommendations contained in the Prison Reconstruction Plan. release opportunity Report. “
