Redevelopment commission approves RFP to market Old Sellersburg Elementary with $652,500 minimum

The Town of Sellersburg Redevelopment Commission on June 1 voted to publish a request for proposals for the disposition and adaptive reuse of the Old Sellersburg Elementary School.

Commissioners reviewed a draft RFP prepared with the Wheatley Group that includes a conditions report, two appraisals and a map exhibit. The draft sets the minimum offering price as the average of the two appraisals, which the draft lists as $652,500. The commission discussed the appropriate response window — the draft proposed 60 days, but commissioners debated 30, 45 or 60 days and ultimately reached consensus to use a 30-day response period for initial submissions.

Nick Lawrence, who led the walkthrough of the draft, said the RFP will acknowledge the building’s historic nature, list development standards and zoning, and include instructions for site visits and how to submit questions. The evaluation criteria will include offering price, project description/vision, firm experience, financial capacity and references.

The commission named the review committee as Patrick, Doug and council member Randy Mobley from the district, and moved to publish the RFP as amended (30-day response) and open the solicitation. The motion to publish passed unanimously.

Staff said they will post the RFP to the town’s official public notice channels and the Redevelopment Commission website and will provide the full conditions report and appraisals as supporting exhibits. The commission noted respondents will need to review the town’s UDO and may request site visits; the RFP will include timelines for questions and responses.