Roundhouse Property
Developers Solicitation Select City-Owned Parcels
This Developer Solicitation is offered by the City of Marquette to purchase and redevelop a city-owned parcel located adjacent to our historic downtown. This is a request for formal bids soliciting interested developers to present their experience and qualifications. Interested parties must adhere to the submission requirements of this solicitation in order to be considered.
Introduction
1. Purpose: The City of Marquette is seeking proposals from experienced developers for a property formerly occupied by the Soo Line Railroad "Roundhouse" and yard west of Downtown Marquette between Washington Street and Baraga Avenue. The approximate 11 acre property was a portion of a larger purchase made in 2002 by the City of Marquette from the Wisconsin Central Railroad.
The city's vision and intent is to redevelop the property and create an urban high density residential neighborhood. The site is in close proximity to existing residences, as well as downtown shopping and amenities. The city's short-range objective is to increase the productivity and utilization of vacant, undeveloped, or underdeveloped properties. Long-term goals include, but are not limited to, increasing housing choices within the city, promoting downtown revitalization, supporting the neighborhood, providing family-wage sustainable jobs, and accomplishing other recognized community objectives as addressed in the adopted Community Master Plan.
2. Community Overview: The City of Marquette is located in the central region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula on the south shore of Lake Superior. With a population of 20,714, it is the U.P.'s largest community. The City of Marquette is Michigan's premier walkable, livable, Winter City. In addition to being a population center, it serves as the regional center for education, health care, recreation, governmental office, and retail. This regional draw is associated with Northern Michigan University and Marquette General Hospital, both of which are located in the City of Marquette.
Marquette has a total land area of 7,385 acres and is home to a variety of valuable natural resources. Historically, the area's mineral resources attracted settlers to the region and supported a primarily resource-based economy. Other critical resources include the area's rich history, structures, hydrology, hilly topography, world tracts and location along the shoreline of Lake Superior.
Today, Marquette's economy is primarily focused on service industries with a mix of natural resource industries such as mining and timber. This is due to the University, the Hospital, State facilities and tourism. Marquette continues to broaden its economic base, creating a greater diversity of sustainable employment opportunities for residents.
3. State and National Recognition: In recent years the City of Marquette and Marquette County have received the coveted designation of:
- All-American Community
- Cool City by the Governor of Michigan
- America's Most Livable by the Partners for Livable Communities in Washington D.C. (City and County Designations)
- One of the top 100 small art communities
- Top 5 Best Places to Mountain Bike by Bike Magazine
Marquette has become a place where people of all ages want to live. The city has an active community, a vibrant nightlife, and concert series, and a year-round calendar of festivals which all serve to encourage a culturally connected community. The city is also connected through a pedestrian-friendly, non-motorized trail system. This system connects most areas of the city, and would provide a direct access from the Roundhouse property to the downtown and Marquette's Iron Industry Heritage Trail. The Heritage Trail, a collaboration of many units of government and interest groups, will connect Marquette with the western areas of the County.
The city's historic traditional downtown serves as the focal point for the community. It provides lively retail activity, and serves as a link to arts and culture.
Redevelopment Parcels
4. Current Ownership: The Roundhouse property is a city-owned parcel located within the City of Marquette. A location map of the parcel along with its corresponding zoning and master plan designations are included with this solicitation.
5. Zoning: The parcel is currently zoned industrial. It is the city's intention that the selected developer will work with the city through a Planned Unit Development (PUD). The objective is a private development which is substantially in accord with the Community Master Plan goals. The PUD process would facilitate flexibility, encourage innovative development, and provide variety in design and layout of parcel. The entire zoning ordinance may be obtained in Section 16 Supporting Information.
6. Environmental Issues and Status: The city retained the services of TriMedia Inc., environmental consultants, to perform an environmental assessment for the parcel. Specific information on the current environmental condition can be viewed in Section 16 Supporting Information.
To facilitate redevelopment of property the City of Marquette established a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. The Brownfield Redevelopment Act may provide developers with a credit against their single business tax liability for certain contaminated properties, provided the developer makes an investment at the parcel. The amount of the individual credit is ten percent of the eligible investment costs the taxpayer has incurred to redevelop or expand the eligible property in the tax year, with a $1 million cap on the total credits. The redevelopment parcel is eligible to use the above mentioned act; however, tax increment financing is not available.
| Travel Time | Destination |
|---|---|
| 2 hours | Detroit |
| 1 hour 45 minutes | Lansing |
| 1 hour 11 minutes | Milwaukee |
| 1 hour 15 minutes | Chicago |
| 2 hours 39 minutes | Minneapolis |
7. Public Investment: Through the community master planning process, city residents developed a vision to secure abandoned railroad property for future public and private investment. A part of this process was acquisition of the abandoned railroad property abutting the downtown area. In June 2002, the City of Marquette puchased the Roundhouse site from Wisconsin Central Railroad.
The Community Master Plan calls for extension of Seventh Street from Washington to Spring Street providing connectivity to US-41 and Marquette's largest employers. Those developers who are willing to participate in a private/public partnership to realize this infrastructure objective will be given high preference in the selection process.
Details of Seventh Street extension including preliminary engineering, cost estimates and details are available in Section 16 Supporting Information.
