The goal of this program is to catalyze workforce housing development within four communities in Essex County. The scope of work includes the completion of build-out analyses within each community, identification of privately and publicly owned parcels for future workforce housing development, and completion of pre-development activities. The buildout analyses in this project will focus on hamlet areas and moderate intensity zones, as defined by the Adirondack Park Agency, to show the development potential and assist the communities in understanding the types and density of development that are allowable under the current regulations. The analyses, along with community input, will also identify parcels within each town that have the greatest potential for infill development or increased density for housing development, and identify willing landowners for future site analysis. Next, area plans for priority parcels are to be developed with buildout schemes to identify the typology and density of workforce housing that could be developed. This work can include, but is not limited to, zoning and infrastructure assessments, identification of available utilities, preliminary site history development, and/or market studies to determine the typology and number of housing units that can be absorbed by the communities based on current demand. In addition, proposers should include at least two charettes in each community throughout the planning process to ensure the housing vision is in line with the community vision. This task will result in opportunity site schematics for the properties. Lastly, site pre-development is to be completed on desirable properties. Pre-development tasks include, but are not limited to, permitting completion, phase one and two environmental reports, acquisition of easements, environmental testing, mitigation of existing structures, architectural renderings, site accessibility engineering, etc. This task will also include the creation of a development pro-forma and funding stack that includes public lenders willing to provide low interest loans for housing development within the Adirondacks, as well as identification of federal and state funding programs that can help with development costs. Lastly, marketing pieces for each site are to be developed. It is up to the Proposer to identify how these deliverables will be achieved.
