Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lovington considers RFP to redevelop seven North Chavez lots, officials push for housing
Summary
City procurement staff urged commissioners to use an RFP (not an invitation-to-bid) to prioritize redevelopment and affordable housing on seven North Chavez parcels; commissioners directed procurement to draft an RFP scope for review and advertising.
Procurement officer Lesie Bolt told the Lovington City Commission on June 8 that the city owns seven parcels on North Chavez and must choose whether to use an invitation to bid (price-focused) or a request for proposals (RFP) that would let the commission weigh redevelopment goals beyond price, such as affordable housing and minimum investment requirements.
"If the goal is redevelopment, housing, mixed-use development, economic impact, an RFP . . . would allow evaluations of factors beyond price," Bolt said, noting appraisals and surveys are complete and that state rules require written explanations when property sells for less than appraised values. Several commissioners and EDC representatives argued for housing-focused development to improve neighborhood conditions and reduce trucking yards in mixed‑use blocks.
Why it matters: Commissioners and local developers said the parcels could supply homes for residents currently living on-site in RVs and relieve a local housing shortage. Procurement discussed practical steps, including a 21‑day advertisement window and options for scoring matrices, quarterly deliverables and reversion clauses to require development timelines.
Next steps: Procurement will prepare an RFP scope for the commission to review; staff said a draft could be ready for the next meeting and published after commission resolution and the required advertisement period.
