Woonsocket seeking proposals for former middle school

The former Woonsocket Middle School, an attached configuration of four buildings, is the subject of a request for redevelopment proposals. / COURTESY CITY OF WOONSOCKET
The former Woonsocket Middle School, an attached configuration of four buildings, is the subject of a request for redevelopment proposals. / COURTESY CITY OF WOONSOCKET

WOONSOCKET – The former Woonsocket Middle School, an attached configuration of four buildings, is the subject of a request for redevelopment proposals.
The former school dates to 1915 and includes 2.98 acres of land and 485,000 square feet of interior space. It closed in January 2010. The city is interested in receiving proposals from developers, builders, investors and real estate agents, according to the RFP. The four separate, but attached, buildings are being studied for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, according to the city document.
The city describes the following as conditions for consideration: Priority will be given to proposals that retain at least half of the existing building square footage, and special attention must be given to retaining existing architectural and historic design features.
Suggested re-uses include commercial and residential, mixed-use with residential units priced for an upscale market and continuing care retirement facilities, such as an assisted living or nursing home.
The city of Woonsocket, which has 16 percent of its housing stock priced for low to moderate housing, already exceeds the required percentage for such housing in Rhode Island.
Consideration also will be given to projects that result in ongoing, sustainable employment opportunities in connection with use of the property, according to the RFP.
New construction in part or total may be considered, provided it is “sympathetic to the historic character of the buildings.”
The city will entertain offers that are at least $400,000 that are submitted by the deadline of 2 p.m. Oct. 13.

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