HomeMy WebLinkAboutRFP to receive ownership of Story Mansion City of Bozeman, Montana
Request for Proposals to Receive Ownership of the Story Mansion
The City of Bozeman (City) is currently accepting proposals from nonprofit organizations or groups to
purchase or obtain by gift the historic Story Mansion and associated real property (Property) pursuant to
2.05.030.13, Bozeman Municipal Code. The City Commission reserves the right to accept, add
conditions to, or reiect any proposal. A purchase and sale agreement for transfer of the property
must be negotiated and entered into by the City and the selected entity.
The Property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was built by T.B. Story in 1910
and sold to the City in 2004. The Property consists of grounds, a Mansion building and an accessory
detached Carriage House and is zoned R-1 (single family residential) with the first floor of the Mansion
operated as a community center pursuant to a conditional use permit. The City has invested significant
funds into restoring the building including renovations to the first floor, basement, and exterior of the
building. The funds used for restoration have included various federal and state historic preservation
grants. Currently, additional restoration is required for the Carriage House and the second and third
floors of the Mansion.
The selected entity must agree to purchase or obtain by gift the Property subject to specific criteria set
forth herein. Foremost, the selected entity must agree to preserve and restore the Property within a
period of time to be agreed upon with the Bozeman City Commission and to operate the first floor of the
Mansion principally as a public community center in a manner substantially similar to its current use.
The selected purchaser must also accept the Property subject to an existing 50-year (Gallatin County
Clerk and Recorder document number 2338483) and a five-year historic preservation easements both
with the State of Montana and shall agree to comply with all requirements of these existing easements.
The selected entity will also take the property subject to a reversion to the City for noncompliance with
conditions attached to its transfer.
The selected entity will be required to ensure any subsequent purchaser of the Property complies with all
requirements and conditions.
The City makes no representations or assurances regarding any aspect or condition of the Property. The
buildings may contain asbestos or other environmentally sensitive substances. Subject to applicable
law, the purchaser or grantee will be solely responsible for compliance with all federal, state and local
laws concerning these substances, if any. Interested parties must perform their own due diligence to
ascertain Property condition.
Each entity interested in obtaining the Property must submit a written proposal and provide or
demonstrate the following:
I. A narrative describing the entity, its history and purpose, and its relationship to the city of
Bozeman along with a listing of the entity's legal name, primary contact person, address,
telephone number, fax number, web site (if any), and email address.
2. The submitting entity is, or will be at the time of sale, qualified as a non-profit organization
under federal and state law.
3. Whether the submitting entity proposes to purchase the Property or seek the Property as a gift
from the City.
4. A detailed plan for current and future use of the Carriage House, the Mansion, and the grounds
within the confines of existing zoning requirements. The plan must include:
a. A plan for how the first floor of the Mansion, including the Library, will be used
primarily as a public community center in substantially similar manner to its current use.
b. A plan indicating how the Property will be preserved and restored and a timeline for
restoration accompanied by a statement indicating the submitting entity agrees to restore
and preserve the Property subject to all federal, state, and local easements or restrictions
for historic preservation and all applicable building codes.
c. A statement indicating whether and to what extent the Carriage House and the second and
third floors of the Mansion will be used for public-oriented educational, cultural, or
community-type functions.
5. The submitting entity has sufficient funds and organizational capacity to the obtain ownership of
and preserve the Property, to operate the first floor as primarily a public community center, and
to preserve and restore the Carriage House and the second and third floors of the Mansion.
6. That it agrees to enter into good faith negotiations regarding a purchase and sale agreement that
will include terms as identified herein and those established by the Bozeman City Commission.
The City Commission will evaluate all proposals and may select a proposal that will best serve and
further the public interest.
Proposals must be received no later than 5:00 P.M. July 18, 2011 at the office of the City Clerk, 121
North Rouse Ave., Bozeman, MT 59715. The mailing address is: City Clerk, City of Bozeman, P.O.
Box 1230, Bozeman, MT 59771. Electronic submissions may be sent to apenda@,bozeman.net. Please
state "Story Mansion Sale Proposal" on the outside of the submittal or the subject line.
Copies of this request may be obtained from the City Clerk, 121 North Rouse Ave., Bozeman, MT
59715. A copy is also posted at the City of Bozeman's web page at www.bozeman.net. Please direct all
questions regarding this request to Chris Kukulski, Bozeman City Manager, City of Bozeman, P.O. Box
1230, Bozeman, MT 59771. Telephone number: (406) 582-2273. Email address:
ckukulski@bozeman.net. Documents related to the property are available for review at the City Clerk's
office, 121 North Rouse Ave., Bozeman, MT. A tour of the property may be arranged for serious
inquiries by contacting James Goehrung, Director of Facilities, at i og ehrung@bozeman.net or by calling
(406) 582-3232.