CAZENOVIA — The historic Cazenovia College campus, a cornerstone of the community for 200 years, is officially set to embark on a new journey. Under contract for purchase by a local team known as 9 Fresh, the property will soon be transformed into a dynamic innovation and community district.
Led by locals Kate Brodock, Hardeep Bindra, and a third General Partner, 9 Fresh includes a dedicated team — with additional members Anne Halsey, Lisa Cole Burnett, Travis Barr, Linda Morgan, Matt Cashatt, and Brian Davis — with expertise in real estate, venture capital, law, economic development, and business. They’re deeply connected nationally and internationally and intend to bring their collective network to the project in full force.
“We’re incredibly excited about the possibilities this project brings to Cazenovia,” said Brodock. “We have an opportunity to prove out a model for transforming a college campus into a powerful community asset that serves not only local interests but enhances them with global thought capital and partnership opportunities. We want to honor the legacy of the campus while creating something new, something that allows our entire community to grow and benefit. We see a strong future collaboration with the village and town, which is already in action as we work together on this project.”
Their vision for the campus goes far beyond traditional property redevelopment. Imagine a space that combines business and innovation, living and leisure, and community engagement to support regional economic growth and job creation. Residents and visitors can interact in multiple settings and on multiple footings, enjoy flexible housing and lodging options, and convene in various retail, dining, and public areas.
“We’re grateful to Kate and the entire group for their vision and leadership in assembling this successful bid,” said Mayor Kurt Wheeler. “Our primary goal since the college announced its closing has been to gain local control of the campus so we can shape our own destiny. I look forward to working with the team to best serve our community’s interests.”
The new district promises to boost economic development in the region. With job creation as a main of their mission, 9 Fresh is planning to introduce initiatives that will encourage regional growth, providing a significant positive impact on the local economy.
“This is a project designed to build lasting value for Cazenovia, one where businesses, residents, visitors, and investors all benefit,” said Bindra. “We’re proud to be leading this effort as locals who are deeply invested in Cazenovia’s future, and we’re committed to creating a vibrant community-first environment for all.”
The team has a couple of large backers and are also including local investors, as they see this as one of the primary initial ways for the community to be involved in their collective vision.
They’re excited to open up additional opportunities for collaboration with community stakeholder involvement and have opened the door for conversation by way of their website, 9fresh.co.
Stay tuned as more details unfold about this exciting new chapter for Cazenovia College’s campus!
