New Bedford committee clears way to seek proposals for advanced manufacturing campus at Whaling City Golf Course

The New Bedford Committee on City Property voted to move forward with a request for proposals (RFP) process for roughly 95 acres of the municipally owned Whaling City Golf Course to be developed as an advanced manufacturing campus (AMC).

The committee determined that a portion of the golf course "is not currently needed for municipal purposes," approved offering the parcel for lease (and later for possible sale), and authorized the city's purchasing department to issue an RFP substantially similar to the draft presented to the committee. Committee roll calls recorded the motions as approved (determination not needed for municipal purposes: 8-0; offer for lease/sale and RFP authorization: recorded votes 7-1 where noted).

Why this matters: The administration says the project is intended to grow the city's tax base and create jobs, while structuring the deal to reduce financial and operational risk to the city and preserve ongoing golf play.

City staff and the administration presented the RFP framework and timeline. Neil Mello, chief of staff for Mayor Mitchell, told the committee the administration seeks council approval to issue an RFP for the identified acreage and that the draft RFP is written to "reduce risks to the private sector so there is interest in the property and to reduce risk to the city, both financially and operationally so we can ensure that golf play continues." Mello said the RFP contemplates continuation of 18-hole play at the golf course.

Mello said the administration expects a roughly 60-day submission window for the RFP, an evaluation committee that will include the ward councilor and relevant department heads, and nonbinding recommendations from the committee back to the full council. He said the hope was to have proposals in hand in time to support an application for a MassWorks grant to pay for public infrastructure such as an access road; the administration noted the MassWorks application is due June 4 and that letters of support are required for that program.

Derek Santos of the New Bedford Economic Development Council emphasized that "the grant application requires letters of support," and that multiple proposers could provide letters if needed for the MassWorks submission.

Andrew Julian, a consultant with R and D Consultants, described market conditions for industrial-type uses as improving in 2025 and 2026 and said the site's transportation access and proximity to an airport make it favorable across market scenarios, while cautioning that phasing would likely be preferred to immediate large-scale construction.

The committee voted on a slate of related motions: to determine the parcel not needed for municipal purposes (passed 8-0); to authorize offering the parcel for lease (vote recorded 7-1); to authorize the purchasing department to issue the RFP under the cited city code (vote recorded 7-1); and, on a subsequent clarifying motion, to also offer the parcel for potential sale (vote recorded 7-1). Committee members discussed appraisal and departmental surveys; staff said an appraisal had been authorized and the planning department was conducting or would present appraisal information in conjunction with recommendations.

What was not decided: No developer was selected and no sale or lease agreement was executed at the meeting. The committee emphasized that issuing an RFP is not binding on the city or the committee and that the committee retains discretion to accept or reject proposals.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the appraisal and the purchasing department will publish an RFP substantially similar to the draft presented; the administration indicated it would seek to include MassWorks grant support in parallel with the procurement process. The committee will receive and review proposals and any written recommendations from the administration.

The committee meeting on March 19, 2025, concluded without any final property disposition beyond the RFP authorization and the record of votes described above.