City Issues RFP for Library

The Deputy Mayor's Office released the draft RFP, or a request for proposals, for the redevelopment of the Tenley-Friendship Library. We're excited the city is moving forward, and pleased with the high quality of the draft RFP.

Our elected officials need to hear from us by next Monday, October 22. Thank them for initiating the RFP process, and tell them you support a competitive bid process.

We appreciate the RFP's inclusion of:

• A significant affordable housing component,
• Benefits to Janney Elementary School, and,
• The library's commitment to spend money on library resources and programs rather than additional parking (which can cost over $35,000 per underground parking space to build).

We feel the RFP could be further strengthened by adding:

• Encourage expanded library space for addition programming or community use,
• Give preference to the city retaining ownership of the land via a long term ground lease, and,
• Inclusion of a small plaza that brings together the library and public space, and consider a complementary retail use such as a cafe.

More Information
Submit your comments on the RFP
Read the draft RFP
What is an RFP?
Design Ideas for the library

What is an RFP?

An RFP is a request for proposal. By releasing an RFP, the city is letting developers know that they will consider a public-private partnership for the library site. An RFP allows competitive bidding for rebuilding the library and possibly providing other public amenities. It is a great approach to unlocking the full potential public benefits of this site.

An RFP process gives us the opportunity to explore the possibilities for the future of the library and the important corner it sits on. How can we provide the greatest public benefit and gain new amenities for the community?

How an RFP Process Works -- A General Outline

1. The city issues an RFP, or a "request for proposals."

2. Developers respond with specific proposals that fit the RFP criteria to rebuild the library and provide other public benefits in exchange for development rights.

Because the process is competitive, it is a good way to spur the development industry to be creative and leverage the value of the site for expanded community benefits.

3. The city considers the various proposals and determine if any of them are worth pursuing. There is usually an opportunity for residents to comment on proposals at this point in the process, though the specific plan for this RFP has not been announced.

Design Ideas for the Library

Outdoor Public Space
What are the possibilities for a public outdoor space to be included on the exterior of the building – e.g., a congregating space with benches and / or other place to sit, wait & meet friends; with nice landscaping, etc.?  (Example:  fountain park at the Barnes and Noble in Bethesda)

Complementary Uses (such as retail)
What are the possibilities for including a complementary retail use at the front of the building, e.g., a small coffee shop/kiosk near the front door to the library, fronting onto a small public space with benches, sittable ledges, landscaping?

Materials
Washington, DC, seems constrained to a “colonial” vernacular with a heavy use of red brick.  What thought have you given to building materials?  What will guide your selections?  Will you consider something interesting, inventive and perhaps even unusual for this building?  What role will the use of green design and building materials play in this?

Transparency
One of our community objectives is to create a sense of vibrancy and street life along our “Main Street” in Tenleytown.  The degree to which the library is or is not transparent can affect this substantially.  What are you envisioning by way of the building’s transparency to achieve a “see and be seen” factor – i.e., so that people walking by can see people inside & people inside can see people walking by?

Front Door
It is important that the library be directly and easily accessible from Wisconsin Ave.  Do you have any thoughts yet as to how you plan to handle building main entrance?

Increased Community Space
Can the building be expanded to include more community space? (add a third or fourth floor?) Can this space be used for additional library programming in the future if the need emerges?

Bicycle Parking
Will some bicycle parking be place in front of the building?

Library Program
Is there a library program document that you are working from?  If so, what is its level of completeness and what work are you doing to augment it?  Is the program publicly available?

Sincerely,
Rebecca Perring
www.Ward3Vision.org

3 Minute Action: Support the Library

Our elected officials need to hear from us by next Monday, October 22. Please take a few minutes and support the redevelopment of the Tenley-Friendship Library.

Attend Tonight's Community Meeting

ANC 3E is hosting a community meeting about the draft RFP tonight. The meeting is open to the public.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
7:00-9:00 PM
St. Columba's Church
Albemarle and 42nd Sts NW