Local Development Concepts
8. General Development Concepts: Through the Community Master Plan, the City of Marquette has developed a vision for the redevelopment of this parcel. The vision is high-density residential, including two and three story townhomes and a series of courtyard units.
However, the city would consider other alternatives from interested developers, if the proposed concept would enhance the utilization of the parcel and surrounding property, and is consistent with the Community Master Plan. Illustrative redevelopment concepts for the parcel can be found in Section 16 Supporting Information.
9. Property Conveyance: The city may convey the parcel to a selected developer(s). Conveyance will be by warranty deed, quit claim deed, or in a form acceptable to both parties. The sale will be subject to successful negotiation and approval of a purchase and development agreement.
Developer Proposal - Submission Requirements
10. Required Information on Submittal: The following information is required for a submittal to be considered:
- General Information
- Name of developer(s)
- Resumes of key members of your development team
- Address of principle place of business
- Federal Identification Number
- Information of business structure
- Demonstrate ability for bonding capacity
- Years of experience
- Size of company
Specific Information
- Development Site Plan
- Conceptual Site Plan showing all phases of proposed development
- Pattern Book
- Building elevations and architectuaral detail
- Materials and finishes
- Landscape concepts
- Land Purchase - Timeline
- Funding Plan
- Financial guarantee
- Letter of Credit
- Bonding Capacity
- Phasing Plan
- Define development
- Timeline for buildout
- Residential Costing
- Purchase / Lease Options
- Seventh Street Extension
- Private / Public Partnership
- Funding Options
Relevant Experience
- Location and information about similar projects completed in the last five years, to include funding sources
- References shall include the names and telephone numbers of a local contact person(s) for each project referenced above. The persons referenced should be representatives of the local unit of government (city manager, planning/zoning official, Planning Commission chairperson, etc.) at the time the project was undertaken.
Selection Process
11. Proposal:
- Twelve (12) copies shall be submitted to:
- Judy L. Akkala, City Manager
- City of Marquette
- 300 W. Baraga Avenue
- Marquette, MI 49855
- Proposals must be submitted on or before 3:00 PM on September 7, 2007
- Faxed proposals will not be considered as a formal submittal
12. Selection Process: The city, or its designated selection committee, will select a maximum of three developers for the Redevelopment Parcel based on the following requirements:
- The comprehensiveness of the response to the information requested in the Developer Solicitation and how it addresses the Purpose of this Developer Solicitation.
- Responsiveness of proposed development plan to goals and objectives outlined by the City of Marquette through its Community Master Plan.
- Compatibility of proposed development plan with surrounding land uses and business
- Experience of the development team with projects of similar size, scope and nature
- Strength of development team, including experience and resume of proposed key personnel
- Quality of marketing plan
- Quality of proposed development, based on initial design
- Strength of proposed financing plan, and financial capacity to implement the project proposed in the submittal
13. Negotiation Process: Once the city commission selects a developer, discussions will commence on the following:
- Purchase Price
- Financial and Performance Guarantees
- Conditions for Land Coneyance
- Developer and City Responsibilities
- Development/Design Concepts
- PUD Requirements, Project Phasing and Schedule
The City of Marquette reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submittals, waive irregularities, to accept the submittals either on an entire or individual basis that is in the best interest of the City of Marquette.
Back to Top
14. Schedule of Process:
- RFP Responses Due by September 7, 2007
- Review & Selection of short-list by September 14, 2007
- Interviews, Presentations, Staff Review by September 28, 2007
- Recommendation to & Approval by City Commission October 8, 2007
- Negotiation & Sale of Land Completed by November 12, 2007
Additional Information
Questions regarding this Developer Solicitation and submission of proposals must be directed to the Office of City Manager whose address and telephone number is listed below.
- Judy L. Akkala
- City Manager
- City of Marquette
- 300 Baraga Avenue
- Marquette, MI 49855
- Phone: 906-228-0435
- Email: jakkala@mqtcty.org
15. Potential Sources for Project Financing: Sources of information for potential federal, state, and local funding may be discussed with the following individuals:
- Lake Superior Community Partnership
- Louis Ellis, Economic Development Specialist
- 501 S. Front Street
- Marquette, MI 49855
- Toll Free: 888-578-6489
- Email: lellis@marquette.org
- City of Marquette
- Susan Bohor, Grants Administrator
- 300 Baraga Avenue
- Marquette, MI 49855
- Phone: 906-228-0480
- Email: sbohor@mqtcty.org
16. Supporting Information - Developer Solicitation Roundhouse Property
General Project Information
City Owned and Leased Properties
- General Location Map
- Aerial Photography and Utilities
- Environmental Documentation
General Information
Marquette Community Master Plan Roundhouse Property Design Examples
City of Marquette Utility Layout Roundhouse Property
Parcel Name: Roundhouse Property
Parcel Status: City-owned
Current Zoning: Industrial
Master Plan: High Density Residential
Previous Use: Industrial - Railroad
Infrastructure: Not extended through property
Brownfield: Yes
Vision: High-Density Residential
Roundhouse Property
View looking north along proposed Seventh Street Extension
Property is to the left
View from west side of property looking east to beginning of downtown