Request to revamp Milton's riverfront gets just one response, city council to reject it

Milton has hit another snag as it seeks a proposal for developing city-owned properties along Broad Street.

After original plans fell stagnant, the city went back on the hunt for developers in May to transform and revitalize the Blackwater riverfront.

The city has been acquiring separate parcels along the bend on either side of the Milton Marina on Quinn Street — where the development project is centered — which is two blocks south of Carpenter's Park and five blocks east of Stewart Street.

But Thursday evening, after the city received just one response to a request for proposals for developing the area, city staff advised the council to reject it.

"We're requesting that council will officially reject all responses and hold this property until such time as the market and economic forces turn in our favor," said the city's Director of Economic Development Ed Spears. "Inflation, supply chains, labor and material costs. We believe these were fundamental factors in why we didn't receive more responses."

Latest RFP response guaranteed only production of vision plan

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The lone response to the latest RFP, submitted by Birmingham-based consulting firm Orchestra Partners, offered to complete a strategic vision plan that identifies specific projects for redevelopment, to generate a redevelopment fund "seed fund" and to manage pre-development work, financing and construction.

The proposal also requested $65,000 from the city and guaranteed only the production of a vision plan over the course of 270 days, according to city staff.

"We will not be designing specific buildings in this proposal," Orchestra Partners' submission said. "We will not be projecting any specific financials goals for each property use. To do so would be putting the proverbial cart before the horse."

In agenda materials provided to the council, city staff noted, "The stated purpose of the RFP was to identify firms that could develop a marina, residential, restaurant/entertainment, and mixed-use development project and could demonstrate the ability to design, finance, and construct projects in accordance with the Request for Proposal (RFP). The Orchestra proposal does not meet that basic requirement."

The document also notes, "Given the Riverfront Master Plan, CRA Plans and other previously completed documents, an additional plan at this time seems unwarranted."

In the Orchestra Partners proposal, the company recognizes it does not take a traditional approach, but said it offers a large-scale vision for the riverfront's future.

"We want that future to be one of walkable and bikeable streets, where residents and visitors alike can move safely and leisurely from one activity node to another," the proposal reads. "Regarding this RFP, we will propose a new marina, bar and, or restaurant, residential units and a boutique hotel near Carpenter's Park connected to the historic downtown via a 'floating trail' along the water's edge, as depicted in the 2013 Riverfront Plan."

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The general idea is a public-private partnership in which the city holds ownership of the land, but a private company creates the commercial and community interest points to boost economic development in downtown Milton.

Officials and staff in the city weighed in on the newest proposal Thursday evening.

"I was intrigued by this proposal, although it didn't meet the minimum that we were asking for. There were some creative concepts," said Councilman Vernon Compton.

The council will take a formal vote on whether to accept or reject the proposal at an upcoming meeting.

Milton has had several setbacks in getting the waterfront development off the ground.

In January 2021, Milton selected proposals from two firms that pitched a riverfront entertainment district, complete with restaurants, residences, parks and a completely revitalized marina. One firm, Jones South Development LLC, withdrew its proposal a few months later.

The other firm, Blackwater Development Group, did not move forward with any substantive action, and the city decided to reissue the request for proposals.

Blackwater Development said its priority for the development was the marina, with plans to include a restaurant and retail area. The company also proposed community elements like a dog park, food truck market, 17 retail spaces, 17 office spaces, over 50 residential lots and 34 townhomes in the previous proposal.

The city's RFP notes the project entails about 7.9 acres that, based on market demand, have potential for one-, two- and three-bedroom upper floor apartments, as well as potential for restaurant, entertainment, marina, retail and commercial uses and associated parking on the ground floor.

Back in 2019, plans to improve the marina by the county were tabled because the county commissioners decided to shift RESTORE funding to wastewater plants in Navarre and Milton.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Milton efforts to redevelop Broad Street riverfront hit another snag