Village Releases RFP for Village Civic Center

by Kathy Savolt -

Without much fanfare, the Village released a Request for Proposals (RFP) dated November 13^th for the Redevelopment of the Existing Hunter Tier Parking Deck and Property at 169 Mount Pleasant Avenue into new municipal facilities and offices, public parking and residences.  Property at the old Hook and Ladder firehouse on Mamaroneck Avenue and in The Regatta are included as potential sites as well.

The only recent public mention found was at the October 27^th meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) when Village Manager Kathleen Gill reported that the RFP would be released “in the next 30 days” and there would be an extended period of 3 – 6 months for responses.  The RFP requires responses by 4:00 p.m. on January 15, 2026.

Why Look for a Developer?

By all measures, this would be a very large project – one the Village could not undertake on its own.  By adding housing to the project, the Village is expecting to attract developers who would develop the entire property.  The Village would transfer the properties that contain housing for a nominal fee in exchange for the developer’s construction of the other portions of the Civic Center.

Is the Village Committed to Move Forward?

An RFP is just what its name says – a Request for Proposals.  It does not bind the Village to proceed with any one of the responders or to proceed at all.  This RFP contains extensive language protecting the Village.  It was reportedly authored by Gill and Assistant Village Manager Dennis Delborgo.

The Village’s Overall Goals

The RFP sums up the Village’s foremost goal to “witness a transformation of the selected properties into the highest and best uses, and to include the following:

·      Replacement of public parking at Hunter Tier

·      Construction of a new Village Hall to consolidate employees together in one location

·      Sale/reuse of current space in The Regatta.

·      Construction of a new Police Station with amenities and dedicated parking.

·      Storage space for the Fire Department to replace space at the Old Hook and Ladder station

·      Construction of new Court facilities with amenities and parking

·      Storage space to replace off-site space on Halstead Avenue

·      Construction of new residences that can include a mixture of affordable and market- rate housing as needed to support the development scheme.  Residences will be studio and one-bedroom apartments with a limited number of two-bedroom units to lessen the impact on the school district.

RFP Quite Extensive

The RFP is about 30 pages long and includes a thorough description of the project requirements, detailed descriptions of the properties and their current uses as well as the future needs of the Village’s departments proposed to occupy the new Center.  See RFP HERE.

To better inform the potential developers, the RFP includes general information about the Village, its population and housing stock, and trends in housing costs.   Information regarding the 2023 Comprehensive Plan, the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP), previous planning studies and the previous attempt to develop the Hunter Tier are also explained for potential developers.

Requirements for Responders

The RFP requires that responders include the following information in their response:

·      Conceptual drawings including a site plan, landscape plan, typical unit plans and color renderings.

·      Basic information on the Development Team including names, experience, affiliations and Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) status, if applicable.

·      Demonstration of qualifications, prior experience and success with mixed-use developments of this nature.

·      Details of up to five projects for each team member to demonstrate experience.

·      Two to three references for Project Principals.

·      Demonstration with regional (NYC Tri-state area) experience.

·      Financial feasibility of the project, evidence of the ability to assume pre-development risk and financial resources to fund predevelopment costs.

·      Management Plan for the project, including financing, selection of tenants and demonstration of a clear understanding of all fair housing requirements and potential financial assistance.

These are just some highlights of the bar any proposer must clear.  The full list of requirements is six pages long.

Selection Criteria

The RFP clearly spells out how the proposals will be evaluated.  At the October 27^th BOT meeting, Gill mentioned that  a committee including seven residents will be appointed to review the submissions.

Proposals will be evaluated on their completeness, feasibility, responsiveness to the RFP requirements and goals, strength of the development approach, innovation, Responder’s past experience and their capacity to complete the project.  Additional details such as demonstration of financial capacity, inclusion of local businesses and community groups, sustainability, and communication skills are also included.

This is a daunting yet auspicious start to what the Village hopes is a transformative project.  The responses to the RFP are due in mid-January.  There will be much more news as the project develops.