In Norfolk, Virginia, the John T. West School was the first public high school for African Americans. It was built in 1906 to serve the Huntersville community, which was one of the most cosmopolitan areas in the city.
Now, the City is inviting qualified real estate developers to submit qualifications and full proposals for consideration to redevelop the former John T. West site located in the Olde Huntersville neighborhood.
Proposed plans must incorporate mixed-income residential redevelopment following the plans adopted in the Olde Huntersville Plan Book.
The overall goal is to bring new homeowners to Olde Huntersville by constructing new, affordable homes that are compatible with the neighborhood character.
Plans must also accommodate the Olde Huntersville Empowerment Coalition (OHEC) and work to create wealth-building opportunities for the existing residents of the Olde Huntersville community.
Proposals should also ensure that:
- Economic inclusion is a core tenant of the development strategy by including micro-businesses, minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses;
- Minority-owned business participation at every level of the development process from the lead development team to the subcontractors;
- Local builder participation, specifically contractors who are residents or active participants in the Olde Huntersville community; and
- Include diverse housing sizes and scales to ensure that there are affordable housing options available to residents with a range of income levels.
The City will consider the most competitive proposals to be those that provide the “best offer of value” consistent with the development objectives above.
Responses are due by 4:00 p.m. January 16, 2023.