Request for qualifiations and adaptive reuse solicitation for the historic community house

The City of Richmond Hill, Georgia is soliciting qualifications and adaptive reuse proposals for the historic Community House at 10512 Ford Avenue, with proposals due November 2, 2026, and a mandatory site visit on September 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM.

The Community House is a 1936 Colonial Revival structure on 1.42 acres zoned Commercial-Specialty, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (August 28, 2024). The property comprises approximately 10,538 square feet plus a 1,997 chapel addition. Respondents must demonstrate experience in historic rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, project financing, and complex redevelopment. The City seeks immediate stabilization, comprehensive rehabilitation compliant with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse generating publicly accessible uses that contribute to community economic vitality. The mandatory upstairs ballroom must be made available for City-sponsored events at least twice annually.

The RFQ stage does not require submission of purchase prices, development fees, or detailed financial proposals. Reference plans identify three rehabilitation options ranging from $5.18 million to $5.93 million in estimated construction cost, with approaches varying by degree of historic restoration and chapel treatment. A feasibility study recommends specialty retail, full-service restaurants, drinking establishments, and small boutique overnight accommodation that would preserve the building's historic dormitory rooms.

Evaluation employs weighted scoring: historic rehabilitation experience (30%), quality and feasibility of proposed end use (25%), public accessibility and community benefit (20%), implementation strategy and timeline (15%), and references and demonstrated capacity (10%). Additional credit is given for successful use of historic tax credits and preservation incentives on Georgia-completed projects. The City may provide support including permitting-fee waivers, parking-requirement variances, rezoning assistance, expedited Certificate of Appropriateness and building permits, and reduced property taxes for a finite period. Written questions are due October 6, 2026. Selection and negotiations will follow evaluation and interviews at a date to be determined.