REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 612 N. HOWARD STREET BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201 Issue Date: March 10, 2015 Proposals Due: 12:00 noon (EST) Tuesday, April 14, 2015 William H. Cole, President & CEO The RFP is available on the BDC web Site at www.baltimoredevelopment.com. Baltimore Development Corporation 612 North Howard Street - Request for Proposals Issue Date: March 10, 2015 Table of Contents Introduction ……………………………………………………… 2 I. Site Description .................................................................................. 2 II. Intent of Offering ............................................................................... 3 III. Standards and Controls ...................................................................... 4 IV. Proposal Content ................................................................................ 6 V. Development Incentives..................................................................... 10 VI. Contract Terms and Conditions …………………………………… 11 VII. Submission Requirements .................................................................. 11 VIII. Award Procedures ............................................................................. 12 IX. Evaluation Criteria ............................................................................. 14 X. Schedule of Events ............................................................................. 15 XI. Rights Reserved and Administrative Information ............................. 15 XII. Employ Baltimore Certification Statement ………………………... 17 XIII. Exhibits ............................................................................................. 19 Exhibit A Location Map Exhibit B Vicinity Map Exhibit C Site Map Exhibit D Elevation Photos Exhibit E Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Program form Exhibit F Employ Baltimore Certification Statement Exhibit G Disclosures Exhibit H Joint Venture Certification Forms Exhibit I 15-Year High Performance Tax Credit boundary map Exhibit J Bromo Arts District boundary map Baltimore Development Corporation 612 N. Howard Street – Request for Proposal Issue Date: March 10, 2015 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The intent of this RFP is to promote new construction at 612 North Howard Street (“the Site”) in a fashion that is appropriate to the context of the Bromo Arts and Entertainment District – an emerging neighborhood with active storefronts and other ground-level uses. The Site is bounded to the west and south by a 4-story building and to the north by a vacant lot. Both properties are privately owned by the same owner. The enclosed elevation photos roughly indicate the boundaries of the Site, as it relates to the surrounding, privately owned property (see Exhibit D). The Site is located next to the Maryland Transit Administration’s Centre Street light rail stop. A new dog park will open on the same block later in 2015, at the corner of Druid Hill Avenue and Howard Street (see Vicinity Map, Exhibit B). The Site is also within an Urban Renewal Plan (“URP”) area known as “Market Center”; the URP can be found here: http://baltimoredevelopment.com/for-developers/real-estate-development-resources/urban- renewal-plans/ The Site is also within the UniverCity Partnership Initiative’s catchment area, roughly bounded by Cathedral and Liberty Streets to the east; Pratt Street to the south; and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to the north and west. The UniverCity Partnership Initiative, co-chaired by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and University of Maryland, Baltimore President Jay Perman M.D., has facilitated and leveraged $1 billion in private and public investment since late 2010. Building on past initiatives and emphasizing preservation-oriented development are key elements of the UniverCity Partnership’s vision to transform downtown’s west side - once a thriving garment and retail district - into a mixed-use, mixed-income community with a pedestrian-friendly street experience. The Site is not within a local or national register historic district, but it is adjacent to two (2) historic districts: Seton Hill to the west and Mount Vernon to the east. Seton Hill is an urban, mixed-income neighborhood, well-known for its quiet and intimate characteristics. It is a predominately residential area signified with pedestrian-scaled rowhomes and short pedestrian- friendly blocks. Seton Hill will be preserved and strengthened as a quiet, intimate, and low- density neighborhood. Like Seton Hill, Mount Vernon is also an historical residential, urban neighborhood identified architecturally as having an eclectic type of building styles and uses throughout the entire district. Mount Vernon has numerous cultural institutions, pedestrian-scaled rowhomes and short pedestrian-friendly blocks. Mount Vernon is also well-known for its classical public squares in Mount Vernon Place, recognized by its classical design anchored by the nation’s first monument to George Washington. This cultural district shows the cohesive interaction of commercial, institutional, residential, religious and historic uses. I. SITE DESCRIPTION The Site offered under this Request for Proposals (RFP) follows: 2 Baltimore Development Corporation 612 N. Howard Street – Request for Proposal Issue Date: March 10, 2015 612 North Howard Street, Ward 11, Section 10, Block 530, Lot 33 (See Site Map, Exhibit C). Property land area = ± 2,382 SF, Zoned B-4-1 (“Central Business”), on an unimproved temporary lot. The following characteristics exist within a reasonable, 5-minute walk of the Site: 6,788 residents, including those living in ownership housing and apartments; 5,068 housing units; a housing occupancy rate of 84.8% and a median household income of $30,651. In addition to the resident base, the catchment area also contains 7,313 workers in the health care, academic, finance, legal services and energy sectors. The daytime population is 13,9401. There are more than 200 apartments under construction within a reasonable, 5-minute walk of the Site. II. INTENT OF OFFERING The Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), on behalf of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore (the “City”), is seeking proposals from qualified Developers for new construction in accordance with objectives and goals as stated herein, as well as the rules and regulations for standards and controls established by the City. The Site is offered in “as-is” condition. The goals of the City in offering the Site for sale or lease include, but are not limited to, the following: To maximize access to the Centre Street light rail stop. To increase the stability of property values adjacent to the Site. To establish a positive and identifiable image for the Site. To improve pedestrian circulation within and around the Site. Developers are encouraged to submit proposals which include the preservation and rehabilitation, where feasible, of other structures within the area. To serve as a gateway to established downtown districts east, west and south of the Site. Market driven, mixed-use projects with ground-floor uses that will activate Howard and Monument Streets. Increase residential population in the Bromo Arts District, and thus, help transform downtown Baltimore’s west side into a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. The Project will be compatible with the emerging Bromo Arts District. The Project will be compatible with the character of nearby historic districts, while integrating new construction of compatible scale, material, rhythm and exterior materials. Additional density should be thoughtfully located to retain pedestrian scale of streets. The Project will achieve the highest quality of architectural exterior/interior design, and best construction practices. Developer(s) will undertake redevelopment of the Site in a timely fashion. The City is seeking a fee simple sale or ground lease of the Site to the Developer(s). 1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Longitudinal Household Employer Dynamics, ‘LEHD’. 3 Baltimore Development Corporation 612 N. Howard Street – Request for Proposal Issue Date: March 10, 2015 The City anticipates completion of redevelopment of the Site within eighteen (18) months following disposition. Reliance on discretionary public funds by the City should not be anticipated. MBE/WBE Participation It is the policy of the City that minority and women individuals and minority and women business enterprises should have maximum opportunity to participate in any and all components of the development team, including but not limited to ownership, financing, design, construction, management, operations, and employment after Project completion. In consideration for receiving nondiscretionary fiscal assistance from or through the City of Baltimore, a Developer or business covenants and agrees to comply with Article 5, Subtitle 28 of the Baltimore City Code (2014 Edition) regarding participation by Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Women Business Enterprises (WBE) in its development of a Project. Developers covenants and agrees to use all reasonable good faith efforts to meet the MBE and WBE participation goals for this Project. Refer to Exhibit E, the “Commitment to Comply” Form. Minority and women business enterprises must be certified by the City of Baltimore. Certification is provided by: Pamela E. Schevitz, Interim Chief Minority and Women’s Business Opportunity Office City Law Department City Hall, First Floor 100 North Holliday Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 410-396-4355 III. STANDARDS AND CONTROLS A. Proposed development must respect the character of the surrounding