The National Park Service is moving forward with a project to redevelop historic Fort Hancock, expanding leasing opportunities and inviting proposals from nonprofits.
After a request-for-proposals (RFP) first issued in January led to negotiations with two unidentified entities, the National Park Service (NPS) announced a new “rolling RFP” on July 31 for 16 buildings on Officers’ Row, according to John Warren, external affairs officer for the Gateway National Recreation Area.
“We’ve been discussing the rolling RFP at the [Fort Hancock 21st Century] committee hearings,” Warren said in an interview. “We talked about doing this with them and they thought that it was a good way to do it.
“The responses to the RFPs for residences specifically have been the warmest.”
The rolling RFP will have an initial response period of 60 days, through Sept. 30. Following that deadline, additional proposals will be accepted on Oct. 30, Nov. 27 and Dec. 28.
Qualified lessees must propose a use consistent with the intended purpose of the building to be leased, demonstrate the financial capability to complete the proposed project as well as have the necessary experience to do so and remain committed to preserving the environmental and historical aspects of Fort Hancock throughout the project.
Buildings 2 – 17 and 21 on Officers’ Row, which all overlook the bayside of Fort Hancock, are available for lease under the rolling RFP.
The ongoing negotiations from the first round center on some of the buildings included in this new RFP, Warren said, but which ones will later be unavailable is not yet clear. The Fort Hancock 21st Century Committee designed the rolling RFP after the pilot phase of the leasing program concluded in April. Three RFPs were posted in January as part of the pilot, but the NPS only received proposals from two respondents interested in utilizing the buildings for residential/office space, Warren said.
In the initial RFP, “residential/office” uses were available for any two buildings located between 8 and 17 on Officers’ Row. Negotiations with the respondents are ongoing.
“As we continue productive negotiations with the parties selected in the last RFP, it makes sense to build on our success,” Superintendent Jennifer Nersesian said in a statement. “In later phases, the NPS will make more buildings at Fort Hancock Historic Post available for a variety of adaptive uses.”
According to Warren, additional uses include educational and commercial components, as well as space for community-based organizations, which he said NPS expects to be attracted to Sandy Hook once the residential redevelopment is fully underway.
“As we get more residential units completed, people will have a greater perception that this is really taking hold and that we’re really transforming Fort Hancock into the community that it once was,” Warren said. “Then we’ll be able to have other leases for other purposes … but first, I think you have to show them that you’re viable, and this is going to show them that we’re viable.”
Nonprofit organizations can also submit proposals to lease the available buildings, but the process is slightly different. Nonprofits can develop a “letter of intent” alongside park officials. That letter would require nonprofit organizations to meet specific goals within a timeline determined between the park and the organization, allowing the nonprofit time to secure necessary approvals and obtain funding.
“It’s a mechanism that already exists in federal law,” Warren said. “The reason for that is not-for-profits tend to not have a lot of money up front. Through this lease for residences they do need to show they have the financial capabilities to make this happen.
“Not-for-profits will sign a letter of intent and that will be part of the process for them to raise money for this project. It gives them another opportunity to raise more money.”
All of the buildings included in the rolling RFP were built by the U.S. Army at the former Army post on the Sandy Hook peninsula. With the exception of the Duplex Officers Quarters, built in 1939, all buildings were constructed in 1898-1899 for use as lieutenant, captain and commanding officer quarters, according to the NPS.
Created in 1972 by a Congressional vote, the Gateway National Recreation Area encompasses three New York City boroughs and two states. Parklands include more than 26,000 acres of marshes, wildlife sanctuaries, recreational athletic facilities, miles of sandy beaches, indoor and outdoor classrooms, picnicking and camping areas and historic structures, including military installations, airfields and lighthouses.
In addition to the rolling RFP, Sandy Hook is hosting a New Jersey Youth Corps/Hands-On Preservation Experience (HOPE) crew from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is refurbishing the porch of Building 26, the fort’s headquarters.
“We found on this project that the corps members gain a real opportunity to connect with an historic residence,” Monica Rhodes, HOPE manager of volunteer outreach, said. “Training as a preservationist gives you a different lens to view these buildings through.
“Without having people who can take proper care of these buildings … people will think [using modern building techniques] is the way these buildings should be treated.”
Rhodes said not only are the young people working with HOPE gaining trade experience, but they are learning how to preserve historic structures as they were originally built — a skill that is in high demand and low supply.
HOPE is in its second year of existence, according to Rhodes, and already has completed 18 projects with 30 slated for completion by the end of 2015.
According to Rhodes, if the funding is there to continue working on Fort Hancock after the Building 26 porch restoration, HOPE would be happy to keep going.
“Once we finish, we want to keep contributing to Sandy Hook so long as we can get the money to do so.”