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Council authorizes negotiations with Red Queen Bookstore to buy 200 N. Public Road
Summary
After a two‑phase RFP and large community engagement, the review committee ranked the Red Queen Bookstore & Cafe top for adaptive reuse of 200 N. Public Rd.; council gave staff authority to negotiate purchase and development agreements to preserve a local business and activate downtown.
Staff presented the RFP process for 200 North Public Road, a former Chase bank building the city acquired as part of a downtown parking strategy. The two‑phase solicitation (late April and May) drew three competitive proposals and about 1,800 community responses during a public engagement period. The review committee evaluated technical proposals, financing feasibility and community fit and recommended the Red Queen Bookstore & Cafe as the preferred developer for a flagship bookstore, cafe and year‑round community event space.
Red Queen co‑owners Barb and Deirdre described their programming needs — author events, expanded retail and community gatherings — and said their current site is too small for author signings and other events. Council authorized the city manager to enter negotiations for a purchase and sale and a development agreement that will include performance milestones, protections (first right of refusal, owner‑occupancy commitments) and financing verification. Council voted unanimously to begin negotiations.
