QUINCY, MI — Village officials plan to sell a downtown property previously envisioned as a small business incubator, hoping a new development will better complement the business district and drive revitalization.
Village Manager Ryan Smead said the Quincy Village Council agreed Tuesday, May 19 to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for both the property at 14 E. Chicago St. and the cluster of sheds currently located on the site.
“The village council will issue an RFP for bids from anyone interested in purchasing the property, and another RFP for the sheds,” Smead said.
Each RFP will include a 30-day bidding period. Public notices will be published in the local newspaper and posted at the village office, library, and post office to ensure residents and potential developers are informed of the opportunity.
Smead said the council moved forward after multiple parties expressed interest in the site.
Any future development must comply with the property’s central business district zoning, and village leaders are seeking a project that blends with downtown Quincy’s character.
“We would like to find something that fits the aesthetics of our downtown,” Smead said, adding that a brick structure would be preferred over one that clashes with surrounding buildings.
Since 2019, the site has hosted small sheds as part of an initiative to provide low-cost space for entrepreneurs to test business ideas.
Smead described the concept as promising, though it did not meet expectations.
“The idea was great, it just didn’t work,” he said. “As with anything, you try something. If it doesn’t succeed, you learn from it and move forward. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
He noted that only a handful of sheds were in use last year, with some being used primarily for storage rather than commercial activity.
The council discussed acceptable minimum sale prices during a closed session, but will not disclose those figures in hopes of encouraging higher bids.
However, officials indicated they may consider a lower offer if the proposed development better aligns with their vision for the site.
The property itself carries historical significance. A three-story 1800s brick hotel once stood there until it was destroyed by fire in the 1960s, after which the village acquired the land.
Any future project will be required to meet not only zoning regulations but also all applicable building and development standards.
Contact Don Reid, dReid@USATodayCo.Com
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Quincy Village seeks buyers for shed incubator site on Chicago Street
Reporting by Don Reid, Coldwater Daily Reporter / Coldwater Daily Reporter
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