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School committee approves RFP to seek land or buyout for Hurena Community School site
Summary
The Springfield City School Committee approved a request-for-proposals to solicit developers or land partners to redevelop the Hurena Community School site and secure roughly 5 acres for a new North End school, with options for a land swap or fair-market purchase.
The Springfield City School Committee voted to approve a request-for-proposals to solicit proposals for disposition and redevelopment of the Hurena Community School site and to pursue land for a replacement school.
The action matters because the district said it needs roughly 5 acres as a baseline for a replacement school in the North End and is open to proposals that offer either fair-market value for the existing property or a land swap that would provide a new build site.
Superintendent Dr. Dennal said the district is “looking forward to building a brand new beautiful school down where Hurena Community School currently is or in that neighborhood,” and noted the RFP is intended to generate proposals that could put property back on the tax rolls or provide a site swap. Peter Garvey, a city capital-assets official present for the discussion, described the district’s baseline requirement: “We’re going out to try to find 5 acres. 5 acres is really our baseline for the school…We’re looking for a land swap or fair market value for the property.”
Committee members said the item had been vetted in the building and maintenance subcommittee and that much of the technical work was completed there before the full committee vote. Members also noted ongoing coordination with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which the mayor and superintendent thanked for prior investments in district school construction and rehabilitation.
The committee approved the RFP on a roll-call vote; the motion was made by Mister Gonzales and seconded by Mister Collins. The clerk recorded the following responses: Gonzales — yes; Attorney Murphy — yes; Collins — yes; Miss Gresham — absent; Miss Hurst — yes; Miss Bruno Naylor — yes; Mayor Sarno — yes. The committee will accept proposals under the RFP and return to committee process and the full school committee as proposals arrive.
The RFP does not itself approve a specific redevelopment plan or authorize a land sale; it simply invites submissions that the district and city will evaluate and that would be subject to subsequent review and formal approvals.
