On Sept. 23 Village of New Paltz Officials announced a request for proposals for the Oliver House at 5 Broadhead Ave in New Paltz.
This house was previously owned by Stewarts and donated to the Village. The two worked hand in hand to stop the building from being demolished with the goal of renovating it for people to live in.
The Village of New Paltz invites proposals to purchase the house from the Village so it may be restored in a historically sensitive way.
In an email sent by Village of New Paltz Trustee William Wheeler-Murray wrote, “With the housing crisis in our area at a critical point, we worked with Stewarts to save the house from demolition. The objective is to have the house renovated for people to once again live in this historically significant structure.”
“The house was once owned by Ann Oliver, the widow of Richard Oliver, a Black soldier who died of malaria returning home to New Paltz after serving in the Civil War. It was built in 1885, in part by Jacob Wynkoop (born 1829), also a Civil War veteran and one of New Paltz’s first Black landowners. Wynkoop was a local builder who constructed a series of homes that define a New Paltz neighborhood in the area of what is now Broadhead, Church, and Mulberry Streets,” reads the Request for Proposals (RFP).
The property, a two-story frame house that is approximately 1,232 square feet and is located on a 2,736 square-foot lot. The house is structurally compromised and has fallen into disrepair.
Those who apply for the property must know that substantial renovations and system updates are necessary. Building permits will be required.
Additionally, those applying must be made aware that, “because the site will commemorate the Oliver Family, Jacob Wynkoop and Black history in New Paltz, the new owner will be required to accept local landmarking of the property and the placement of historical signage. Proposals must assume that the house will be transferred in as-is condition. Applicants are advised to carefully consider these conditions before submitting proposals.”
The Village will be considering all proposals and monetary bids, but will give preference to plans that will honor the Oliver Family, Jacob Wynkoop and Black history.
A list of requirements for all responses has been created by the Village.
The Village reserves the right to reject any proposal deemed unfit, incomplete or unresponsive of the RFP requirements. The Village also reserves the right to reject any proposal regardless of reasoning or lack thereof.
Any questions or to schedule a viewing of the site email assistant@villageofnewpaltz.org before the Oct. 29 deadline.
One electronic copy of a submission must be sent to assistant@villageofnewpaltz.org by 2 p.m. on Oct. 29 with subject line “Proposal-5 Broadhead Avenue” and five copies of sealed proposals must be submitted to the Village Clerk’s Office located at 25 Plattekill Ave, New Paltz, New York 12561 by 2 p.m. on Oct. 29, 2021 in an envelope marked: “Proposal-5 Broadhead Avenue.”
The winning proposal will be selected by Nov. 12 and an announcement event will be held at the property on Nov. 17.
