There will be an on-site informational meeting on the RFI for the Civic/Cultural Space at 131 Beverly Street at Lovejoy Wharf on December 15, 2016 at 10:30 AM. The meeting will begin at 226 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114. Attendence is encouraged, but not required.
The Boston Planning & Development Agency ("BPDA"), in conjunction with the Related Lovejoy Residential, LLC ("Owner") (an affiliate of Related Beal), is issuing a Request for Letters of Interest (“RFI”) from qualified civic and cultural users to occupy and program the interior space located at 131 Beverly Street at Lovejoy Wharf. Activation of the subject Civic/Cultural Space will depend upon the identification of an appropriate Civic/Cultural Space user acceptable to the Owner, the BPDA, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”). The purpose of this RFI is to identify potential qualified Civic/Cultural users for this space (“Lessee” or “Operator”). Respondents to this RFI shall be considered qualified to operate the Civic/Cultural Space by virtue of being a 501(c)(3) organization with a primary mission of the promotion of public use and enjoyment of waterfront open spaces or other pedestrian facilities to which the site is reasonably proximate.
The Civic/Cultural Space at 131 Beverly Street is approximately 2,000 square feet, 500 of which are designated for the general public’s use (“Visitor Contact Room”) and the remaining 1,500 of which are designated as the Operator’s base of operations for recreational programs and other normal business activities (“Non-Profit Operations Room”).The Civic/Cultural Space is designed as a visitor’s center-style facility, where the general public can, among other things, enjoy harbor views, wait for water transportation vessels, gather for tours and other group activities, obtain information/orientation materials and attend presentations, and examine maps/displays/exhibits in the interest of promoting the public use and enjoyment of the waterfront.
Required uses for the Civic/Cultural Space are:
- Visitor’s services, including information and outreach
- Recreational programming
Other qualified uses for the Civic/Cultural Space include:
- Exhibitions
- Galleries
- Historic or cultural exhibit
Other similar cultural or civic activities that are accessible to the general public are allowed, provided however that Civic/Cultural uses shall not include ones that do not meet the definition of Facilities of Public Accommodation as defined at 310 CMR 9.02. Only uses that fit the criteria established for the space will be considered.
The tenancy of the Operator is rent-free and governed by a renewable lease agreement for at least 25 years with five-year reviews of compliance. Visitor’s services and active recreational programming will be partially funded by an annual stipend, at the discretion of the Lovejoy Wharf Common Area Entity.
This RFI is not a formal procurement process to select a user for the Civic/Cultural Space; it is an informal solicitation to gauge interest from qualified users. Responses to this RFI shall assist the BPDA, MassDEP, and Owner in identifying qualified users for the Civic/Cultural Space. However, the Owner, the BPDA, and MassDEP reserve the right to select an applicant at any time during the selection process.
An on-site information session will be held on Thursday, December 15 at 10:30 AM at 226 Causeway Street, Boston, MA 02114. Attendence is encouraged, but not required.