RFP - TO ACQUIRE OR LEASE THE FORMER BENJAMIN BARNES...

Agency:	City of Tuscaloosa
State:	Alabama
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	531120 - Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings (except Miniwarehouses) 531190 - Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
Posted Date:	Feb 4, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 23, 2026
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CITY OF TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

TO ACQUIRE OR LEASE THE FORMER BENJAMIN

BARNES BRANCH YMCA PROPERTY LOCATED AT

2939 18TH STREET AND ADJACENT PROPERTY

LOCATED AT 2937 18TH ST TUSCALOOSA,

ALABAMA

OCA File Number: OCA-24-0990

Issued by:

City of Tuscaloosa

Construction, Facilities &

Grounds

2201 University Boulevard

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401

Date Issued: February 4, 2026

Deadline for Proposals: March 23, 2026

LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

CONTENTS

Part 1 – Overview ............................................................................................................................. 1

Part 2 – Stipulations and Conditions ................................................................................................. 2

Part 3 – Instructions for Proposals .................................................................................................... 4

Part 4 – Selection Procedure ............................................................................................................ 8

PART 1 – OVERVIEW

The City of Tuscaloosa is requesting proposals from interested social service and civic agencies or

organizations to garner interest to either possibly acquire or lease the former Benjamin Barnes Branch

YMCA building and property at 2939 18th Street and the adjacent Weaver Bolden Building and property

at 2937 18th Street Tuscaloosa, Alabama to provide social, economic, educational, health, medical or

such other humanitarian services to underserved areas of the City of Tuscaloosa including West

Tuscaloosa.

The Benjamin Barnes Property contains approximately 2.29 acres. The building thereon contains

approximately 12,000 square feet and was built in 1961. The Weaver Bolden property contains

approximately 4,000 square feet and is approximately .073 acres. The City acquired the Benjamin

Barnes Property in 2021, Deed Book 2021 Page 3428 and the Weaver Bolden property in 1959 Deed

Book 434 page 83 as recorded in the Probate Office of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Both properties

will be vacated by the YMCA in early 2025 once the Benjamin Barnes Branch relocates to their new

facility by the McDonald Hughes Center. The Properties are in City Council District 1 and is currently

zoned R-3 (Residence District 3). Depending upon the proposed or contemplated use of the properties,

it may be necessary to have the properties rezoned for such use.

The intent is for the property to be used for community civic, charitable or social service uses. As such

it is expected that any civic, social service or charitable agencies or organizations adjust their service

hours to meet the convenient needs (for example night and weekends hours) of the community and

not that of the agency or organization.

Being that said properties were acquired or improved in whole or in part with Federal funds in past years, a

public hearing must be held regarding the disposition of the properties and further subject to any additional

requirements as required by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (HUD)

Upon selection by the City Council, the City will enter into negotiations with the successful

Respondents. Pending successful negotiations, the successful Respondents will enter into a sales

contract or lease for the properties with the City.

PART 2 – Stipulations and Conditions

The properties will be conveyed or leased “AS IS” and the City of Tuscaloosa will not make any

improvements or changes to the properties as a condition of any sale or lease. Given the age of the

Properties, the City makes no representation or warranty with respect to the Properties, including

without limitation, the value, quality or character of the Properties or its fitness or suitability for any

particular use and/or the physical and environmental condition of the Properties. A condition of any

sale or lease will require the successful respondent to be solely responsible for payment of utilities and

all repairs and maintenance of the properties and buildings.

1. The submission must include the respondents proposed use of the Properties and the services

and benefits to be provided to the community. A comprehensive proposal is anticipated, and

the extent to which the proposal conveys a vision of the proposal may be considered as a factor

in the City’s decision-making.

2. The entity making the proposal shall be clearly identified with full contact information. A

corporate or other non-natural entity shall clearly state all its principles, officers, members of

governing boards, and owners. A publicly traded company may make an appropriate reference

as to ownership. When any entity required to be disclosed is itself a corporate or other non-

natural entity, then the same disclosures shall be made for it, and so on down the line. All

information relative to the entity must be provided so as to allow the City to conduct full due

diligence. The proposal must give the names and full contact information of one or more specific

persons who can communicate authoritatively for the entity relative to the proposal within a

reasonable time of any inquiry from the City. Submission of a proposal constitutes full consent

for the City to conduct full due diligence, public database and internet searches, background

checks, investigations, and inquiries regarding the entity, the proposal, and any other associated

person or other entity.

