Rocheseter Councilmembers Prioritize Housing At Former RCSD Buildings

After extensive community engagement and careful consideration of viable proposals and the long-term impacts on our communities, Councilmembers Lupien, Martin and Smith opposed the  the sale of School #29 to Rochester Academy of Science Charter School, and supported the sale of School #20 to Young Women’s College Prep Charter School. The Councilmembers’ decision tonight was ultimately rooted in the belief that School #29 could serve an urgent community need—housing for students and their families. Further, while School #29 had a viable housing proposal, School #20 did not receive any other proposals.

Regarding School #29, Councilmembers Lupien, Martin, and Smith believe that the housing proposal, though viable, was not selected by the Administration because the existing RFP criteria  prioritizes speed of sale instead of whether the property can be used for housing. Essentially, the current RFP process for the sale of City-owned property, does not put housing first.

Rochester is facing a growing housing and affordability crisis. According to the Council President’s Report on Homelessness, The Rochester City School District (RCSD) has seen a 151% increase in student homelessness in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for stable, affordable housing for students. Every child deserves the support and stability that helps them reach their full potential academically. The sale of School #29 represents a meaningful opportunity for housing development at a time when our city desperately needs more affordable and supportive housing options. 

Across our city, there are aging and underutilized buildings that can and should be reimagined to meet today’s most pressing challenges. Converting former school buildings into affordable housing is not only practical, it is necessary. 

“This was not an easy decision because there were two worthwhile visions for this building,” said Councilmember Mary Lupien. “Ultimately, I believe city-owned property should be used in ways that address our most urgent community needs, and right now housing is one of them. I have no doubt Rochester Academy of Science Charter School will continue to grow and find a permanent home where they can thrive. As we move forward we must reform the RFP process to ensure we prioritize housing from the beginning.”

“Thank you to all the students, families, educators and community stakeholders who reached out to us and spoke both in support and opposition of the proposed sale of School #29 and School #20,” said Councilmember Stanley Martin. “Decisions around land use are some of the most important decisions Council has to make. Through this process, we learned of gaps in the current RFP criteria for the sale of land. The existing RFP process does not prioritize housing. Recognizing that our city is experiencing a housing crisis, we must change the RFP criteria, to ensure that proposals for affordable housing  are prioritized.” 

“My vote will be made with care, consideration, and the understanding that real families are impacted on all sides of this issue,” said Councilmember Chiara “Kee Kee” Smith. “My silence over the last few weeks was intentional because I wanted to listen, learn, review the information before me, and not reduce this decision to RCSD versus charter families. For me, this was never about which children deserve access to what school. It was about the safety, stability, and care of students and families across the City of Rochester. One number I could not ignore is that RCSD’s unhoused student population increased by 151.1% from the 2020-21 school year to the 2023-24 school year, and that number does not include 2025 or the current school year. Housing is connected to education, stability is connected to learning, and a building is never just a building when children in our city are still without stable housing.”

Though the decision is difficult, Councilmembers Lupien, Martin,and Smith will work to change the city’s RFP criteria, to ensure that the sale of future land and properties prioritize one of Rochester’s most urgent needs: housing, stability for families, and long-term community well-being.

Source: City of Rochester