Request for Proposals: Development Partnership: 519 West Franklin Blvd

The City of Gastonia, North Carolina, is soliciting proposals from qualified development firms for a public-private partnership to redevelop a 1.86-acre property at 519 W. Franklin Blvd. The property, formerly the Adult Recreation Center, is located between the Downtown and FUSE (Franklin Urban Sports & Entertainment) Districts. The city is seeking a transformational project that will maximize the property's potential, increase the tax base, and serve as a catalyst for redevelopment in the area. The proposed scope of work includes: * Developing a signature transformational project * Creating a project that meets market and city needs * Maximizing the property's potential to increase the tax base * Maintaining equivalent parking spaces for shared use with the Little Theater of Gastonia * Utilizing the property for its highest and best use The city invites interested and qualified development firms to submit proposals, which should include: * Letter of introduction and summary of qualifications * Development team information, including partner firms and roles * Development proposal, including a potential concept and approach to redevelopment * Experience and references, including photos and illustrations of completed projects * Disclosures, including potential conflicts of interest and financial information * Local business utilization plan and sub-contracts * Litigation history The evaluation criteria for the proposals will include: * Development proposal (30%) * Qualifications and experience of the development team (20%) * Level of integration of guiding public interests (20%) * Quality and success of prior development projects and public-private partnerships (10%) * Demonstrated ability to execute a project of similar scale and complexity (10%) * List of active development projects and demonstration of confidence in the project (10%) The deadline for submitting proposals is November 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The city reserves the right to cancel the RFP or waive any irregularities at its discretion. An optional pre-proposal conference call is scheduled for October 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.