3. Upon acceptance of a proposal by the City Council, the City may consider granting an exclusive

period of investigation and due diligence, to determine the feasibility of a proposal for a period

of time not to exceed an initial period of 90 days to the parties of the accepted proposal. The

parties may enter into a feasibility agreement which may address the terms and conditions of

said study including the proprietary rights thereto. All feasibility, appraisal and other studies

would be completed within the exclusive period of investigation and due diligence at the sole

cost and direction of the respondent. If the party determines that it is not feasible to use the

property or decides to withdraw its proposal at the end of the period for any reason, the City

reserves the right to reconsider all other proposals which were submitted and may select or

accept one of the proposals. If accepted, the City may consider granting the same terms and

conditions as were granted in the initial proposal. This process may be repeated as necessary

until such time as there are no longer any proposals to consider. If the respondent decides that

the proposal is feasible, it is anticipated that the respondent would notify the City of its desire

to proceed with the proposal and the parties may agree to enter into a lease or sales contract

within forty-five (45) days after said notification. Provided; however, the issuance by the City of

any license, permit, zoning, subdivision approval, certificate, utility service, or any other

discretionary approval or consent otherwise required by law or ordinance to any person, firm

or corporation regarding the Property will be expressly excluded from the due diligence period

and is hereby reserved by the City. The City also reserves the right to continue to the use of the

Property pending a formal agreement that provides otherwise.

4. HUD funds for improvements, maintenance and or repairs have been previously utilized on the

properties. Pursuant to HUD regulations any sales price or lease amount must be current fair

market value.

5. The Laws of State of Alabama shall govern and control all contracts and agreements between

the parties. In the event of any dispute between the parties as they relate to any provisions of

any agreement, the forum to hear and resolve said disputes shall be the Circuit Court of

Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The City generally does not enter into any agreements which

require the parties to submit disputes to binding arbitration.

6. The stipulations as set forth herein are issues which the City believes must be addressed in the

proposal. They are not to be considered all-inclusive nor designed to exclude any other terms,

conditions, or stipulations which the parties may desire to include in the proposal.

7. The proposer is responsible for ascertaining all applicable facts and law related to the RFP,

proposal, development, representations, and properties. The City will cooperate in any

reasonable manner consistent with law and the RFP, and of course intends to fulfill all its legal

and contractual obligations, but the ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the proposal falls

to the entity making the proposal. No representation may be attributed to the City unless made

in writing by an authorized City official, employee, or agent.

8. In general, the proposals shall become public record upon public opening by the City. If the

proposer includes any material that it desires to not be made public (such as trade secrets or

highly sensitive financial information), then such information shall be clearly segregated and

denoted as “confidential – not intended for public disclosure,” and shall include all pertinent

information explaining why the proposer believes it should not be made public (NOTE that this

explanation under any circumstances will itself be made public, and therefore the explanation

should not include sensitive information). In regard to such information, the City will follow

Alabama public records law as to any public disclosure and reserves the right to unilaterally

determine if information is public record. The proposer shall indemnify and hold harmless the

City from any civil liability including costs and attorney fees arising from the City’s attempt to

not disclose any such information. The official policy of the City of Tuscaloosa is to conduct the

public’s business openly and the proposal is expected to understand and reflect that principle.

No part of the proposal will be returned.

9. The City of Tuscaloosa reserves the right to reject any or all proposals; to make a selection, if it

so chooses, based on any lawful factor; to terminate the RFP process at any time, subject only

to any binding contracts; to negotiate terms and conditions of any agreement, with any entity

making a proposal; or to take any lawful action in regard to the subject property. This RFP shall

be deemed to be automatically amended to the extent required for it to conform to federal,

state, or local law. Although this RFP and/or in any proposal may be incorporated in whole or in

part into any agreement, all statements and provisions herein may be superseded by any

agreement between the City and any party. The City reserves the right to negotiate all terms of

any agreement.

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

RFP - TO ACQUIRE OR LEASE THE FORMER BENJAMIN BARNES BRANCH YMCA RFP - TO ACQUIRE OR LEASE THE FORMER BENJAMIN BARNES BRANCH YMCA PROPERTY pdf

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