The city of Rochester May 1 issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) to adaptively reuse, redevelop, and operate five former bus shelters on Main Street.
With the opening of the RTS Transit Center on Mortimer Street last November, these large free-standing bus shelters — located between the Genesee River and Stillson Street — were discontinued as bus transfer points. The idea to convert the shelters for other commercial or public uses was brought to City officials last year by Reconnect Rochester, a local non-profit that focuses on local public transportation issues.
Mike Governale, president of Reconnect Rochester says, “These shelters could provide ready-made homes for small businesses, sidewalk cafés, informational or interactive kiosks, or just about anything else our business and creative community can dream up. The best thing we can do for the revitalization of our downtown is to give people a variety of reasons to walk our streets. This type of innovative idea has the potential to bring people out at street level, to interact with each other, and support Main Street businesses.”
The RFP was developed in collaboration between Reconnect Rochester and the Office of Innovation and Strategic Initiatives. As stated in the RFP, the City aims to award a multi-year master lease agreement for the shelters to an entity who will oversee their adaptation and subsequent re-use in a manner that complements and enhances the East Main Street district. The leaseholder would then be free to sublease or rent space to individual businesses.
Proposals will be judged, in part, on their ability to create value for area residents, workers, and visitors. No preconceptions are made. However, the RFP does exclude private or personal uses, as well as disassembling and/or moving the structures.
The deadline to respond is June 26 and successful proposals are expected to be announced by July 31.
