Board authorizes staff to negotiate Gardens At Midtown townhome contract after single RFQ response

Sarah Evers presented that the Gardens At Midtown residential RFQ produced a single response from a partnership led by National Development of America together with Bart Dahl Land Development and Rhino Construction.

Staff said the proposal would build 12 to 15 townhomes (three-bedroom, two-bath units sized roughly 1,200–2,000 sq ft) with front porches, yards, rear garages, and an HOA-managed residential community. The proposal’s timeline estimates about 12 months for permitting/infrastructure and an additional 8–12 months for vertical construction. Staff recommended the board authorize staff to negotiate a contract with the respondent and suggested contract language that would split the parcel into two phases so land-acquisition reimbursement would occur after phased construction and occupancy.

"The staff and evaluation committee have met with the proposal and we are recommending to move forward with an award and allow staff to negotiate a contract with them," Sarah said during the presentation.

Board members asked whether the land had been purchased with housing funds and how much had been spent to date; staff said the IDA owns the land and that purchase costs would be pulled together for the board. Kristen Chapman explained how the housing dollars were budgeted in the South Fort Meade special revenue fund and that $1,000,000 had been allocated to Gardens At Midtown, with most of that funding expected to cover design and engineering while the RIF parking grant would cover lot improvements.

A motion to accept the evaluation committee’s recommendation and authorize staff to negotiate a contract was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.