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18-026 - Purchase & Redevelopment of Oak Street Fire Station in Indian Orchard

End date: Thursday October 5, 2017 at 2 p.m.

The City of Springfield is requesting proposals for the redevelopment of E S Oak Street, Indian Orchard formerly known as the Oak Street Fire Station in the Indian Orchard Section of Springfield, MA.

This is a City owned property enhanced by a two story brick building including a basement. The Oak Street Station is the parcel that sits on the corner of Oak Street and Berkshire Street Indian Orchard. The parcel # is 09182 – 0219 and it is a 13,500 Square foot lot zoned as Residential B. The total area of the building is approximately 11,732 square feet and assessed at $233,600.

IMPORTANT: The City commissioned a reuse study of fire stations, including this property, which examines each fire station and possible reuse scenarios. To view the report online visit here:
http://www3.springfield-ma.gov/planning/fileadmin/Planning_files/Economic_Development/New_Use_for_Fire_Stations.pdf

The property E S Oak Street is a visible property that sits on a main intersection in Springfield. Located in the northeastern corner of Springfield, the Indian Orchard neighborhood is the fifth largest of Springfield’s seventeen neighborhoods. It contains 1251 acres of land plus rights of way and bodies of water. Principal boundaries are the Chicopee River to the north, the Boston & Albany Railroad to the south, the Town of Wilbraham to the east, and portions of Brookdale Drive, the Athol rail line and Worcester Street to the west.

There are over 100 acres of parks and other open areas in Indian Orchard. Over half of this amount is located in Hubbard Park.

Among the signature features of the neighborhood are the so-called “kettle hole lakes,” water holes formed from natural glacial deposits which are unconnected to other bodies of water.

The property is approximately one mile to the Massachusetts Interstate 90 in Ludlow and three and a half miles to the 291 on ramp in Springfield.

The property is being sold “as is” and the City makes no representations regarding the environmental and/or physical condition of the properties and will require the buyer to assume responsibility for these conditions. Prospective developers should undertake their own reviews and reach their own conclusions concerning zoning, title and survey matters, required approvals, physical conditions, environmental conditions, reuse potential, utility services and development, leasehold, legal and other considerations. Proposers are responsible for making their own determinations of existing conditions.

SITE AND SYSTEMS INFORMATION, STREET ADDRESS

This is a City owned property enhanced by a two story brick building that once was home to the Indian Orchard fire station. The Oak Street Station parcel sits on the corner of Oak Street and Berkshire Street in Indian Orchard neighborhood. The parcel number is (09182 – 0219) and it is a 13,500 square foot lot zoned as Residential B. The total area of the building is approximately 11,732 square feet and assessed at $233,600.

DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

The City is seeking to select a developer who submits the most advantageous proposal consistent with the selection criteria and proposal requirements set forth in this RFP, and who demonstrates the ability to perform as proposed in a timely fashion.

While the financial benefits (i.e., price paid for the property) of a proposal are important to the selection of a developer, coupled with all selection criteria, the City will also consider the broader fiscal and economic benefits to be realized from the redevelopment project.

The City will not be obligated to select the proposer offering the highest purchase price if another proposal better satisfies the selection criteria and other requirements of this RFP as a whole.

The City is most interested in proposals that creatively integrate the site with the surrounding area, respecting zoning that creates a viable redevelopment opportunity and enhance the aesthetic appeal of the streetscape. Proposers should be familiar with abutting uses and mindful of such when developing a redevelopment project and program to ensure the project is respectful of existing neighbors. As mentioned before the parcel is zoned as residential B; any other use will require a zone change. This would be up to the developer to investigate any changes in zoning.

The City envisions a development that incorporates any reasonable proposals which could include some or all of the following elements:

• Creating jobs for Springfield residents
• Featuring and preserving historic features and attributes of the property
• Creating positive street level activity on Oak and Berkshire Street.
• Firm financing letters or proof of funding to undertake redevelopment costs
• Timeline to have building occupied

DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS

• The designated developer, its agents, consultants, engineers, other contractors and designees will be granted a right of entry to advance its due diligence activities, subject to providing the City in advance with certificates of insurance evidencing that such parties have in place reasonable amounts of comprehensive general liability and workers compensation insurance for their activities on the premises.

• The designated developer should give the City 48 hours notice of any required entry to the property.

• An exterior preservation restriction shall be set on the property in perpetuity. As such, any exterior building alterations doors will require approval of the Springfield Historical Commission. The selected developer will be responsible for completing and recording said restriction upon transfer of property as a condition of transfer.

• The property is being sold in as-is condition, and the designated developer will take responsibility for any and all environmental conditions upon transfer.

• The City will require a certificate of occupancy within one (1) year or three hundred sixty five (365) days of the transfer of property to the designated developer or the property will revert back to the City.

• Prior to property transfer, the designated developer will produce financial commitment documentation for the value of the project from its lenders and/or funding sources.

• Prior to closing, the designated developer will produce a detailed project schedule and final floor plans for the building.

• The Office of Planning & Economic Development will maintain a site plan approval of final landscaping/parking on-site plans. No tree removal or other landscaping or site plan alterations should be made prior to this approval.

Restrictions and Requirements

• The property will be conveyed with a reverter clause which will require completion of development within twelve (12) months of conveyance of the deed and which will require to be occupied by an owner within twelve (12) months.

• Automotive related uses will not be permitted (i.e. used or new car sales, auto repair, etc.).

PRICE PROPOSAL

The City will entertain all competitive bids for the property. Price will not be the only factor in selection, but proposers are encouraged to make the best financial benefit case possible to the City and selection committee. The property is currently assessed at $233,600.

The site is on a major public throughway and can be viewed from the public sidewalks at anytime. Interested parties are asked not to enter the private property at any time, other than the designated site walks. Attachments include further information on the property.
September 19, 2017 Site walk (10 AM)
September 26, 2017 Site walk (10 AM

Questions regarding the RFP should be submitted in writing to the Procurement Department. In order to provide prompt answers to questions, the City requests that all proposers submit written questions to the Chief Procurement Officer by September 27, 2017. Questions should be faxed or emailed. The fax number is (413) 787-6295 and email lstabilo@springfieldcityhall.com

The City will compile written answers which will be mailed to all Proposers who requested a copy of the RFP, no later than October 2, 2017.

The City of Springfield supports the goal of twenty percent minority and women participation in all contracts. No questions will be answered unless received by the Chief Procurement Officer at least 7 days prior to the expiration of the time set for submitting bids or proposals. The Chief Procurement Officer reserves the right to waive any informality in and to reject any or all bids if it is in the public interest to do so.