RFP for Art Park delayed again

The lack of a City Council vote has again delayed the City from issuing the request for proposals (RFP) for redeveloping the Art Park site, which is City-owned land between Parker and Terrace Streets.

The expectation is to get the matter in front of the City Council “very shortly,” said John Feuerbach of the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND). He added that the RFP should be released by the end of the month.

The City originally intended to issue the RFP by now, but has been unable get the City Council’s approval to sell 4 of the 11 City-owned parcels at the site. DND currently controls those parcels, but can’t sell them without the City Council’s approval.

Feuerbach said it is his understanding that the City Council has been too busy at the beginning of the year with electing a president and forming committees to consider the matter.

The Parker and Terrace Streets site currently contains community gardens and the Art Park. The Art Park is an area with murals, mosaic footpath tiles and colorful furniture. The park would be dismantled.

The redeveloped site would have a larger gardening area and housing and might contain art elements. There have been many critics of the plan, especially against any housing along Parker Street.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and the DND are working together to find a developer for the site, which will be a “green building” project. The City has a similar “green building” project in the works on Highland Avenue in Roxbury. Urbanica, Inc. has been picked to develop that project.

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