Title
Recommendation to Approve the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Reuse the Alameda Carnegie Building. (Economic Development 227)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: David L. Rudat, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is requesting that City Council approve a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to reuse the historic Alameda Carnegie Library (the “Carnegie Building”), and, if desired, the adjacent Foster House. These buildings are currently vacant, and the Carnegie Building has been closed to the public for 20 years.
Given the great civic, cultural and architectural importance of these structures, the City is seeking an end user that will:
• provide cultural, educational, and/or economic benefits to the community;
• restore and maintain the historic character of the building;
• provide for public use of the building as frequently as possible; and
• demonstrate the financial resources and experience necessary to complete the restoration and operate the facility.
The Carnegie Library may require an estimated $6 million in upgrades for occupancy, and the Foster House will require additional upgrades not included in this cost estimate.
BACKGROUND
The historic Carnegie Building, located at 2264 Santa Clara Avenue, was one of the first three libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie to be built in California. Constructed in 1903, the Carnegie Building was designed by William H. Wilcox and John M. Curtis, and built by Alameda-based Foster & Son, at a cost of $30,842. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Foster House, located at 1429 Oak Street, was originally the home of C.H. Foster, the contractor who built the Carnegie Building. C.H. Foster died in 1915, and his house was converted into the Children’s Library in 1926. The Carnegie Building and Foster House remained in continuous operation as a public library until 1998, when the library moved into an interim building and later into the new Main Library. There were two reasons for the move: the buildings were found to be seismically unsafe, and were too small for the needs of the growing library.
In 2001, the City invested over $3 million to seismically upgrade the Carnegie Building, repair leaks, install a new roof, and repair the historic exterior. This work included demolition of existing heating, electrical wiring and lighting systems, which were not replaced at that time due to limited funds.
In 2007, the City hired Muller & Caulfield Architects to test alternative uses and develop cost estimates for the complete restoration of the Carnegie Building (see Exhibit 1). At that time, the staff recommended the adaptive reuse of the building to serve as a Community Arts/Planning and Building Center. Although this recommendation was approved by Council, the restoration and reuse of the building was not completed due to lack of funds. Since that time, there have been several other efforts to bring the Carnegie Building back into public use. However, the Carnegie Building remains vacant, and has been closed to the public for 20 years.
DISCUSSION
Staff is requesting that City Council approve an RFQ for the Carnegie Building, in order to return it to a public use that all Alamedans can visit and enjoy. Proposers would also have the option to include the adjacent Foster House in their proposal, if desired.
Staff has prepared a draft RFQ (Exhibit 2), which contains: project objectives and history; a summary of required improvements; building and parcel information; submittal requirements; selection process and criteria; the proposal schedule; and general conditions.
Key components of the RFQ are summarized below.
Objectives
Given the civic, cultural and architectural importance of the Carnegie and Foster buildings, the City is seeking an end user that will:
• Provide cultural, educational, and/or economic benefits to the community. Examples of these uses include, but are not limited to:
o Cultural benefits: theatre, performing arts center, art museum, art gallery, arts organization, community cultural center
o Educational benefits: library, science museum, historical society, community educational center
o Economic benefits: workforce development center, job resource center, economic development corporation, restaurant, visitor center;
• Restore and maintain the historic character of the building;
• Provide for public use of the building as frequently as possible; and
• Demonstrate the financial resources and experience necessary to complete the restoration and operate the facility.
These objectives will guide the selection process described below.
Submittal Requirements
The RFQ requires proposers to submit a restoration plan for the renovation of the Carnegie Building, as well as a proposed concept for its use. The successful proposer must also demonstrate the financial resources to complete the restoration and start up the proposed use. Demonstrated experience and community benefits are also key components of the submittal requirements.
Given the multi-phased nature of the RFQ, staff anticipates the formation of partnerships between operators (organizations, individuals, etc.) and developer teams (developers, architects etc.) may form.
Selection and Community Input
Proposers will have eight (8) weeks to respond to the RFQ. Staff will conduct a pre-screening to ensure the submittals are complete. A selection panel, including members of the community and stakeholders, will then review all proposals and select finalists based on the criteria outlined in the RFQ.
The finalists will be required to present their concept at a community open house, and staff will also gather feedback through a community survey. The selection panel will then conduct a final review and ranking, incorporating community input to select the preferred user. The final lease must be approved by City Council.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund to issue and RFQ to reuse the Carnegie Building.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The reuse of the Carnegie Building and the corner opposite City Hall has long been a community and economic development goal, as described in the Civic Center Vision Plan. The RFQ’s objectives are also consistent with the Economic Development Strategic Plan, which includes strategies to support artists, tourism and hospitality, retail and restaurants, and workforce preparedness.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Issuance of this RFQ and reuse of the Carnegie Building and/or Foster House are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15331, Historical Resource Restoration/Rehabilitation. 15301, Existing Facilities, 15302, Replacement or Reconstruction, and 15303, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
The awardee will need to comply with all state and local environmental regulations.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Request for Qualifications to reuse the Carnegie building.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Potter, Base Reuse and Economic Development Director
By,
Amanda Gehrke, Management Analyst
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. 2007 Master Plan Report
2. Draft RFQ