In case you missed this over the holidays . . .
Mayor Soglin Announces Request for Proposals for Don Miller Site
Highlights East Washington Avenue Development Opportunity in Capitol East District
Mayor Soglin announced the release of a Request for Proposals to develop the 800 North Block of East Washington Avenue within Madison’s Capitol East District. The full block site was home to a Don Miller car dealership prior to being purchased by the city.
“This block represents one of the most exciting development opportunities in Madison,” Mayor Paul Soglin said. “This may be the only clear, full block site near the downtown currently available. And both the City and the neighborhood are ready to support dense, sustainable, high quality development here.”
The site totals 196,020 square feet (approximately 4.5 acres) and is located at 802 and 854 East Washington Avenue. The City has received grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency ($400,000) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ($400,000) to demolish structures and address environmental issues on the parcel. The buildings have already been demolished, with environmental remediation of the site to begin in 2013.
“We’re seeking to choose a partner and hand them a clean, pad-ready site,” Mayor Soglin said.
A previous RFP for the City’s 700 and 800 Block E. Washington Avenue holdings helped launch Gebhardt Development’s twelve story mixed-use and apartment building currently under construction on a nearby parcel. The proposal originally selected for the 800 North Block site did not move forward due to City and developer concerns about the economic feasibility given the weakness in the commercial market.
“Over the past year, a variety of residential and retail users have expressed their interest in this site,” said Steve Cover, Director of the Department of Planning and Community Development and Economic Development. “We hope to get strong, well thought-out proposals.”
The Mayor and Common Council formed an East Washington Avenue 800 Block North Committee to develop the RFP and oversee the selection of a partner. The RFP is available at: www.cityofmadison.com/business
For more information about the RFP, please contact Don Marx with the City’s Office of Real Estate services at dmarx@cityofmadison.com or 608-267-8717.
Some of the highlights are:
LESSONS LEARNED
• The City expects to select a master developer for the entire 800 North block. If land is to be purchased and developed in phases, a solid plan for phasing and dealing with the complexity will be required.
• The City is seeking proposals that reflect current market conditions
• To the extent that TIF assistance is required, the City is seeking proposals that can be supported solely by the increment generated on the 800 North block.
• There is significant interest in the neighborhood in the development of a full service grocery store.
WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IN PROJECTS
• Create a significant intensity and a mix of residential, commercial and / or retail development that will serve as a catalyst for additional reinvestment and a range of employment opportunities within the District.
• Show how redevelopment projects on the Site would relate to a greater utilization of Breese Stevens Field, a historic sports field adjacent to the site, and how shared parking for users of Breese Stevens Field may be accommodated on the site. The City has the goal of the rebirth of Breese Stevens Field into a lively sports, entertainment and community destination.
• Create a project that sets a dynamic and high quality architectural design for future redevelopment efforts in the District.
• Be compatible with and add vitality to the surrounding neighborhoods. Proposals should be four sided, with particular sensitivity to the Bike Blvd on East Mifflin St.
• Create development consistent with guidelines in Urban Design District #8.
• Maximize green building principles and implement sustainability systems on a block and district-wide basis to the extent feasible (see Section B).
• Create development consistent with the East Washington Avenue Capitol Gateway Corridor plan and the Tenney Lapham Neighborhood Plan.
WHAT THE CITY WILL DO
Facilitating the development of the District is a high priority for the City. The City will assist the selected Developer by:
• Providing information and assistance obtaining entitlements as noted in this RFP.
• Facilitating meetings with various stakeholders as needed (e.g., City staff, elected officials, neighborhoods, etc.)
• Providing information on TIF and the TIF application process.
• Assisting developers in accessing other financial resources (e.g., environmental remediation incentives, state programs, etc.)
• The City has an authorized Community Development Authority (CDA) that can issue tax exempt bonds.
SELECTION COMMITTEE WILL REVIEW USING THIS CRITERIA
• Development team’s independent and collective expertise, experience, and financial capacity.
• Quality and attractiveness of the proposed development.
• Understanding of and adherence to adopted plans and design guidelines for the Site.
• Value of the estimated property tax base to be generated by the development.
• Permanent employment to be generated by the proposed development.
• Additional economic impact including likeliness to attract residents, visitors, employers and to catalyze additional development in the District
• Purchase price, and terms and conditions for the purchase of the Site.
• The degree to which the proposal is an integrated and comprehensive redevelopment plan for the entire Site.
• The length of time required to implement all phases of the redevelopment of the Site.
• Overall responsiveness to the RFP requirements.
• Public feedback relative to the response to the RFP.
• Market information / data demonstrating the feasibility / appropriateness of the project.
• Maximize green building principles and implementation of sustainability systems and building performance.
More info about plans and other issues are in the RFP. The applications are due in February and they hope to have this back to the council in April or May . . . 2 years after Occupy was removed (the first time) from the site so it could be developed . . .
