Mayor Soglin announced the release of a Request for Proposals to develop the 800 North Block of East Washington Avenue within Madison's Capitol East District. The full block site was home to a Don Miller car dealership prior to being purchased by the city.

"This block represents one of the most exciting development opportunities in Madison," Mayor Paul Soglin said. "This may be the only clear, full block site near the downtown currently available. And both the City and the neighborhood are ready to support dense, sustainable, high quality development here."

The site totals 196,020 square feet (approximately 4.5 acres) and is located at 802 and 854 East Washington Avenue. The City has received grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency ($400,000) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ($400,000) to demolish structures and address environmental issues on the parcel. The buildings have already been demolished, with environmental remediation of the site to begin in 2013.

"We're seeking to choose a partner and hand them a clean, pad-ready site," Mayor Soglin said.

A previous RFP for the City's 700 and 800 Block E. Washington Avenue holdings helped launch Gebhardt Development's twelve story mixed-use and apartment building currently under construction on a nearby parcel. The proposal originally selected for the 800 North Block site did not move forward due to City and developer concerns about the economic feasibility given the weakness in the commercial market.

"Over the past year, a variety of residential and retail users have expressed their interest in this site," said Steve Cover, Director of the Department of Planning and Community Development and Economic Development. "We hope to get strong, well thought-out proposals."

The Mayor and Common Council formed an East Washington Avenue 800 Block North Committee to develop the RFP and oversee the selection of a partner. The RFP is available at: www.cityofmadison.com/business. Responses are due on February 15, 2013.

For more information about the RFP, please contact Don Marx with the City's Office of Real Estate services at dmarx@cityofmadison.com or 608-267-8717.