Vacant properties provide opportunity

Date: 1/11/2012

Jan. 11, 2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — The city of Springfield has issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for purchase and redevelopment of three historic homes in the Maple Street area.

“These vacant and deteriorated houses have been negatively impacting the neighborhood,” Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. “We are excited to have the potential of their redevelopment while preserving Springfield’s historic assets. The city is especially interested in proposals where the end use is an owner-occupied home.”

The properties are two four-story, brick Victorian-era row houses at 174 and 176 Maple St. and a wood Victorian-era two-family house at 59-61 Avon Place.

Each is being offered for a minimum price of $1,000 and each has $25,000 of Community Development Block Grant assistance available for exterior restoration.

The open houses for 174 and 176 Maple Street are Jan. 10 at 3 p.m. and Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. Proposals are due Feb. 1 at 2 p.m.

The open houses for 59-61 Avon Place are Jan. 14 at 10 a.m., Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. and Jan. 30 at 11 a.m. Proposals for this property are due Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.

RFP packets can be obtained from the Office of Procurement, City Hall, 36 Court St. or they can be downloaded at www.comm-pass.com at no charge.