A Tale of Two RFPs

In September, the Common Council passed resolutions authorizing two requests for proposals (RFPs) for feasibility studies: one for the adaptive reuse of John L. Edwards School as municipal offices; the other for improvements to the current City Hall to make the early 20th century former bank building ADA compliant.

Last week, on February 13, the RFP for JLE was issued. Responses are due back on March 12. The RFP for City Hall progressed along a different timeline. It was issued on October 22; responses were due on November 20; proposals submitted were reviewed by the mayor and the DPW superintendent; and last night, the Common Council passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with the firm of Lacey Thaler Reilly Wilson Architecture & Preservation to do the study. 

Before calling for a vote on the resolution, Council president Tom DePietro commented that this feasibility study might seem redundant "given JLE" but quoted City treasurer as saying that, even if the ADA improvements to the building are not pursued, having the study would "enhance the value of the building." DePietro also noted that the $32,000 for the study had been written into the 2019 budget, as part of the budget for the Department of Public Works.
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