Tompkins County moves ahead with HOLT architects agreement; SHPO review and removal of three buildings on schedule

The Tompkins County Downtown Facilities Special Committee was told the legislature approved moving forward with an owner–architect agreement with HOLT Architects last month, and county staff said the contract is now with the county attorney for final review.

The county planning staff member Megan said the HOLT team has begun work on the preservation piece and that the project’s preservation subconsultant is already reviewing prior documentation; County staff also said HOLT has received a verbal notice to proceed and has started Task 1, the SHPO consultation. "We were really waiting for next steps with the SHPO to have the whole consultant team on board," Megan said.

The committee was told the agreement is in AIA form (owner–architect agreement) and that insurance certificates are in hand; staff are awaiting the county attorney’s approval before executing the contract. County staff described a scheduled sequence: complete the SHPO consultation (a roughly 12‑week review), then perform an initial parking and utilities analysis, and open public engagement after those tasks—public meetings are scheduled in May on the project schedule as presented to the committee.

Why it matters: HOLT’s agreement and the SHPO review are prerequisites to schematic design for the proposed Center of Government and to any decisions about removing or retaining existing county buildings on the site. Staff said they aim to demonstrate to SHPO that they have explored alternatives and options as part of the required historic‑preservation review.

Committee members and staff discussed timing rather than approving new spending at the meeting. Aurel (county staff) confirmed that the county’s immediate objective is to secure SHPO concurrence that would permit removal of the three buildings SHPO has classified; the committee generally agreed that SHPO review is the first critical milestone before larger public outreach and design work.

Next steps: staff expect to report back at the committee’s next meeting on SHPO progress and on the county attorney’s review of the HOLT owner–architect agreement. The committee did not take a new formal vote at this meeting on the contract; staff described the prior legislature approval and the pending administrative steps required to execute the agreement.