When the city issued Requests for Proposals (RFPs) last fall looking for bidders on a three-part package focused on a critical piece of the Uphams Corner puzzle – operating the Strand Theatre, building a branch library adjacent to it, and adding affordable housing to the mix above the library – the move was hailed as a milestone in a process that has been in the works for years.

The upshot: No bidders when the deadline for proposals passed, the city confirmed last week.

Some in the community consider the lack of interest a major setback in the process as the package under consideration is seen as an anchor piece in promoting Uphams Corner as an Arts and Innovation District. The city had high hopes after two pre-bid conferences drew an optimistic guest list from the development and artistic communities, but all on the list passed on the opportunity. Others weren’t surprised by the lack of any response, noting that there is simply too much being asked for in one package.

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) said this week that it is “currently working closely with the Uphams Corner Working Advisory Group (WAG)” to determine how best to proceed. In a statement, officials wrote, “We continue to hear strong interest in the potential of this site from the development community and are optimistic that after re-evaluation, a new RFP for Site 1 can be successful in creating a model for housing with public assets and development without displacement.”

The request for bids for 555-559 Columbia Rd., which was issued in September, included a request for mixed-income housing above two floors that would host the new branch library – part of the city’s new Housing with Public Assets initiative. It also asked for an experienced operator for the Strand Theatre that could make it a destination venue for the district.

City Councillor Frank Baker indicated last fall that he felt the RFP was a little too ambitious. Last week, he said he wasn’t surprised that no proposals had been submitted.

“You’re going to need to offer a developer some incentives to be able to operate the Strand and do the housing and library,” he said. “I don’t see any incentive with this RFP for going in and taking the risk and probably getting pushback from the community at meetings…It’s asking a lot.”
He added: “If we’re serious about getting this kind of development, then we have to be realistic.”

Most of those in the development and arts community seemed to agree, and some who spoke to the Reporter said they were either a housing developer or an arts organization – but not both.

Beth O’Donnell, director of Real Estate for the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, said that while it is a big player in development of all kinds in Uphams Corner, this was one proposal the group didn’t think they could deliver on. Dorchester Bay has several projects in the works for the area, including being designated to develop the old Citizens Bank building across from the Strand. This three-part offering, however, was maybe a little too complicated.

“There is a lot going on at that site,” said O’Donnell. “We didn’t know what it would look like when the RFP came out and there were a lot of moving pieces…We reviewed it and considered it and, in that time, we were not able to identify a strong partner for the Strand. It’s not a core competency for Dorchester Bay to operate a theatre. We don’t have skills in-house to do that. We decided that given how important this is…we were not going to respond to the RFP as presented.”

She added, “It’s an exciting opportunity, but Dorchester Bay just wasn’t confident we could succeed in meeting all of the requirements.”

In the arts community, Gary Dunning, executive director of the Celebrity Series of Boston, said he attended the pre-bid conferences out of curiosity. While the group had done some presentations at the Strand in the past, it’s not on their regular list of venues. He said they were just interested in hearing the city’s plans.

In the end, though, he said, “All of the arts groups I spoke to felt that the Strand was an afterthought in the RFP process” and that the guidelines were rather vague for the risk that would be taken.

“Right now, the city seems to want arts groups to step up to volunteer to go into the arena with unmotivated developers and do the best they can,” he added. “That’s a very tough position for most arts groups who don’t have the capital to negotiate from any position of strength.”

At the same time, Dorchester Bay said there were things they did like about the RFP. “We do think putting the housing on top of the library is a good idea,” O’Donnell said. “Absolutely, we would still be interested and will follow it closely and review whatever the city puts out there…We look forward to seeing how it emerges.”

The city offered no timeline as to when it might release a “streamlined” or new RFP package for the Strand operation or the library/development site next door.