9 Fresh

CAZENOVIA COLLEGE: A fresh outlook on community impact

announcement!

We’re thrilled to share that our team has reached an agreement in principle to purchase the Cazenovia College campus. After many (many) months of due diligence, planning, and collaboration, this marks a major milestone in our effort to bring fresh energy and long-term value to a place that means so much to us and this community.

Our team—local to Cazenovia and deeply invested in its future—has been working diligently for months to shape a redevelopment approach that honors the legacy of the College while opening the door to new opportunities for our wonderful town.

We want to thank the municipal leaders and many community members who have offered their support, insight, and encouragement along the way. Your involvement has helped immensely and we’re just getting started.

Stay tuned – we’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks.

Cheers,

Kate Brodock
Founder & General Partner, 9 Fresh

our project

We have the opportunity to turn a once-vibrant academic institution into an equally as vibrant, reimagined district for innovation, business growth, and impact that not only strongly serves our community, but provides powerful global connections and influence.

the property

Located in Upstate NY, the main campus sits on 27 acres (14 parcels). Many buildings have been renovated in the past 10-20 years, and remain in good condition.

In its original form, it contains a network of lecture halls and instructional space, several historical village homes, many community spaces (eg student hall), a fully-functioning theater space, an athletic facility, a health center, 600 beds of housing, and more. There’s an additional 151-acre Equestrian Center 2 miles off-campus, with an adjacent 89-acre vacant, wooded lot.

The Main Quad is our launch site—a full village block of buildings, space, and possibility. It’s a chance to reimagine with purpose—turning a former campus into an engine for growth. It’s where food systems, innovation, leadership, and culture converge.

A walkable, flexible, livable district with room to grow.

Our mixed-use, community-focused redevelopment is built around three integrated systems – a business, innovation and tech district, various housing options such as senior living and tiered-affordability housing, and ample indoor and outdoor community spaces, making maximum use of the traditional Quad-style layout.

Some of the specific (but not exclusive!) projects in active development: Agriculture and Food Innovation Center, Women in Sports & Health, Drones & UNA, Veterans Center, the Trades, Creator & Maker spaces, Senior Living, Tiered-affordability living and more!

village feasibility study

The Village of Cazenovia conducted a campus reuse feasibility study, a process that our group took an integral and active part in. We opened up key parts of our due diligence to the process, and benefited from additional layers of third-party inputs.

We're grateful for the opportunity to work closely with local stakeholders on determining win-win pathways for the future of the campus.

FULL REPORT

the team

our approach

We have strong conviction that sustainable regional growth can be acheived through innovation, thought capital, and community engagement.

We’re mushing together – in a good way – leading technology and business elements, experiential and leisure components, and collaborative public programs, into curated spaces where businesses, residents, and visitors can thrive together.

This community-first approach will kickstart economic development, generate new job opportunities and provide investors with competitive returns.

The district will offer a pro-business environment, and skilled workforce and job opportunities for the region

community-focus

Our reason for initiating this effort from the get-go—and our entire team’s unwavering focus—has been to create long-term benefit for the community, in direct alignment with the Village’s stated goals: community vitality, job creation, and thoughtful economic development.

To that end, several actions we’ve taken thus far, and have mapped out for our future.

Development

Brought on a fantastic firm as a full operating partner - The Oughtness Group - who's experience in multi-use, community-led development across the country is bar none.

Engaged multiple fantastic local and national experienced partners and advisors.

Ensured our historical designation eligibility wasn't put at jeopardy at EOY 2024 despite not owning the property.

Developed a template for a community committee-style RFP process to use when identifying development partners that are a best fit for all stakeholders.

Community Engagement

Created a community investment pool to ensure local people who may not normally have access to real estate investment opportunities of this magnitude could participate in and benefit from such an important local project.

Held several community forums with various constituents (e.g. business owners) to outline our plan and ask for input.

Taken ongoing community feedback and inquiries online, many of whom we've been able to meet and create further relationships with.

Targeted an open community meeting in partnership with Caz Forum and CACDA for late summer, post-close.

Muncipal/Public Stakeholder Engagement

Maintained high levels of consistent engagement and coordination - in weekly (or more) meetings - with numerous public municipal stakeholders.

Integrated much of our internal due diligence process with the Village's approved feasibility study (above).

partners

We’re excited to work with experienced partners as we kick off this project. These partners will work with additional local developers, contractors, and experts throughout.

Primary Operating Partner

The Oughtness Group, based out of Atlanta, has an extensive background in multi-national development practices specifically combined with a community development model focused on improving health, economic, and education outcomes for residents.

Led by John Majors, the team will work as operators side-by-side the 9 Fresh team in site planning and execution, and in close partnership with local developers for projects across the property.

LEARN MORE

Food + Culture Consultants

Colicchio, led by Phil Colicchio, are experts in creating top food and beverage experiences, with a viewpoint centered around culture.

As consultants, they’ll work with us to build out the culinary compliments to the campuses “leisure” focus.