CAZENOVIA — During the Jan. 12 Cazenovia Town Board meeting, Supervisor Kyle Reger discussed plans for the Jephson Campus, which the town recently acquired to serve as the new home of the town offices. The property, purchased for $1,050,000, was part of the now-shuttered Cazenovia College. When a team of local developers known as 9Fresh closed on the entire college campus on Dec. 19, 2025, the town simultaneously closed on the Jephson Campus on Albany Street. Reger began by congratulating 9Fresh for successfully gaining local control of the former college properties. “This milestone represents the culmination of years of effort and collaboration and marks an important step forward in our community,” he said. “We appreciate their investment, their patience, their willingness to work with the town as the campus enters its next chapter.” He then acknowledged the Jephson property’s deep historical roots and long-standing significance in the community. According to Reger, its main building was originally constructed in the 1890s as Willow Hall, serving as the second home of the Cazenovia Club after an earlier wooden clubhouse was lost to fire. “Built of stone to ensure permanence, the building stood as a symbol of resilience and civic life, later becoming a central part of Cazenovia College and a gathering place for generations of residents,” he said. “This long history of adaptation and reinvention reflects the consistent theme in Cazenovia’s story, preserving what matters while meeting the evolving needs of the community.” The town has selected architect Tom Pratt as project manager for the Jephson Campus. Reger reported that Pratt has been actively developing preliminary renovation concepts with input from the town board and staff. “He will continue to coordinate each step of the process as we refine the plans, evaluate the costs, and move towards implementation,” Reger said. In parallel, the town has also begun exploring other potential future uses for the Jephson Campus with a variety of community groups and partners. The focus, according to Reger, is on creating programming opportunities for the arts, vocational training, recreation, and community gatherings. “These conversations are intended to ensure the Jephson Campus once again becomes an active, accessible, and productive space that serves the public,” Reger said. The town has been awarded an approximately $960,000 matching grant from the New York State Regional Economic Development Council for the restoration of the Gothic Cottage, the current home of the town offices. The town plans to establish a subcommittee to help guide and coordinate the restoration process. Reger said that Pratt will also serve as project manager for the Gothic Cottage restoration, as the coordination of both municipal building projects is critical given the scope, timing, and long-term planning considerations involved. “Together, the Jephson Campus planning and Gothic Cottage restoration reflect a balanced approach to stewardship, honoring our history while responsibly preparing for the future,” he said. “These efforts are about preserving our heritage, creating functional and flexible municipal and community space, and ensuring that these important buildings continue to serve the people of Cazenovia for generations to come.” During the meeting’s second public comment period, Anne Ferguson, a member of the town planning board and president of Cazenovia Heritage, pointed out that the first requirement of the Gothic Cottage restoration grant is coming up in February. According to Ferguson, who was involved in securing the grant, the requirement is the issuance of a request for proposal for a firm to develop the specifications for the preservation work. “The RFP is to go out in February, and the selection made in March,” she said. “. . . Once the firm is selected, they would develop the specs from basically April through December.” A resident of Willow Place spoke on behalf of neighbors of the Jephson Campus regarding concerns about excessive lighting. She said that while the neighbors all understand that lighting is needed for safety, there are currently floodlights on all night and lights that shine into private residential properties, eliminating nighttime darkness and sky visibility and disrupting wildlife. She urged the town to take this opportunity to improve the lighting situation. Reger will hold his next monthly office hours on Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the town office. Community members are invited to sit down with him to discuss any town issues. The town board typically meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Gothic Cottage at 7 Albany St. For more information on the Town of Cazenovia, visit towncazenovia.digitaltowpath.org or call the town offices at 315-655-9213. ...read more read less