Revitalization and Redevelopment Design Plan
City of Watertown Planning Department
Watertown, NY
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
REVITALIZATION AND REDEVELOPMENT DESIGN PLAN FOR SEWALL'S ISLAND
AND FACTORY SQUARE PARK IN THE CITY OF WATERTOWN, NY
The City of Watertown (the City) is requesting proposals from qualified consultants to prepare a Revitalization and Redevelopment Design Plan for Sewall's Island and Factory Square. The plan will create a vision and capitalize on community assets and recreation opportunities, guide redevelopment and help attract new investments, businesses, and identify transformational projects in this area of downtown Watertown. The City was awarded a Strategic Planning and Feasibility Studies grant from the New York State Department of State (the Department), which will be used to pay for the plan.
The project involves developing preliminary designs and cost estimates for the commercial development of the island along with the park and trail development on the eastern portion of the island. The preliminary designs and cost estimates will be used for future budgeting and potential grant applications for construction. To inform the planning process, the project will include economic analyses and public outreach such as surveys, stakeholder meetings and community workshops.
Preparation of the Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan for Factory Square and Sewall's Island will be undertaken through consultant planning services to be procured by the City of Watertown and overseen by a Project Advisory Committee.
The project is being funded by a grant from the New York State Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Environmental Protection Fund. The project has a maximum budget of $95,000 for consultant services.
Expressions of interest are due by 4:00PM, JULY 26, 2019.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project will implement important priorities in the City's draft Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP). A specific goal of the LWRP was to clean up and reuse vacant industrial sites and buildings including the Factory Square and Sewall's Island area. The LWRP envisions this area as a mixed-use community that offers opportunities for dining, shopping, retail and office space, recreational opportunities and residential living surrounded by a revitalized Black River corridor.
Factory Square and Sewall's Island are both located approximately mid-way along the Black River corridor in the City. Factory Square contains just a few active businesses while Sewall's Island is vacant except for Brookfield's hydroelectric facility. Sewall's Island is currently undergoing an environmental remediation project that involves the installation of a soil cover that will implement the remedial action plan specified in the Record of Decision for the site. The southeast portion of the island, including an abandoned railroad line, has been designated as parkland and the final plan will include recommendations for the enhancement of the park area. Factory Square provides substantial opportunities for mixed-use redevelopment, including residential, commercial, and open space uses. The area includes several very unique industrial waterfront buildings that have an interesting relationship to the waterfront.
Redevelopment of Factory Square and/or Sewall's Island could provide mixed-use opportunities, including residential, water-enhanced uses (restaurants, cafes, small-scale hotels or B & B's, river outfitters, bike rental and sales, and outdoor food stands), retail, boutique and specialty stores, waterfront open space, parks and trails.
The Strategic Investment Plan resulting from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) planning process focused on Public Square and connecting streets. This EPF LWRP project will complement the City's Downtown Strategic Investment Plan by preparing a Revitalization and Redevelopment Plan for a key area of downtown that connects to the DRI planning area. This project will outline strategies for enhanced visual appeal and increased walkability and will serve as a guide to sustain recent and future public and private investments in the area. The revitalization of downtown Watertown will provide tourism and economic benefits on a local, regional and state level.
The City of Watertown, in recent years, has established real momentum in its downtown and waterfront revitalization efforts. Substantial public and private sector investments have been made in the very concentrated Public Square area and the City has continuously invested in the creation of trails and parks along the river.