Date Issued: May 1, 2025
Proposals Due: June 13, 2025
Summary: Roane State Foundation has issued a request for development proposals for a land parcel near the college's flagship campus in Harriman, Tennessee. All proposals must be submitted by June 13, 2025, by 3 p.m. ET to be considered. Additional details are outlined below. Please review all materials carefully.
Since 1979, Roane State Foundation has been on a mission to strengthen communities and eliminate barriers to student success. With the help of hundreds of donors and supporters, the Foundation provides financial support to students and programs on nine Roane State Community College campuses across ten counties of East Tennessee.
In 2016, a generous donor and supporter of the college provided an 82.5 acre parcel adjacent and contiguous to the main Roane State Campus. The intent of this donation was for the parcel to help achieve two goals:
- The parcel will be developed in a manner consistent with and supportive of the mission and programs of the college.
- The parcel will be developed so that the proceeds from the sale of the property enhance and support the mission of the Roane State Foundation.
This Request for Proposals will help achieve these two goals.
All communication of any nature with respect to this RFP shall be addressed to the Roane State Foundation (“RSF”) representative, as identified in this RFP. With the exception of communications with the designated RSF representative, prospective firms and their staffs are prohibited from communicating with RSF board members or staff regarding this RFP or submittals from the time the RFP is released until the selection results are publicly announced. Violation of this provision may lead to disqualification of the firm’s proposal for consideration.
Looking for more info? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Click the question to get the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.) What zoning and/or development regulations apply to the Property?
2.) Has an environmental site assessment or soil testing been conducted on the Property?
No.
3.) Are utility services and connections to the Property readily available?
Yes. Utilities are located in the general area of the Property. Specific questions regarding necessary connections and hook-ups should be directed to the applicable utility.
4.) What access rights are there to the Property?
The Property is accessible by Brown West Road, a public right-of-way, off Highway 70.
5.) Can the property be subdivided and could a developer sell the property in subdivided portions?
Yes. The property could be subdivided in accordance with the City of Rockwood’s Subdivision Regulations. The Foundation is open to proposals to sell the property in subdivided portions; however, it is the desire of the Foundation to have the entire parcel developed within a reasonable timeline, and the Foundation will require a claw-back provision in any sales agreement permitting the Foundation to repurchase the Property (or portion of the Property) at an agreed-upon price should the developer fail to meet the standards or timeliness as outlined in their proposal.
6.) Is there a dedicated road to the property?
The property can be accessed from Roane State Highway (Highway 70) via an existing road.
7.) Can the existing road be widened, or another road be built to access the property?
While both are likely negotiable, we have not had serious conversations with the appropriate authorities/landowners in this regard.
8.) Is there an incentive to purchase or develop this property? Have there been any conversations regarding potential incentives?
RSCC/RSF will not have any incentives in this regard. County officials are aware of the property, but without a currently proposed project, there have been no such discussions about possible incentives.
9.) How quickly does development need to happen?
A “reasonable” timeline may be less than 4 years. An open-ended start/end date would be disfavored.
10.) What is the name of the utility and sewer company that would provide service?
Rockwood Electric Utility and Rockwood Water, Sewer, & Gas, are responsible for the utilities. It may also be the case that the Roane Central Utility District provides the water; however, they purchase their water from Rockwood Water, Sewer, & Gas.
11.) When will TCAT Harriman’s new campus open?
Fall 2026.
12.) What is the relationship between RSCC & TCAT Harriman?
There is a strong, cooperative relationship between the colleges, as both are governed by and part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system.
13.) Who makes decisions regarding the proposals?
Proposals will be reviewed by RSF’s Property Committee, then the Executive Committee, with any final decisions being approved by the full Foundation Board of Directors.
14.) Will proposals be kept confidential during the decision-making process? Will the proposals ever become public record?
The evaluation of proposals, and any subsequent negotiations, is a confidential process. As RSF is not a public entity, the proposals would not be part of a public record.
15.) How many acres are cleared (flat vs ridge line)? Does the property have harvestable timber?
Approximately 22-24 acres of the 82.5 acres are mostly flat and cleared. Please refer to the map in the RFP for a visual image. It is our understanding that the previous owners who gifted the land to RSF harvested timber on the property just prior to gifting it to the RSF in 2015. Therefore, most of the timber on the property is not currently mature enough to harvest. RSF has in the past turned down offers to harvest the property.
16.) Has a soil test been completed?
Not to our knowledge.
17.) Is the property considered Roane County, Rockwood City, or Harriman City?
The property is located in Roane County, in the City of Rockwood.
18.) Has a survey of the property been completed?
A survey has not been recently completed. There are t-posts located along the property lines near the housing subdivisions and near the access road, marking the property lines, to the best of our knowledge.
19.) Is the Foundation open to land lease or only a fee-simple sale?
RSF is possibly interested in a land lease, depending on the proposal. The Property Committee would discuss it further if proposed.
20.) Is there an option to develop student housing and be owned by Roane State Foundation or Roane State Community College?
Tennessee law does not allow RSCC to own or manage student housing. As employees of the Foundation are employees of RSCC, the Foundation would not be interested in owning or managing student housing.
21.) How many students are currently enrolled in Roane State Community College overall, and how many are at the Roane County campus? How many students are athletes?
Total RSCC enrollment is typically in the 5,000-5,500 student range, with between 600-700 students taking classes/labs in person at the Roane County campus. There are currently around 135 student-athletes at RSCC.
22.) What is the property tax rate?
Roane County tax rate is currently $2.325 and the City of Rockwood is currently $1.05.
23.) What is Roane State Foundation paying for property tax?
A portion of the property is in the Greenbelt due to hay production. Property taxes were paid last on Oct. 14, 2024, to Roane County in the amount of $727.00, and to the City of Rockwood on September 9, 2024, in the amount of $328.39.
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