DeSoto lays out Hampton Road corridor strategy; RFP for development expected by mid‑September
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Summary
Economic development director described concepts and a roughly $30,000 professional‑services package to shape an RFP and conceptual materials for the southern Hampton Road corridor; council discussed incentives, infrastructure and marketing.
Economic Development Director Matt Carlson briefed the City Council on July 14 on work to advance redevelopment of the Hampton Road corridor, describing an effort to package opportunities, solicit development interest and use city‑owned parcels at the Hampton‑BeltLine intersection as demonstration projects.
Carlson said the city has about $1.5 million in a corridor fund to support public or quasi‑public activities in the corridor and has engaged or will soon engage Catalyst (Jason Claunch) to help prepare conceptual materials and shape an RFP. He said the city owns two high‑profile parcels at the corridor’s southern end: roughly 24 acres at the southwest corner and about 8.5 acres at the northwest corner of the key intersection. The proposal includes conceptual work, intersection rework and packaging to attract developers.
A professional‑services package to prepare the RFP and conceptual materials is estimated at about $30,000, Carlson said. He told council the staff aims to release an RFP in mid‑September 2025, allow several months for responses and review submissions after the new year.
Council members asked about the incentive toolbox. Carlson said the city will use a range of tools depending on projects, including sales‑tax rebates, tenant‑improvement assistance, infrastructure support and public‑private partnership structures where the private sector may install public infrastructure. He emphasized the need for clear project packaging and external marketing to attract developers and suggested coordinating communications to the public and development community.
Council members also asked about phasing and whether the road and infrastructure work would precede development. Carlson said redevelopment is expected to proceed in blocks to limit traffic disruption and that concentrating activity at the southern end should produce visible results to encourage further investment.
Carlson said staff will return with RFP materials and that the corridor work will aim to create catalytic projects that support the broader vision for Hampton Road.
