The downtown nonprofit that is overseeing the revitalization of the mall property plans to pick a preferred developer by the end of July.
The Bristol Downtown Development Corp. will advertise for developers beginning Feb. 25, with responses due by the end of May that are supposed to feature high-quality urban designs for reuse of the 17-acre site.
“We need to get this thing moving,” said John Lodovico, a member of the nonprofit’s board of directors.
Richard Harrall, executive director of the corporation, said the three month provided for developers to put together a plan offers “a reasonable time period” for them without waiting too long.
Frank Johnson, chairman of the BDDC’s board, said he anticipates lots of interest.
He said he’s been contacted by three developers so far, including one from Los Angeles. “It’s pretty fascinating” that someone on the West Coast has been watching the site for years with keen interest, Johnson said.
Harrall said the solicitation for proposals for the site is largely based on a draft prepared a year ago by Jonathan Rosenthal, the city’s economic development director. It has been updated to reflect new information and suggestions from others, he said.
Harrall said that copies of the solicitation for bids will be sent out to every developer known to have an interest.
It will also be advertised nationally, officials said.
John Leone, who serves on the nonprofit’s board, said the wide advertising might “open an opportunity” for Bristol that it would never have had otherwise.
Roger Rousseau, the city’s purchasing agent, said he anticipates there will be many developers interested enough to attend the pre-bid meeting in March.
At that session, officials can show the property and talk in more depth about what they’re looking for than they can solely in the paperwork.
Rousseau said that he would like the BDDC to keep minutes of the pre-bid meeting so that distant developers who may have an interest could read them online later even if they can’t come.
“I have a feeling this will be a pretty detailed meeting,” Rousseau said.
The next BDDC meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25 at City Hall.
Timeline
Feb. 25 – RFPs advertised
March 25 – Meeting with potential developers
May 30 – Proposals due from developers
July 31 – BDDC picks preferred developer
How proposals would be evaluated
Developers are warned in the request for proposals not turn in a plan that’s too speculative.
“Those proposals that demonstrate strong market feasibility will be given more favorable consideration,” the draft paperwork from the Bristol Downtown Development Corp. says.
Plans that include “specific end-users, as demonstrated by letters of intent, will receive favorable consideration if those uses are deemed to provide shopping opportunities or a mix” that’s not currently available in town, the paperwork says.
In general, the BDDC says it will use the following guidelines to pick among the proposals received:
Appropriate use – Officials will favor taxable uses, market rate housing of good quality and uses that fit with the overall goal for a pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Design – “The visual appearance of the buildings and the urban design of the site and the compatibility of the project with nearby properties are of great importance,” developers will be told. “Cookie cutter” designs are structures that would be difficult to reuse are specifically discouraged.
Developer qualifications – The BDDC is looking for developers with a track record.
Economic impact – Officials plan to look at the overall benefits and burdens to the city of the proposals, including expected property taxes, long-term project viability and the need for community services.
Purchase/lease price – The total price a developer offers.
Long-term planning – Developers who can provide convincing detail about how they’ll maintain quality on the site for the long run will get a more favorable look.
I hope to post the draft RFP document on this blog soon so everyone can read what it says.
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Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
7 comments:
Lets do it right.
We won't have the opportunity to do it over, at least in our lifetime.
IT DOSE LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE DONE RIGHT
The city should break the property into sections by putting a road from Main St. connecting to Laurel St. Maybe with a town green somwhere in the middle. This makes the property smaller and avail. to multiple developers. THINK ABOUT IT!!!
6:25,,,,,nothing to think about - show up at the BDDC meetings and you might see that your vision isn't a new revelation.
a book store, a kohl's would be nice. not housing we have enough of that in town.
With the Bristol Gestapo driving low income people out into the streets , this may be a good time to include low income / subsidized housing into the mall project .
KARMA
Betch Rosenthal and Rooso have it all decided.
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