GREENBURGH SEEKS RFP FOR HOMELESS FACILITY...WE HAVE RECEIVED $1.2 MILLION A YEAR

GREENBURGH SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR WESTHELP PROPERTY AFTER IT CLOSES...

TOWN HAS RECEIVED $1.2 million a year...we need the revenue



Last month Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced plans to close down the 108 unit WESTHELP facility in September, 2011. WESTHELP currently provides transitional housing to the homeless. The facility was built by Andrew Cuomo in the late 1980s.

The town has been receiving $1.2 million dollars in revenue each year from the property. If the Westchester County Board of Legislators supports the County Executive's recommendations to close down the shelter the town will lose the $1.2 million revenue UNLESS we find another use for the property.

At the Town Board meeting on Wednesday night we will approve a resolution authorizing RFPS for the development of the six acre parcel. The buildings are well maintained, don't look like homeless shelters (looks more like luxury condo's). These are some of the suggestions we have received so far for the property:

INVITING AREA COLLEGES TO CONVERT THE FACILITY INTO COLLEGE DORMS...

ASSISTED LIVING/SENIOR HOUSING (there are two floors so some of the units could be used for other housing purposes... Unlike most assisted living facilities we could provide assisted living housing at more affordable rates.

HOUSING FOR VETERANS WHO SERVED OUR NATION...

WORKFORCE HOUSING....

The Town Board will review each of the proposals we receive. We will also be meeting with the Mayfair-Knollwood civic association and will share with them the various options that are submitted to us.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor



TOWN OF GREENBURGH

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIX-ACRE PARCEL

OF LAND LOCATED AT THE KNOLLWOOD GATE ENTRANCE TO WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

The Town of Greenburgh will be considering applications for the development or re-development of a six-acre parcel of land within the Town, including the construction and/or operation of facilities thereon, located on the east side of Knollwood Road (Route 100A) at the Knollwood Gate entrance to Westchester Community College, for a period of approximately 30 years.

A. General Information

The subject property is currently being subleased by the Town to a homeless housing nonprofit organization known as “WestHELP” which provides emergency homeless housing and related services to families with young children. WestHELP currently operates a 108 unit facility comprising a portion of Sheet 18, Parcel 128 of the Assessment Map of the Town, formerly known as “Hartford Estate”, pursuant to a ten year Sublease Agreement with the Town which is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2011. The subject property, is owned by the County of Westchester but controlled by the Town until approximately September 30, 2041, pursuant to Masterlease Agreement with the County.

The subject property is located between Knollwood Road to the west, Hillside Avenue (Route 100B) to the east, Hartford Lane and Payne Road to the north, and Old Tarrytown Road to the south. A portion of the site is currently developed and is zoned as Residential (R-30), although the Town would consider proposals that include applications to rezone the property.

The current facility operated at the Site was designed and built to make the same suitable for use as permanent housing and includes off-site improvements reasonably necessary for the operation of the facility (i.e. roads, utilities etc.). Additionally, although the Masterlease Agreement between the Town and the County of Westchester contemplates a use of the property for rental housing at the end of the WestHELP lease term (including, but not limited to, housing for senior citizens and municipal employees), as previously mentioned, the Town would consider proposals and applications for an alternative use.

B. Information to be Provided

The Town Board invites proposed property developers and/or operators, or representatives on their behalf, to provide information as to the firm’s qualifications and experience in developing properties and/or operating facilities related to municipal owned properties. Listed below are areas of specific importance that should be addressed; however, responders are encouraged to provide any additional information that would assist the Board in making their selection:

- The years of experience your company or firm has in developing properties.

- The years of experience in providing services to local New York municipal governments.

- The size of the firm’s practice, the names, education and experience of the partner(s) or principals and primary staff that would be developing the property or operating the facility.

- A brief narrative of the services that have been provided to private or municipal clients over the last five years.

- A list of at least three municipalities that your firm is currently developing properties in, operating facilities at, or providing services to, including the name of the municipality, number of years operating and the name of a contact person and their telephone number.

- The rate structure or fees charged for services provided if any.

Please provide the above information by January 21, 2011. The Town Board will select a principal from firms that respond to this request.

Please forward your response to:

TIMOTHY W. LEWIS

Town Attorney

Town of Greenburgh

177 Hillside Avenue

Greenburgh, NY 10607

Via fax at 914-993-1656, email at tlewis@greenburghny.com or first class mail.

If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact the Town Attorney at 914-993-1546.