Bradenton Downtown Development Authority prepares to measure developer interest in 14th Street West property
BRADENTON -- The Downtown Development Authority is almost ready to solicit proposals from developers interested in building on a vacant city-owned plot on 14th Street West that was formerly home to the crime-ridden Manatee Inns.
At its Tuesday meeting, DDA Executive Director Dave Gustafson said it's important to involve city council members in the process before finalizing the request for qualifications set to be advertised by mid-April.
A request for qualifications invites developers to submit information showing they are qualified to participate in the specifics of an ensuing request for proposal, which is when the DDA will accept actual development proposals.
The board previously set a March 30 deadline to begin the process to solicit developer interest, but pushed the date back Tuesday so DDA officials could meet with council members individually.
The city purchased the property at 1405 14th St. W. in 2006 with the intention of tearing down the Manatee Inns, which has a troubled history.
The purchase came before the economic downturn, and the city paid twice what it is worth today.
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser's Office, it is valued at $438,500, up 38 percent from last year's appraisal of $317,000. However, appraisals traditionally go up when they are being conducted specifically for the purpose of sale.
The ideal use of the property is mixed use, involving restaurant, retail and residential, officials said.
DDA board members Tuesday reviewed suggested changes to the request for quotation authored by Public Works Director Claude Tankersley and Realize Bradenton Executive Director Johnette Isham.
The board appeared satisfied with the substance of the document, but wants one more opportunity to review some minor wording changes before authorizing the advertisement.
Gustafson said the timeline is to set up an on-site pre-conference meeting with interested developers two weeks after advertising the RFQ and allow 30 additional days for request-for-proposal submissions, putting the deadline in mid-May.
If completed on time, the selection committee's recommendation could be presented to the DDA board at its third Tuesday meeting in May. The DDA board will make its recommendation to the city council, which could vote on it in June.
The DDA also owns the property across the street where the Bradenton Police Department substation is located.
Development of that property may require a separate RFP, but it will be noted on the RFQ that developers could offer ideas for that land if their development proposal requires additional property.
Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.
This story was originally published March 25, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bradenton Downtown Development Authority prepares to measure developer interest in 14th Street West property ."