RFQu 6870 West Walnut Mixed-Use Development Project

Agency:	City of Johnson City
State:	Tennessee
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	236220 - Commercial and Institutional Building Construction 541511 - Custom Computer Programming Services 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Posted Date:	Oct 3, 2025
Due Date:	Dec 2, 2025
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420 West Walnut

Mixed-Use Development Project

Request for Qualifications

RFQu #6870

Due Date/Time:

December 2, 2025 by 2:00 p.m. EST

(at which time it will publicly opened)

City of Johnson City

Purchasing Department

209 Water Street

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 975-2717

Request for

Qualifications

420 West Walnut Street

Mixed-Use Development

RFQu # 6870

October 3, 2025

Vision

Johnson City is seeking a visionary

development partner to transform

420 West Walnut Street into a

vibrant mixed-use destination that

bridges ETSU with our thriving

downtown. This project will serve as

a cornerstone of the West Walnut

Corridor’s revitalization, combining

retail, housing, and structured

parking in a walkable, welcoming

environment. Thoughtful design

should celebrate the city’s authentic

character while creating modern

spaces that strengthen community

life, fuel economic growth, and

sustain the city’s momentum as a

dynamic hub for residents, students,

and visitors alike.

Table of

Contents

Invitation and Overview

Objectives, Scope of Service

and Timeline

Submission

Requirements & Instructions

Evaluation Criteria

Agreement Parameters and

Key Dates

General Terms and Conditions

3 | RFQu - 420 W. Walnut Street

Section 1: Invitation & Overview

1.1 Invitation

The City of Johnson City (City) is issuing a Request for Qualifications to identify and select a qualified

developer for a mixed-use development of the 420 W Walnut Street property located in Johnson City,

Tennessee. This publicly owned parcel is approximately 1.26 acres of ready for development property.

The City invites experienced development firms specializing in the development, financing, design,

and construction of mixed-use projects to submit their qualifications in response to this Request for

Qualifications (RFQu). Selected firms that demonstrate the necessary expertise and capability will be

invited to participate in a subsequent Part II, the Request for Proposals (RFP).

The City’s selection of a developer for the Project will proceed as described below.

• Part I – RFQu. Proposers are requested to submit written responses that outline their knowledge

and experience in providing development services. Based on the Part I responses, the City will then

identify a shortlist of Proposers that are best qualified to participate in a Part II RFP of the selection

process.

1.2 Overview

Johnson City (population 73,635) is one of the Tennessee/Virginia Tri-Cities along with Kingsport and

Bristol (combined statistical area population 597,628). The city spans 43 square miles and is the eighth-

largest city in Tennessee. Nestled in the foothills of the scenic Appalachian Mountains in Washington

County, this thriving urban community has consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best and most

popular small metro areas boasting an affordable cost of living, no state income tax, and outstanding

schools, parks, sports, and fitness facilities. The city is directly accessible from interstates 26 and 81 and

is a short drive to access commercial air service at the Tri-Cities Airport (TRI

4 | RFQu - 420 W. Walnut Street

Community OVERVIEW

CONTINUED

Amenities

As a regional hub in a four-state

area, the community boasts a

variety of retail businesses, from

well-known national chains to

local boutiques and galleries.

Entertainment and dining

options abound, with Johnson

City serving as the Tri-Cities

area destination for retail,

dining, entertainment, and

leisure options. Annual

community events include

the Blue Plum Festival, Meet

the Mountains, Umoja Unity

Festival, Main Street Days, and

Candy Land Christmas. The

community recently opened a

1,200-seat fine arts center that

further expands area cultural

and theater offerings, including

an annual Broadway series.

Recreational opportunities

are plentiful in the region’s

mountains and lakes, including

climbing, hiking, skiing,

whitewater rafting, boating,

fishing, and golfing. Popular

biking and hiking trails include

the 10-mile Tweetsie Trail

that connects Johnson City

to Elizabethton. The Tannery

Knobs Mountain Bike Park is

just off the interstate and a half-

mile from downtown Johnson

City’s breweries, shops, and

restaurants. The park includes

numerous off-road bike trails

and an asphalt pump track that

offers fun for all ages and skill

levels. For more panoramic

views, the 725-acre Buffalo

Mountain Park features nearly

nine miles of trails, with White

Rock, Tip Top, and Huckleberry

Knob offering the best majestic

overlooks.

Education

The Johnson City School

System provides Pre-K through

grade 12 education to more than

8,000 students on 11 campuses.

Johnson City Schools are

consistently exceeds state

and national averages for

the ACT, SAT, and state test

scores with Science Hill High

School currently ranked within

Tennessee’s top ten schools.

Although a component unit

and part of the City’s Annual

Budget, the Johnson City Public

School System is governed

by an elected seven-member

School Board who appoint a

Superintendent to run the day-

to-day operations of the district.

The City owns all of the school

facilities and provides student

transit services. Johnson

City is also the home of East

Tennessee State University

(ETSU), which has an enrollment

of over 14,000 students. Other

higher educational institutions

include Milligan University and

Northeast State Community

College.

Healthcare

Medical services are provided

by Ballad Health, which

operates Johnson City Medical

Center (a Level 1 Trauma

Center) and Niswonger

Children’s Hospital; ETSU’s

Quillen College of Medicine, the

Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy,

and the James H. Quillen

Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Collectively, these healthcare

interests have created a

dynamic Med-Tech Corridor

that attracts both talent and

investment.

Economics

Major employers include Ballad

Health, East Tennessee State

University and Veterans Affairs

Medical Center. Johnson City

has a diverse manufacturing

base that includes A.O. Smith

Corporation (a world leading

manufacturer of residential and

commercial water heaters and

boilers), Crown Laboratories,

(a skincare/beauty company

that produces Blue Lizard

Australian Sunscreen), and the

area is recognized as a leader in

aerospace engineering.

Johnson City’s median

household income is $55,406

with a median value of owner-

occupied housing of $271,600.

Technology

Johnson City is a 10-gig

(upload/download) Smart City.

Area economic development

agencies offer programs

with financial incentives for

individuals who choose to

relocate to the area to start

their businesses.

5 | RFQu - 420 W. Walnut Street

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

RFQu 6870 West Walnut Mixed-Use Development Project

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