In a recent June 24th press release, Orange County announced that it had issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to developers and investors for the purchase of the massive Camp LaGuardia property in Chester and Blooming Grove. In a separate RFP the county is looking for developers to take over three iconic properties in the City of Newburgh on Grand Street. Both the Camp LaGuardia and Grand Street properties are county-owned.
The Camp LaGuardia property, a former New York City men’s homeless shelter, was acquired by the county in 2007 and features four parcels totaling 258.3 acres. Not long after the purchase of the site, the county retained Mountco Construction, a Scarsdale developer who proposed the redevelopment of the site into a $300-million mixed-use development. After years of failed attempts to secure approvals from the affected municipalities, Mountco and the county terminated the contract and the land remained vacant.
The county acquired the Grand Street properties in December 2013. The properties include a former YMCA, Masonic Temple and American Legion buildings. The county procured the Newburgh properties with the promise to expand the SUNY Orange campus.
“These sites are perfect for commercial development and will provide economic development as well as job opportunities for Orange County residents,” said Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus. “I’m pleased that the county is moving forward to put these properties back on the tax rolls and to productive use, which will be a benefit to not just the county, but also to the City of Newburgh and the Towns of Chester and Blooming Grove.”
“Camp LaGuardia is close to the Heritage Trail and to Route 17, and can become a terrific opportunity for economic growth,” said Orange County Legislator John Vero, who represents Chester. “We need proposals which generate long-term revenue for the county and are compatible with local land use needs. Hopefully, multiple entities can demonstrate some interest in this property.”
In terms of the Grand Street properties possible sale, City of Newburgh Manager Joe Donat, said, “We look forward to seeing the potential buyers who are ready to invest in Newburgh and Orange County and have the means and creativity to turn these properties into success stories.”
The Orange County Partnership is pushing the RFP into the hands of their deep list of developers in an effort to assist the county in securing viable proposals for all of these sites.
The deadline for the submittal of proposals to acquire Camp LaGuardia is Thursday, August 7. The deadline for submittal of proposals for the Grand Street properties in Newburgh is Thursday, July 30.
For further information or to access the respective RFPs, go to:
Camp LaGuardia: https://www.orangecountygov.com/1968/RFP-Sale-of-former-Camp-LaGuardia-Proper
Grand Street Properties: https://www.orangecountygov.com/1970/RFP-RPT01-20-Grand-Street-Properties
