Riverfront RFPs released

[mdo...@crocker.com]

April 17, 2009 - The Springfield Redevelopment Authority in
coordination with the City of Springfield will release two developer/
business solicitations on Tuesday, April 21st, at 1:00 PM for
properties on the Springfield Riverfront near the Naismith Memorial
Basketball Hall of Fame. A Request for Qualifications for the purchase
or long term lease of the 4-acre former site of the York Street Jail
will be available as well as a Request for Proposals for lease of the
current Visitors Information Center (VIC) building at 1200 West
Columbus Avenue. The current VIC will be relocated within the Hall of
Fame, leaving the 4,100 square foot building available.
“We are excited about the opportunity of bringing new and exciting
attractions to the Springfield Riverfront,” said Mayor Domenic J.
Sarno. “The Riverfront area is one of the most attractive development
locations in Western Massachusetts and we expect to have very strong
competition for both of these sites.”
Both properties sit within the West Columbus Urban Renewal Plan which
regulates uses that could be proposed. Uses such as office space,
retail space, restaurant, and hotel are some of the approved uses. A
full description of the Urban Renewal Plan will be provided to
proposers. Both properties offer easy highway access on and off from
I-91, with over 100,000 vehicles per day passing by the properties,
and offer the unique opportunity to be just steps away from an
international attraction with the Basketball Hall of Fame.
“These are both very desirable sites for development with high
visibility and great access,” said Brian M. Connors, Acting Chief
Development Officer. “We hope proposers will also consider how these
developments might help connect the historic South End and Downtown
neighborhoods to the Riverfront area and how these projects may bring
more people and activity to Riverfront Park.”
Both solicitations can be picked up at the Office of Planning &
Economic Development at 70 Tapley Street, Springfield, MA 01107
starting at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 21st, or via the web at
www.springfieldplanning.org/riverfront