City Issues Request for Proposals for Three Buildings Used by SCSD
Published on March 21, 2024
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Syracuse City School District Superintendent Anthony Davis announced the City of Syracuse issued requests for proposals (RFPs) Thursday to repurpose and redevelop three aging buildings used by the school district. The sites, which are owned by the City, are each nearly a century old.
The properties are the District’s Administrative Offices on Harrison Street, the Johnson Vocational Center on East Genesee Street, and the maintenance facility in the former Smith Vocational Tech building on Park Avenue. For each of the three sites, the City is also issuing requests for proposals to provide leased space for the staff and programs currently housed at the facilities.
The RFPs say the City’s priorities include creating permanent job opportunities for city residents; adding quality housing units in the city; and returning the properties to tax rolls. The City is seeking developers with a proven ability to provide creative and inclusive land use and development strategies for the three sites:
725 Harrison Street – Administrative Offices
The 62,920 square foot building is on a 2.38-acre site between University Hill and Downtown and formerly housed the Washington Irving School. It was built in 1927 and served as an elementary school. It became the school district central office in 1984.
571-581 East Genesee Street - Johnson Vocational Center
The 50,312 square foot building is on a 0.76-acre site on East Genesee Street west of Interstate 81 and was built prior to World War II as an automobile dealership. It houses an alternative education program that delivers GED preparation programs as well as hands on technical training programs.
200-232 Park Avenue and Plum Street - School District Maintenance Facility
The 28,464 square foot building is on a 1.06-acre site near the western edge of Downtown Syracuse near Leavenworth Park and the historic Park Avenue neighborhood. Built in 1936, the one- and two-story building has been used as a workshop and office space for several decades.
Inquiries will be accepted until April 26. Proposals for all six opportunities are due on May 23. Walk-throughs will be held for each of the facilities being offered for sale. More information on the RFPs is at Active Bids – City of Syracuse. Request copies of the RFPs at Request Documents for an Active RFP – City of Syracuse.