Court Square, Springfield, Massachusetts

A development opportunity of historic proportions


3-7 Street and 13-31 Elm Street from street level (Click to Enlarge)
The square around 3-7 Elm Street and 13-31 Elm Street (Click to Enlarge)
Aerial View of the Project Site (Click to Enlarge)
Historic Pan of Court Square (1909)
Historic Postcard of Court Square
13-31 Elm Street (between 1900-1910)

Project NEWS

June 2008: Connolly & Partners was named out of 7 original proposers as the preferred developers for the Court Square Redevelopment Project, which will redevelop 3-7 Elm Street and 13-31 Elm Street, two historic buildings on Court Square Park. The project will include 42 apartments, 8 artist lofts, 82 units of extended stay hotel, 2629 square feet of office space and a 122 space inner parking faciility. The project is expected to be an investment of up to $60 million, and bring the publicly owned property back onto the tax rolls. Construction is expected to begin in 2009.

May 9, 2008: A final proposal has been submitted for the Court Square Redevelopment Opportunity.  Read the press release here

April 24, 2008: The deadline to return final proposals for the four finalists has been extended by two weeks to May 9, 2008 at 1 PM.

March 4, 2008:  PRESS RELEASE - Qualifications and Experience Narrow Court Square Redevelopment Invitations to Four Firms

The Springfield Redevelopment Authority is no longer seeking developer qualifications for this project. The deadline was February 12th, 2008. Please continue to visit this site for further updates:

February 13, 2008: PRESS RELEASE - Seven developers submit qualifications for Court Square Redevelopment Opportunity

December 28, 2008: While not part of this disposition, a significant building on Court Square solidified its future with the announcement on December 27, 2007 that the City of Springfield plans to purchase the historic Old First Church building on Springfield's Court Square. Read more at Masslive and on Urban Compass.****

Project Manager: Brian M. Connors, Deputy Director of Economic Development

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Project Location: 13 - 31 Elm Street, 3-7 Elm Street, 104-108 State Street, N/S State Street (98 & 100). Project description below.------------------------

Project Description: The Springfield Redevelopment Authority, in cooperation with the City of Springfield and the Springfield Finance Control Board, is currently engaged in identifying a developer for the Court Square properties listed above.

The first phase of this process closed on February 12, 2008 when seven developers submitted qualification packages. The RFQ is Phase I of a two-phase process. The first phase involves narrowing the selection pool, based on qualifications and experience, to no more than four firms. Those firms will then be invited to submit a more detailed proposal of their plans to purchase and redevelop the properties.

This opportunity is directly across from Springfield City Hall, Symphony Hall, and the Sovereign Bank Building, with close proximity to Interstates 90 and 91.

The 13-31 Elm Street building was originally designed by Frederick Newman and built in 1892. In 1900 a sixth floor was added and the Court Square Hotel was built and connected to the original building, wrapping the hotel addition alongside the Juvenile Court and facing State Street. 3-7 Elm Street is recorded as being built in 1835, one of the oldest buildings still standing in the city.

Public improvements have surrounded the properties, with the project site lying at the nexus of the $2.5 million Main Street improvements that are nearing completion, and the $13 million State Street improvements that are set to begin. With $71 million spent on the construction of the new MassMutual Center just across Main Street, a new $53 million Federal courthouse on State Street, and the overhaul of public improvements made at Court Square Park adjacent to the buildings, the properties are well situated to take advantage of the public investments.

The properties are situated in the Court Square Urban Renewal Plan. Allowable uses for the buildings include upper story residential, hotel, or office and ground floor active uses such as retail, restaurants, and arts. The building has been highlighted by several organizations including the Urban Land Institute as a prime candidate for upper story market rate housing conversion.

This site will provide proposers with background information, photos, city information, and reports on the properties as well as the RFQ.

Past Process/Important Dates:

January 4th, 2008, 10:00 AM - 12:00 (Noon):  First of two building viewings. 13-31 Elm Street and the unoccupied areas of 3-7 Elm Street will be open for viewing for those that have registered and downloaded the RFQ. Interested parties are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear and bring flashlights as some areas are unlit. The scheduled building viewings will be the only times proposers will be able to enter the buildings, no individual requests will be granted.

January 16th, 2008, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Second and final building viewing.

February 1st, 2008, 4:30 PM: Deadline for submitting questions on the project. A copy of all Questions and Answers will be provided to all proposers shortly thereafter.

February 12th, 2008, 11:00 AM: RFQ Responses submitted at Office of Planning & Economic Development at 70 Tapley Street in Springfield by 11 AM.

Project Information:

 

Additional Information