Request for Qualifications Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy
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1182 Main Street - Springfield, Massachusetts 01103 Request for Qualifications Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy July 13, 2011 DevelopSpringfield Request for Qualifications Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy 1. Overview DevelopSpringfield Corporation (“DevelopSpringfield”) hereby invites Statements of Qualifications (“SOQs”) from qualified consulting firms and/or multi-disciplinary consultant teams (“Respondents”) in connection with the preparation of a Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy (“TRMPS”) focused on those geographic areas within the City of Springfield, Massachusetts impacted by an EF-3 tornado on June 1, 2011. SOQs are being invited from qualified firms with substantial experience in urban planning, urban revitalization, community redevelopment, urban design, real estate and project finance and strategic implementation planning. DevelopSpringfield is particularly interested in engaging a firm with experience in formulating a successful master plan and implementation strategy for achieving a comprehensive and timely recovery from a disaster in an urban setting. DevelopSpringfield and the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (“SRA”) have been asked by Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to plan and manage a comprehensive multi-year effort to rebuild all sections of the City affected by the June 1 tornado: . DevelopSpringfield is a private, non-profit Section 501(c)(3) corporation that focuses on advancing development projects, stimulating and supporting economic growth, and expediting the revitalization process within the City of Springfield. The SRA is a corporate body and politic established in 1960 under Chapter 121-B of the Massachusetts General Laws. It is authorized to undertake and cooperate in planning, construction, clearance, relocation activities as well as urban renewal projects within the City of Springfield. The purposes of this engagement are threefold: . To formulate a master plan for the areas impacted directly or indirectly by the tornado . To formulate an implementation strategy that is practical and financially feasible, and . To build widespread public consensus behind this plan and strategy. 2. Project Location The City of Springfield, Massachusetts is a municipality of approximately 150,000 residents. It is located along the Connecticut River about 25 miles north of Hartford, CT; 50 miles west of Worcester, MA; 80 miles east of Albany, NY; 85 miles northwest of Providence, RI; 90 miles west of Boston, MA; and 140 miles northeast of New York City. Springfield has a notable history. It is the birthplace of basketball, invented by Dr. James A. Naismith at Springfield College, and is now home to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. It was the home of Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and is the location of the Springfield Museum Quadrangle, which includes the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden. Other points of interest include the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, the Springfield Symphony, and CityStage. DevelopSpringfield 1 Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy: RFQ July 13, 2011 City of Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield is home to four major institutions of higher education: Springfield College, American International College, Western New England University and Springfield Technical Community College, with a combined enrollment of nearly 20,000 students. Key employers in the City include the world headquarters of MassMutual Financial Group, Baystate Health System, Mercy Medical Center, Big Y World Class Markets, Peter Pan Bus Lines and Smith & Wesson. 3. Tornado Impact Overview On June 1, 2011 at about 5:00 pm EDT, an EF-3 rated tornado (Enhanced Fujita Scale), with wind speeds of up to 160 miles per hour struck several communities in Hampden and Worcester Counties in Western Massachusetts, including the City of Springfield. The storm cut a path of destruction though Springfield approximately 6.2 miles in length and about one-quarter mile wide (see attached maps). The tornado moved from west to east, damaging or destroying homes, businesses, parks, churches, schools, trees, and infrastructure. Seven neighborhoods in the City were impacted by the tornado, some more significantly than others. Fortunately, while much rebuilding needs to be accomplished, there was no loss of life in the City of Springfield (2 died in neighboring West Springfield). The tornado crossed the Connecticut River from West Springfield at the Memorial Bridge and moved into Springfield’s Metro Center area, the most urbanized section of the community. It continued moving east, damaging over 500 homes and buildings. Many commercial