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Date: 5/2/2023
CHICOPEE — What city officials and employees are referring to as a “milestone,” the fourth and final redevelopment for RiverMills at Chicopee Falls will soon be underway, after a request for proposals was released.
Through the city’s Purchasing Department, the RFP is soliciting redevelopment bids from “qualified entities” for the purchase and reuse of the Uniroyal Redevelopment Parcel.
The Uniroyal Redevelopment Parcel includes 9.58 acres of property located south of lot No. 4 of the former Facemate property, also known as the “Baskin Redevelopment Parcel.” The property currently has four buildings remaining that have been retained for redevelopment. According to the Mayor’s Office, “The city will prioritize redevelopment proposals that provide for creative reuse of these unique industrial structures consistent with the RiverMills Vision Plan.”
Chicopee Planning and Development Director Lee Pouliot explained that planning work for this project began in 2009 and accelerated as the phases were figured out.
While the city planned for redevelopment of the Uniroyal parcel and Facemate, Pouliot said the city could not afford everything at once and prioritized Facemate.
On the Facemate property, a senior center was built and opened in 2014, an assisted living facility opened in 2019, along with the addition of housing and more.
With Facemate underway, Pouliot said the focus shifted to Uniroyal as the site required a longer clean up.
Today, the assessment and cleanup of the former Uniroyal site has been completed by the city. Pouliot said, “[It] makes us feel confident [and we] can give developers a clear picture” of what can be done.
All four remaining buildings have been “prioritized and cleaned up,” Pouliot shared. He said he hopes the redevelopers find “specific use” in mill conversion.
When it comes to redeveloping the Uniroyal property, there is a mixture of uses that the site can be, with little to no restriction, said Pouliot.
Since 2012, Pouliot shared that the city has been writing competitive grants for brownfields cleanup through the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Chicopee received about $22 million through this funding source, he shared.
Between the former Facemate and Uniroyal properties, the city has invested over $40 million to complete environmental assessment and cleanup activities to best position these properties for reuse.
On the city side, no more funding is required. Pouliot said the “significant investments” are behind them.
“The Uniroyal Development Parcel offers an exciting opportunity for an innovative development team to create a signature mixed-use project on the banks of the Chicopee River,” said Mayor John Vieau. “We are especially thrilled to begin this substantial segment of RiverMills redevelopment as this parcel is the largest private redevelopment parcel created as part of the RiverMills plan. This is a significant project that will serve to continue the revitalization of Chicopee Falls and the city of Chicopee.”
City Treasurer Michael Laflamme shared, “Following a complicated tax foreclosure process for the former Uniroyal and Facemate properties circa 2010, the city has been aggressive and consistent in its efforts to plan for the redevelopment of these properties. Following successful redevelopment of three redevelopment parcels created out of the former Facemate property, the Uniroyal Redevelopment Parcel completes the city’s efforts to return these properties to productive reuse.”
The evaluation criteria of the request for proposals is laid out and can be found on the city’s Purchasing Department webpage. Pouliot said there is a point system with subcomponents that need to be addressed based on criteria. Those proposals will then be scored and ranked. Depending on the submissions and proposals, Pouliot said there may be interviews conducted.
Redevelopment proposals are due on July 21 at 11 a.m.
Pouliot said the selection committee will be created by the mayor. The committee will be responsible for reviewing all submissions.
“I started Uniroyal and Facemate when I was a masters student in 2010 … To see it now is amazing [as it is] almost done,” Pouliot concluded.