The Borough of Bernardsville, New Jersey seeks visionary and qualified developers to transform a block in the heart of their downtown.
The Borough’s issuance of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is the continuation of a number of initiatives that relate to the redevelopment of Bernardsville’s downtown. These include:
- Downtown Revitalization Committee: A small group of citizens was appointed by the Borough Mayor to create the Borough’s Downtown Revitalization Committee (the Committee). As part of its ongoing work and public outreach, the Committee identified redevelopment of Quimby Lane as a core component of their overall strategy. This area was identified based on its central location, the lack of extensive improvements, and the presence of a considerable publicly-owned parcel that is ripe for redevelopment.
- Recent Zoning Amendments: As part of the Borough’s larger affordable housing compliance strategy, the zoning along Quimby Lane was amended to increase overall building heights and residential density. The Borough now seeks to refine the zoning amendment to insure a redevelopment of Quimby Lane that creates a vibrant restaurant and retail space, exemplary design and signage, weekend and day time family activities and increased tax revenues. Respondents to the RFP will be invited to comment upon changes to the current zoning as part of their submission.
- Comprehensive Master Plan: The Borough of Bernardsville adopted its master plan on September 28, 2000, amended the plan four (4) times, and re-examined it in 2006 and 2017. The latest 2017 re-examination reviewed several major planning and zoning issues characteristic to B-1 business zone in the downtown. Such issues and goals, described below, will be advanced by the redevelopment of Quimby Lane as contemplated by this RFP.
The total area comprises 14 parcels with a land area of approximately four acres. The existing structures are low-rise buildings ranging from one to two stories tall. Land uses in the area include: retail, office, restaurant, surface parking, hotel, post office, car wash, and an auto repair shop.
Ownership is highly diverse, and spread across numerous entities. A portion of Quimby Lane is occupied by the post office which will need to be relocated, either temporarily or permanently, in connection with proposals submitted.
ISSUE DATE: December 21, 2018
DUE DATE: April 1, 2019
Photo courtesy of Borough of Bernardsville.