PHMC-PC-1024 Peace Church.docx

OVERVIEW

The Pennsylvania and Historical Museum Commission (PHMC) owns Peace Church, a 1798 church located in Hampden Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. PHMC is soliciting proposals from parties to enter into a long-term lease agreement for the property. The Commonwealth will consider either a proposed lease of twenty-five years by a non-governmental unit or a lease of ninety-nine years for municipalities and sub-governmental units, who usually partner with a nonprofit to sublease the property. Any agreement will be conditioned on the acceptance of the covenants in Exhibit A.

PHMC is seeking proposals from parties who are committed to:

· providing public access and historical interpretation and maintaining the building subject to certain covenants; OR

· providing an alternative use and maintaining the building subject to preservation covenants.

The lessee will be responsible for all costs associated with operating and maintaining the buildings and property in accordance with the requirements in Exhibit A.

The resulting lease represents neither a sale nor a conveyance of the property.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Starting in the early 1980s, the Museum Commission began to carefully review its portfolio of properties, focusing available resources on sites with the greatest state-wide significance. Over the last several years, PHMC has continued to pursue alternative ownership/stewardship arrangements for properties that would benefit from more local or regional management. Peace Church is among the properties identified as a candidate for a new stewardship arrangement, and the Commission has voted to transition the property to local stewardship. The Commission hopes to keep this historical resource accessible to the public and requires the preservation of the interior and exterior of the building.

The Historic Peace Church property is located at 4600 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, Cumberland County. The approximately 1.135-acre property includes two buildings. Peace Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in March of 1972.

This stone church, simple in design and without a steeple, was erected in 1798 by a Reformed congregation. A Lutheran group obtained a half-interest eight years later in 1806, and the building remained in regular joint use until 1866. Other Protestant denominations also held services there. Peace Church, therefore, is exemplary of the multi-religious society that was accepted in Pennsylvania from its founding.

Peace Church is a typical representation of Pennsylvania churches in the last decade of the eighteenth century, but its real significance lies in the fact that it is one Pennsylvania historic landmark that has remained completely unaltered. It is noted for its 1807 organ made by Conrad Doll which is known as the first instrument of its kind to be used in a church in Cumberland County.

The church building is in excellent condition, having benefited from numerous capital improvement and maintenance projects between 2005 and 2024.

A second, smaller frame building is included in the lease. It has been used historically as a small visitor center and gift shop. It has electric heat, air conditioning, a restroom with toilet and a sink, and a kitchenette with a sink. Electric service for the site comes into this building to the main panel and out to the church subpanel.

Additional Information Estimated Current Operating Expenses The estimated operating expenses for Peace Church are approximately $1,300-$1,500 per month in its current seasonal use as a museum. These expenses include but are not limited to electricity, water and sewer, telephone, security monitoring, insurance, and grounds maintenance. These figures are based on recent visitation and summer programming; actual expenses may vary based on the type and frequency of use as well as other operational decisions.

Recent Physical Improvements to the Property

GOALS AND CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING RESPONSIVE PROPOSALS

PHMC specifically seeks respondents who demonstrate financial and organizational capacity and can provide the following:

Use: The building should be used in a way that is compatible with the existing structure and its interior and exterior preservation. The building is currently permitted for Assembly use and has been used for tours with historical interpretation, concerts, weddings and religious services.

Public Access: The church should be accessible to the public at least 50 days a year for a minimum of 3 hours each of those 50 days. A plan for visitor parking must be provided, including specific information on providing onsite parking and/or formal agreements regarding the provision of off-site parking. Parking plans that include off-site parking must also detail a pedestrian safety plan for entering the site.

Organizational Capacity and Operational Planning: Proposing organizations must have been established no later than October 1, 2019. A description of the type of organization, organizational structure and leadership must be submitted. A staffing plan for operations and an annual budget must be provided.

Capital Investment and Improvements: In lieu of rent, PHMC seeks a tenant who will invest in the ongoing preservation and access of this historic building. The lessee will invest a minimum of $75,000 over the course of the 25-year lease, or in the case of a governmental entity, $75,000 every twenty-five years of the lease. Within the first year of the lease a $20,000 investment must be made in improving the property. The improvements should include improving ADA accessibility and accommodating for year-round public visitation. A plan for improvements must be provided. A source of funding for capital improvements must be identified, or a plan for raising such funding must be described. In-kind services and materials are excluded from proposals.

Preservation: The interior and exterior of the church must be preserved in accordance with the covenants outlined in Exhibit A.

SITE VISIT AND PROPERTY INSPECTION

PHMC will provide interested parties with the opportunity to perform a Peace Church site visit and property inspection on Friday, September 27, 2024, beginning at 1pm until 3pm, Eastern Time. Groups for each party will be limited to 3 persons and must preregister by contacting Jennifer Staub at jstaub@pa.gov by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. The Commonwealth is not responsible for any accidents while on the site. This site visit is not mandatory.

SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS

Any questions regarding this Request for Lease Proposals (RFLP) must be submitted in writing to ra-phmanageservices@pa.gov no later than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Responses in the form of an addendum will be posted no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 4, 2024, on the eMarketplace website https://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/Search.aspx. Search by the solicitation # “PHMC-PC-1024” to view the addendum.

All questions regarding the RFLP shall be directed via email to ra-phmanageservices@pa.gov. Communications with any other PHMC employee or Commissioner regarding this RFLP may result in disqualification.

PREPARING A PROPOSAL

Interested parties should prepare a proposal in response to this RFLP. Responsive proposals to this RFLP must specifically include the following information:

I. Signed Letter of Interest A. The responsive party must provide a signed letter of interest and authorizing resolution from the governing body with the proposal.

II. Proposal A. The responsive party must provide a proposal with the following information.

1. Proposed lessee of the property

a. Please provide the full legal name of the entity that would lease the property.

2. Contact information for proposed lessee

a. Include the first and last name of the principal point of contact for the organization, organizational mailing address, phone number for individual point of contact and email address for individual point of contact.

3. Organizational structure

a. Describe the structure of the organization, including whether the entity is a unit of local government, a nonprofit organization, or a for-profit business. If the entity is a nonprofit, please indicate whether the organization has been determined to be a 501(c)3 charitable organization by the Internal Revenue Service and whether the organization is registered as a Charitable Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State. If the organization is a 501(c)3, provide a copy of the organization’s IRS determination letter and current BCO certificate of registration with this proposal.

b. If a nonprofit organization, include the size and composition of the governing board and the organization’s mission and core programs.

d. Provide date of incorporation or establishment of organization.

4. Duration of Proposed Lease

a. For non-governmental entities, indicate 25-year proposed term; for governmental organizations, indicate proposed 99-year term.

5. Partners and supporters

a. List other organizations that will contribute to the preservation, interpretation, and programming of the site. Describe how these groups may contribute financially or in-kind and how they may be involved in the management and decision-making. If financial support from another institution is included in the description, a signed letter from the supporting organization that affirms the proposed financial commitment must be included with the proposal.

5. Intended uses and programs

6. Public Access

a. Describe how the historic property will be made available to the public, detailing what kinds of uses, programs or events will be made available to the public. Include a proposed annual schedule of days the historic church will be made open to the public with anticipated hours of operation.

b. Describe how the organization plans to fulfill PHMC’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Policy (https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/phmc/about-phmc/phmc-diversity-policy.html) in its operation of historic Peace Church.

7. Operational and Financial Planning

8. Capital Investment and Improvements Plan

a. Provide a narrative description of proposed improvements to the building or property with justification for those improvements. Provide estimated expenses and a timeline of projects for capital investment to be made in the first five years of the lease. Note: Within the first year of the lease a $20,000 investment must be made in improving the property, including improvements to ADA accessibility and accommodating for year-round public visitation.

9. Preservation – Covenants Acceptance

a. Attached to this RFLP as Exhibit “A”, is the “Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for Historic Preservation” that PHMC will include in the lease. Your proposal must indicate your willingness to abide by the requirements outlined in Exhibit A.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL

1. Any party wishing to submit a Proposal to lease the Peace Church pursuant to this RFLP must submit a signed letter of interest and proposal, no later than the due date listed in Item 2 of this Section.

2. All proposals, including all supporting materials as appropriate, must be received by the Commonwealth on or before 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time on October 15, 2024. Proposals and supporting materials must be submitted electronically by that deadline to this resource account address, ra-phmanageservices@pa.gov.

All Proposals should be clearly marked “Peace Church” in the Subject line of the email. Any Proposal received after 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time, October 15, 2024, will be rejected.

Ownership of Submitted Materials All materials submitted in response to this RFLP shall become the property of PHMC. Proposals and any supporting materials will not be returned to submitting parties, nor will PHMC consider any expenses that submitting parties may incur in preparing their Proposals. Prior to award of the lease, materials submitted by the parties will be kept confidential. This information will not be shared with other submitting parties.

PROPOSAL EVALUATION

Community organizations and governmental entities that may wish to lease the historic Peace Church, either individually or in partnership with each other, for either the sole or partial purpose of providing historical interpretation, educational programs, or other activities that benefit the community are encouraged to respond to this RFLP.

In reviewing the responses, the PHMC may consider the organizational structure, leadership, and financial capacity of the proposed responsible entity(s), the plans to make the property accessible to the public, and the capacity for stewardship of the historic property. Priority will be given to respondents who maintain public access to Peace Church.

Proposals will be evaluated based on completeness and scored based on how well they meet the goals expressed in this RFLP using the scoring matrix below.

