Issue Date: August 11, 2020
Deadline for Proposal Submissions:
October 13, 2020
The City of Mount Airy, North Carolina invites proposals from qualified parties to develop elements of the former Spencer’s Mill site in the downtown district. The focus of the development opportunity is the rehabilitation of the historic five-story Sparger Building into a downtown hotel. Respondents may consider other potential development projects, including commercial and residential uses, as suggested by the conceptual site plan developed by Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. and included as Appendix A to this Request for Proposals (RFP).
While strict adherence to the conceptual site plan is not required, respondents must consider the site developments that have already occurred (residential condominiums and market-rate apartments) and that are currently being planned (events center and
Request For Proposals:
Downtown Development Opportunity
Download the Request For Proposals Here:
Answers to RFP Questions as of 8-25-2020
Available Documents:
2004 West Side Development Master Plan
2008 Concept Proposal for Spencer’s Mill Complex
2010 Spencer’s Mill Redevelopment Opportunity Master’s Project UNC
2012 Historic District Boundary Increase to Include Spencer’s Property
2012 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
2014 Spencer’s Mill Phase I Environmental Site Assessment: Part 1
2014 Spencer's Mill Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment: Part 2
2015 Mount Airy Comprehensive Plan
2015 Mount Airy Hotel & Convention Center Feasibility Study Summary
2015 Spencer's Mill Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
2018 Spencer’s Mill Brownfields Program EMP – Executed
2018 Spencer’s Mill Notice of Brownfields Property and Brownfields Agreement – Recorded
Historic Preservation Design Guidelines
Spencer's Site - Sketch of Existing Utilities
Spencer’s Slides – history/photos/maps
Conceptual Site Plan
[Hotel, Townhomes, Restaurant, Compatible Commercial Uses]
culinary school) and ensure any proposed development complements those elements. The City of Mount Airy intends for new projects under this RFP to strengthen the local economy and tax base. In addition, development projects should be aesthetically appealing and demonstrate broad community benefit.
Proposals will be evaluated based on four major sets of criteria (described in more detail in Section VII of this RFP): project design and suitability; project feasibility (both technical and financial); financial benefits to the City; and development team qualifications.
The City may, in its sole discretion, choose to disregard any proposal / element that it deems to be inconsistent with or unsupportive of prior and current developments or the rehabilitation of the historic Sparger Building.
Mount Airy Downtown (MAD), Inc. on behalf of the City will coordinate the RFP process. MAD, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to foster and stimulate economic growth and development within the City of Mount Airy municipal service district. MAD, Inc. is a North Carolina Main Street organization committed to historic preservation-based community revitalization. The organization’s role is purely advisory, with the City Board of Commissioners having final decision-making authority.
Any questions about the RFP process should be directed to the designated RFP contact person:
Lizzie Morrison, Main Street Coordinator
Mount Airy Downtown, Inc.
P.O. Box 6309
Mount Airy, NC 27030
coordinator@mountairydowntown.org
336-401-0885