and residential brick buildings in Springfield's historic South End sustained extensive damage. In some cases, the damage was so extensive that subsequent demolition was required. Many other commercial and residential buildings had their roofs damaged or removed and numerous ornate brick facades were completely destroyed. Severe structural damage to multi-family apartments and townhouses as well as single family homes took place near in the low and moderate income Maple/High/Six Corners neighborhood near Mulberry Street (made famous by Dr. Seuss). Similar damage occurred in portions of the low and moderate income Old Hill and Upper Hill neighborhoods. In the East Forest Park neighborhood, some single family owner occupied homes were completely destroyed and many others were damaged. In Sixteen Acres, another middle class neighborhood and Springfield’s most suburban in character, was similarly devastated. Multiple institutional properties, including the private MacDuffie School and two dormitories on the campus of Springfield College were damaged. Cathedral High School and Saint Michael’s Academy (a junior high school), both in the heart of East Forest Park, sustained significant damage. Some debris from Cathedral High School was found roughly 43 miles to the east, in Millbury, MA. The headquarters of SquareOne, a child care provider, as well as the South End Community Center, a neighborhood recreational facility, were damaged and then demolished. The tornado caused extensive damage to Springfield's Riverfront Park, including portions of the Connecticut River Walk and Bikeway. Magnificent 200 year-old “Heritage Trees” in downtown’s historic Court Square were uprooted. DevelopSpringfield 2 Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy: RFQ July 13, 2011 City of Springfield, Massachusetts The tornado impacted multiple historic districts and properties and also crossed several Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) eligible areas (see attached maps). On June 15, 2011, President Barack Obama signed a federal disaster declaration for Hampden (and Worcester) County, including the City of Springfield. Damage estimates from the storm are imprecise at this time, but appear to be in the range of several hundred million dollars. The following is a brief synopsis of the damage: Public Buildings: . Three public schools – two active: - Brookings Elementary School - Mary Dryden Veterans Memorial Elementary School - Howard Street School (former Alfred G. Zanetti School) – now vacant . Three public facilities: - Old First Church - Camp Wilder Conference Center - South End Community Center . Additional SRA and Springfield Housing Authority owned properties Public Parks (10): . Court Square . Johnny Appleseed Park . Nathan Bill Park . Emerson Wight Park . Gerrish Park . Shamrock Park . Leonardo da Vinci Park . Harriet Tubman Park . Ruth Elizabeth Park . Riverfront Park Housing: . 220 buildings containing 514 units were condemned . Of the 220 buildings condemned, 179 were single-family homes, most were owner-occupied . An estimated 300 to 350 rental units were lost . Many buildings are currently being repaired Businesses and Non-Profits: . 74 small businesses and nonprofits have been physically affected to some degree: − 47 have reopened at their existing locations − 18 are in temporary or new space − 9 are still seeking space − Countless other business have suffered indirect impacts (e.g. loss of business) . Nine churches were affected . Three private schools: DevelopSpringfield 3 Tornado Rebuilding Master Plan and Strategy: RFQ July 13, 2011 City of Springfield, Massachusetts - Cathedral High School (private) - St. Michael’s Academy (a private junior high school) - MacDuffie School (private co-educational high school) Historic Districts/Properties: . Several national or local historic districts were impacted . Eight properties were condemned, of which two have been demolished . Multiple other historic properties were damaged Tree Damage: . 3,289 street trees were affected . More than 7,500 trees within a one-mile radius of the tornado’s path were destroyed . Tens of thousands of trees were lost in parks, woodlands and residential yards 4. Description of the Engagement The TRMPS will cover the entirety of “Tornado Impact Area” (TIA) in the City of Springfield. For purposes of this engagement, the TIA is defined as the area directly impacted by the tornado in terms of physical damage, as well as the areas immediately contiguous to the physically damaged areas that suffered indirect economic, social, or other impacts. This area includes portions of each of the seven neighborhoods that were impacted: . Metro Center A portion of Downtown Springfield . South End Mixed Use and Institutional, Single Family and Multi-Family Residential . Six Corners Multi-Family and Single Family Residential and Mixed Use . Old Hill Multi and Single Family Residential, Mixed Use,