Let's do this thing: Armory Proposals Needed

Above: Aerial view of the Cranston Street Armory in 2018, courtesy of Knight & Swan LLC


Last week, the State of Rhode Island released its official Request for Proposals (RFP) for the restoration and development of our neighborhood castle, the Cranston Street Armory, and we need ALL HANDS ON DECK in spreading the word to developers, users, and operators just down the street or as far afield as you know.

Most immediately, the State is holding a pre-bid meeting for interested respondents at 10am on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at the Department of Administration (Powers Building), One Capitol Hill, Providence (2nd Floor, Conference Room “A”). This pre-bid meeting provides an opportunity to not only get more information from the State, but to meet other interested parties who may be seeking partnership or “matchmaking” possibilities with other developers or operators.

Site visits of the Armory will also be held for interested respondents on the same day as the pre-bid meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 1:00pm, and again on Monday, March 24, 2020 at 10am.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) is a document that reflects well over three years of intentional work between RI's Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), led by Director Carole Cornelison, the Cranston Street Armory Steering Committee – which includes WBNA's Executive Director Kari Lang and other community stakeholders – and neighbors who showed up again and again to make sure their voices were heard about their vision for this local and regional asset.

The RFP outlines its aims for the activation and potential of the site, with weight given to embedded community and economic benefits: “The State seeks to redevelop the Armory in order to restore and activate an architectural and historic landmark which has the potential to stimulate economic and community development opportunities for the neighborhood, city, and region.”

Highlights of the State’s Request for Proposals

  • Proposers can be a single entity or a “selection of multiple respondents”

  • Proposals can include a single use or a combination of uses

  • Phased development is acceptable. For example, the drill hall could be developed in an early phase, followed by a phased development of the towers

  • Demonstration of community benefit and public access is a requirement of the RFP, with up to 20 percent of available review/scoring points reserved for proposals demonstrating such benefit

  • Any potential impacts on the surrounding communities such as traffic and noise must be indicated with consideration to mitigation

  • Renovations must be responsive to preserving the historic integrity of the building

  • “Long-term financial sustainability” is an explicit goal of the State for the building’s reuse

  • State and City employees, as well as community members, will take part in the RFP review committee

  • Qualifying proposals must be publicly presented to the community

  • Extra scoring points are given to proposals that employ Independent Small Business Enterprises – contractors and sub-contractors – which include Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBE), Women-owned Business Enterprises, and Disability Business Enterprises

  • Proposals are due June 12, 2020, at 11am


We want creative, regionally-attracting and neighborhood appropriate/inclusive users that open the doors of the Armory as an active, public place for Rhode Islanders as it had been in its rich past. Did you dream it would be a year-round Farmer’s Market? An arts venue? A concert hall? Then send the RFP to all the folks you know who could make it happen or who could join with others to make it happen! We need big vision, big creativity, and lots of help to get the word out!

Thanks to everyone who has participated in this process so far, and special thanks and acknowledgement to Director Cornelison and her team for their continued commitment to this important building.




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