Building sale of 901/903 main street

The Town of Manchester, Connecticut (Hartford County) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the sale of a historic building located at 901/903 Main Street in Downtown Manchester. The procurement seeks qualified real estate owners and/or developers to purchase the iconic 2-story, 5,000 square-foot building situated on a 0.18-acre parcel currently operating as WORK_SPACE, a municipal co-working facility featuring public art galleries and private offices. Respondents must submit detailed proposals including firm descriptions, relevant project experience from the past five years, organizational charts with staff resumes, project approach descriptions, litigation history, and financial capabilities documentation. Key evaluation criteria include proposed purchase price and financial structure (25 points), financial capabilities and financing plan (20 points), organizational fit within downtown (20 points), potential to increase foot traffic and vibrancy (20 points), and ability to incorporate the Town-owned gallery space (15 points). The Town seeks proposals that will continue to drive economic activity in Downtown Manchester while ideally maintaining a lease agreement for gallery and cultural operations on all or part of the first floor. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting and building tour is scheduled for April 28, 2026 at 9:00 AM, with a question submission deadline of May 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Town's OpenGov procurement portal by June 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM, with all proposals publicly opened on the response deadline date.

The RFP documentation does not specify any set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or limitations on the types of organizations eligible to respond. The property is currently owned and operated by the Town of Manchester, with WORK_SPACE serving as the existing incumbent tenant and operational entity. Respondents must submit completed IRS Form W-9 documentation and confirm receipt of all addenda issued through the procurement portal. The property is zoned Central Business District, allowing diverse residential and commercial uses that support the Town's downtown revitalization goals. While the RFP documentation does not specify an explicit budget range or award value, proposers must include their proposed purchase price and financial structure as a key component of their submission. The Town retains the right to reject all proposals, conduct interviews with shortlisted respondents, and negotiate with the selected vendor prior to contract award, with cost being only one factor in the final selection decision.