Charleston Land Reuse Agency Seeks Proposals for 739 Central Avenue

The Charleston Land Reuse Agency (CLRA) released a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) document seeking proposals from developers for the redevelopment of 739 Central Avenue, formerly Abraham’s Grocery and Park Place Bar. The EOI schedule sets a final deadline for proposals of February 19, 2021 and includes details on the scoring of proposals as well as specifications and goals for the project.

“The CLRA is very excited to receive proposals from developers and move forward with redeveloping 739 Central Avenue,” said CLRA Chair Kevin Baker. “The scoring contained in the EOI illustrates the CLRA’s dedication to prioritizing both community input and historic preservation by awarding points consistent with the results of the community survey conducted in October and November, as well as points for improving the outside appearance of the building and restoring murals that have faded.”

“The process that the CLRA is taking to receive proposals on this property shows its ability to be flexible and think outside the box,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. “Small businesses and young entrepreneurs are part of what makes our City a vibrant place to live, work, and play. This process will allow individuals or groups to come forward with a proposal that is not often feasible with a traditional RFP process.”

In addition, the CLRA is also holding a public meeting via the Zoom video conferencing service on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. where it will receive public input generally about what redevelopment or conservation efforts citizens are interested in seeing in Charleston. The CLRA would also welcome feedback on 739 Central Avenue and the EOI process during the meeting. The hour-long meeting will be an open-forum discussion with members of the CLRA.

Per the bylaws of the CLRA, these meetings happen at least twice each year. Much like the first meeting held in May, the COVID-19 pandemic requires a virtual meeting rather than the CLRA’s preference for in-person community meetings. There is no set agenda for the meeting and the public is encouraged to attend, listen, and provide input to the CLRA.

The Zoom call can be accessed by computer or mobile device. Join by web at https://bit.ly/ 2LAleWO or by calling 1-312-626-6799 with Meeting ID 822 7866 5912 and Passcode 191172.

The EOI can be found at https://charlestonwv.gov/bids-purchasing/current-bids.