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The special legislative committee charged with recommending a preferred developer for the Old Tompkins County Library site today began a careful analysis of   the three proposals before it to redevelop the site, but decided to wait a few more days before a scheduled decision.

After nearly two hours of discussion today, the committee decided to meet again next Tuesday, June 9, when it expects to continue its committee review and make a recommendation to the full Legislature.  Considering the importance of the decision, committee members agreed that they should take a bit more time to evaluate what it has been stressed are three "quality" proposals. Legislature Chair Mike Lane, who chairs the Old Library Committee, also noted, however, that it is important to keep the process on track, and submit a recommendation for the Legislature to consider at its June 16 meeting, so that the project timeline remains intact.

Last month, the Committee heard detailed presentations from each of the prospective developers who responded to the County's Request for Proposals:

• Rochester's Cornerstone Group, Ltd., which presented on May 1, proposes 63 residential units of affordable senior housing and community space for nutrition education by Cooperative Extension;
• The Travis Hyde Properties team, which presented on May 8, would develop 63 residential market-rate senior-focused units, with space for Lifelong, professional office, and a community room;
• The Franklin Properties team, which appeared before the committee on May 12, would renovate the existing building to include 22 residential market-rate condominium units, medical offices, a café, and community room.

Four committee member—Chair Lane and Legislators Mike Sigler, Dooley Kiefer, and Leslyn McBean-Clairborne—attended today's meeting and, at Mr. Lane's request, detailed what they personally see as positive and negative aspects of each proposal.  Chair Lane also asked for comments from other Legislators attending who are not members of the committee.  (The committee's fifth member, Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera, who was delayed at another commitment, was excused.)  Prior to the open portion of the meeting, the committee also consulted in executive session with representatives of Lifelong.  (The Travis-Hyde proposal is the only one that incorporates space for Lifelong as part of its project.)

Among proposal factors mentioned by Legislators in their discussion were the proposals' comparable numbers of housing units, affordable vs. market-rate housing, proposed building layout/mass and planned landscaping on the site, energy issues, parking provisions, and architectural design, as well as the matter of re-use vs. new construction.  Several indicated that the capability to include Lifelong was a factor that must be considered.

The three proposals are posted for review on the County web site at http://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/planning/community-planning/oldlibrary.

Video files of the three developer presentations to the Old Library Committee, as well as updated proposal information in some cases, also are available for review through the County's Meeting Portal on the website at http://tompkinscountyny.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.  (To access the information, select the "Old Library" meeting group, then click on the May 1, 8, or 12 meeting date; for the video files, click on "Media".)

The Old Library Committee's June 9 meeting with begin at 9:30 a.m. at the first-floor conference room in the County's Old Jail Building, 125 E. Court Street, Ithaca.

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