BUILDING SALE OF 901/903 MAIN STREET

The Town of Manchester is requesting proposals from experienced real estate owners and/or developers interested in purchasing an iconic historic building in the center of Downtown Manchester. The Town seeks to select one proposal from a qualified entity or team in keeping with the preferred goals, objectives and uses outlined in this document.

Manchester is a forward-thinking community of nearly 60,0000 residents and the commercial, entertainment and residential hub of the east-of-the-river Greater Hartford region. This Request for Proposals outlines important information regarding the site, the context for this project, the qualification documentation and other information to be submitted.

The building is a 2 ½ story, 5,000 sq-ft building on a 0.18 acre parcel. The property is currently home to WORK_SPACE, a Town-owned-and-operated co-working and meeting space with multiple public art galleries and numerous private offices. The building does not have its own dedicated parking lot but ample public parking is available nearby. The site is zoned Central Business District (CBD), a mixed-use district that allows a wide variety of residential and commercial uses.

The Town envisions a use or uses that will continue to drive foot traffic and economic activity to Downtown Manchester and ideally, provides for the continuation of the Town's gallery operation and cultural offerings into the near future.

Manchester’s Downtown is in the midst of a positive transformation, fueled by tens of millions of dollars in public and private funds over the past five years. While key incremental improvements have come steadily during that time, the Town’s efforts are about to be turbo-charged with a $50 million, 75,000 sf public library project soon to be completed. Additionally, a $40 million private mixed-use development has recently been proposed directly across Main Street. Investments of this scale have not been seen in over 100 years in Downtown Manchester.

Downtown is an authentic mixed-use district, the great majority of which was constructed in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Existing buildings occupy all or most of the lot area on which they stand and represent a well-preserved collection of Victorian era commercial architecture including Classical Revival, Romanesque, and Queen Anne Revival styles. Main Street runs north and south from I-384 to Routes 6 and 44.

Downtown has endured several shifts in retail activity to other areas of town, first to the Broad Street area with the development of the Manchester Parkade shopping center in the 1960's. The opening of the Buckland Hills Mall in 1989 began the rapid development of the Buckland Hills area into a superregional shopping, entertainment and residential destination. Despite these shifts, Downtown’s access to Interstate 384 and State Routes 6 and 44, its historic significance, unique architecture, central location and flexible zoning regulations have allowed it to continue to remain a viable center of activity in the community. Recent interest in supporting local businesses, downtown living, walkability and vibrant quality of life have burgeoned Downtown as a true, center of commerce, culture, and community.

Today, Downtown includes restaurants, specialty retail shops, and financial and personal service offices. Newer businesses including Silk City Coffee, Urban Lodge Brewing, and the Firestone Art Studio and Café, which have opened in recent years and along with older, established businesses, draw customers both locally and from the surrounding region. Downtown sits between two of Manchester’s historic neighborhoods and is served directly by I-384 Exit 4. The district also benefits from CT Transit bus service and currently has over 800 public parking spaces. In 2024 the Downtown area was officially designated by the State of Connecticut as a Cultural District. Additionally, the Town’s planned $20 million dollar streetscape improvement project will result in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements, additional outdoor dining opportunities and public spaces and amenities in the coming years. More information is available here: https://yourvoicemattersmanchesterct.com/downtown-manchester-improvements-project

The building has served as home to the Town-operated WORK_SPACE for over a decade. Envisioned as a coworking, meeeting and entrepreneurial center, the space has evolved to include a vibrant art component, centered around the gallery. The small office spaces are nearly all occupied by small businesses or nonprofits and the building hosts hundreds of visitors each month. The Town desires to sell the property and ideally, lease back all, or a portion of the first floor in order to maintain its status as an arts and clulture hub.