The City of Boston acting by and through its Public Facilities Commission by the Director of the Mayor's Office of Housing, Director's Office Division, sells tax foreclosed or surplus municipal property to buyers who agree to invest in the rehabilitation of the property. Residential, commercial and institutional buildings and land are included in this program. The Grassroots Open Space Program makes land available specifically for the development of open space projects such as community gardens, urban farms, and passive open space.
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from qualified nonprofit organizations or other entities for development of the parcels as open space. The property is being offered As Is, with up to $150,000 in possible funding available from the Grassroots Program.
The RFP will offer three (3) adjacent, vacant City-owned parcels located at 61-65 Woodrow Avenue for mixed-use development that includes both a residential and a non-residential component:
Residential: New affordable residential units in a mixed-use building consistent with the built neighborhood context. If MOH funding is to be requested, affordability levels must comply with MOH guidelines.
Non-Residential: A community-oriented non-residential space. The proposal for the non-residential space should be more refined than a vacant commercial space with tenant to-be-determined post-construction. The non-residential portion of the development must address at least one of the following priorities in a compelling way:
PROVIDE FLEXIBLE GATHERING SPACE FOR EVENTS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING AND INTERACTIONS
OFFER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY
The development and operational plan for the non-residential space should be feasible, specific, and well defined in the response. The recommended minimum amount of space for this use is 800+ square feet.
The City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) is issuing this Affordable Commercial Assistance Fund (ACAF) Request for Proposals (RFP) for $1 million of annual funding to help support the development and operation of commercial ground-floor spaces. Funds will be available on a rolling basis.
AOP is available on a rolling basis under this Pilot Round that allows new development teams to apply to become an AOP Developer and to allow for rolling basis of applications indefinitely or until funds are depleted.