Lets look at a couple properties, the City of Worcester had owned and sold 48 Mason Street (RFP) and 809-811-813 Main Street (Direct Sale).    Here is a quick run down on the RFP process:

  • City puts out an RFP (Request for Proposal)
  • Potential buyers submit their plans along with a bid amount
  • The highest bid is not necessarily the winner
  • The winner is based on a combination of their plans and bid
  • November 2005 this bid was awarded
  • It will be 10 years this November and nothing has been done

 

The City of Worcester has to do an RFP for all parcels that are worth over 25,000.   809 and 811-813 process were not sold via the RFP process since the value of each lot was under 25,000.  The question, however, was always why would you sell abutting lots separately and not together to return the greatest amount of money for the City?

In August of 2002, the City sold two parcels these abutting lots:

  1. 809 Main Street (book 27246 page 256)   17,500
  2. 811-813 Main Street (book 27246 page 252)  10,000

Each deed has specific language:

  • To develop and use Land exclusively for off street parking for the benefit of adjacent properties abutting Land.
  • To commence with the development of the Land within one year of the date of recording of the deed

Thirteen years later nothing has been done…

 

The City should go through all properties that have been sold, either direct or through the RFP process, to determine if the grantee has honored the terms of the sale.   If they have not, the City of Worcester to take steps to get the property back…