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School committee approves RFP to redevelop Hureina Community School; seeks 5-acre site or land swap
Summary
The Springfield School Committee voted to issue a request for proposals to redevelop the Hureina Community School site, seeking either fair-market payment or a land swap and specifying a 5-acre site baseline for a new school.
The Springfield School Committee on June 19 voted to authorize a request for proposals to redevelop the Hureina Community School site, seeking either fair-market value for the existing property or a land swap to secure roughly 5 acres for a replacement school.
The vote, made by member Gonzales and seconded by member Collins, passed on a roll call after a presentation by Superintendent Dr. Dennal and City staff. The committee said it has worked with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on prior projects and wants to keep the new school in the North End neighborhood.
Committee members and staff described the RFP as a tool to attract development proposals that could free land or funds for a new facility. City staff said the district’s baseline requirement is approximately 5 acres for the new school; respondents may propose a land swap or pay fair market value for the existing property on Boerne Avenue. Dr. Dennal said the district will pursue options because “every time we move the gold post back a little bit, it just costs...the cost to go up.”
Members said much of the planning and vetting occurred in subcommittee. Pete Garvey and Chief Pat Roach (city and district staff present at the meeting) answered committee questions during the discussion. The committee noted prior work with the Mass. School Building Authority and said the district aims to maintain the school in the North End.
The formal motion passed on a roll call with the following recorded responses: Gonzales — yes; Attorney Murphy — yes; Collins — yes; Miss Gresham — absent; Miss Hurst — absent; Miss Monroe Naylor — yes; Mayor Sarno — yes. The committee chair declared the matter passed.
The vote authorizes the district to solicit proposals; it does not itself select a developer or finalize a site. Staff said subsequent steps will include reviewing proposals and returning to the committee for approval of any land transaction or final design plan.