Exhibit “A”

DECLARATION OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

IN RE

Peace Church By and Between

THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Acting By and Through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission [Lessor] And [Insert name of Lessee]

PHMC is willing to discuss protective covenants with potential new stewards of Peace Church who are proposing alternative uses.

I. PURPOSE. This restrictive covenant for historic preservation is to assure that Peace Church will be retained in perpetuity as a publicly accessible historic resource, to maintain its National Register of Historic Places listing in perpetuity and that the building and grounds are preserved and well maintained, free from any uses that would be inconsistent with the historic values of Peace Church.

II. II. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION. The real property that is subject to this restrictive covenant for historic preservation is known as Peace Church and is legally described in Exhibit B and includes approximately 1.135 acres, located in the city of Camp Hill, county of Cumberland, Pennsylvania with an address of 4600 Trindle Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.

a. Maintenance and Preservation. Peace Church shall be maintained and preserved in a manner that accessible by the public and for a demonstrable public benefit with maintenance and preservation standards acceptable to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission or, if it is not in existence, those officers of the Commonwealth responsible for historic preservation.

b. National Register. Peace Church is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and shall be maintained and preserved in a manner consistent with that designation.

c. Historic Structures. Peace Church shall be maintained and preserved in accordance with best practices according to the most up-to-date editions of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, with Rehabilitation being the minimum acceptable level.

d. Landscape. The landscape of Peace Church shall be preserved in a manner consistent with the historic characteristics of the subject property and shall not be used in a manner that would impair or interfere with the historic interpretation of the subject property.

e. Prohibited Uses. No construction, alteration, rehabilitation, remodeling, demolition, site development, ground disturbance, removal of buildings, addition of buildings, or use inconsistent with this covenant, or any other action, shall be undertaken or permitted to the subject property without the prior written approval of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

f. Alterations/Modifications/Repairs. With the prior written approval of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, alterations, modifications, repairs or other work may be permitted to the subject property, provided:

i. Notice. Timely notice shall be afforded to the Commission in advance of any such requested work on the subject property. Requests shall be made in writing to:

Melissa Mann, Director Bureau of Historic Sites & Museums Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission 400 North Street E-107 Harrisburg, PA 17120

ii. Time. The Commission shall have 45 days from the date of receipt of such notice to review and approved the requested work in writing. Any comments provided by the Commission must be addressed and a revised request submitted.

h. Licensed Facility. The Peace Church shall not be used as a licensed facility, as defined by 4 Pa.C.S. 1103 (relating to definitions), or any other similar type of facility authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The lease shall immediately terminate should this section be violated.

III. INSPECTION AND COMPLIANCE. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by and through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, reserves the right to enforce these preservation restrictions and shall, at all reasonable times and upon reasonable notice, have access to the subject property for purposes of inspection and compliance with these historic preservation restrictions.

IV. TERMINATION FOR BREACH. If the Lessee should fail to comply with any of the material covenants during the term of the lease, the Lessor may terminate the Lease immediately for failure to comply.

V. EXCLUSION. The Lessee agrees that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by and through any of its agencies, in no way assumes any obligation whatsoever for maintaining, repairing, or administering the subject property covered by these restrictive covenants for historic preservation.

VI. DURATION. These restrictive covenants for historic preservation shall be binding for the duration of the lease on Lessee, and shall be applicable to both the land and buildings and shall be deemed to run with the land.

Exhibit “B”

Description of Property

Beginning at a nail located at the intersection of the center lines of L. R. 21079, known as St. John’s Road, and L. R. 507, known as Trindle Road; thence south 64 degrees 57 minutes 30 seconds west 88.04 feet to a point; by an arc to the right with a radius of 22918.31 feet a distance of 84.37 feet along the center line of Trindle Road to a nail; thence north 27 degrees 27 minutes 30 seconds west 116.71 feet to a nail; thence north 26 degrees 39 minutes 00 seconds west 273.15 feet parallel to a stone wall to an iron pin; thence north 69 degrees 23 minutes 30 seconds east a distance of 78.90 feet to a nail in the center line of St. John’s Road; thence by an arc along the center line of St. John’s Road with a radius of 1910.08 feet a distance of 144.44 feet to a nail; thence south 39 degrees 45 minutes 30 seconds east 325.75 feet to the place of Beginning, containing 1.135 acres of land, more or less.

Having thereon erected a two-story brick church building known as Peace Church, or sometimes designated as the German Reformed Church of Peace of Hampden Township, and other improvements.

Being the same premises which the German Reformed Congregation granted an equal undivided moiety of said church to the German Lutheran Congregation by articles of Agreement dated May 18, 1806 and recorded in Cumberland County in Deed Book R, Volume 1, page 536 on December 7, 1807 and later recorded in deed book D, Volume 2, page 133 on April 19, 1852.