JEFF DALEY
WESTFIELD – The Purchasing Department has issued a request for proposals (RFPs) for companies interested in developing land at the industrial park created last year by the City Council.
City Purchaser Tammy Tefft released the RFP with an April 4, 2014 deadline to submit a formal proposal to develop land off Turnpike Industrial Park. The city owns 66 acres of land between Turnpike Industrial Park and Cabot roads. The city maintains, under terms of the RFP publication, the right to accept or reject any and all proposals submitted.
City Advancement Officer Jeff Daley said there has been interest recently from a private manufacturing firm to develop a portion of the park abutting Turnpike Industrial Park Road. Daley declined to identify the manufacturing firm other than saying it is a California-based company interested in building a facility that could provide as many as 100 manufacturing jobs.
“They are interested in a portion of the park larger than the five-acre concept we originally had, but would be a good fit in the southern section of the park, which would leave the northern section for the small mom and pop manufacturing concept,” Daley said. ”We still have to go through the public review process which allows us to evaluate the proposals and still control the destiny of the site.”
“We still want to maintain sensitivity for the nearby residents. We remain committed to getting businesses that will be good industrial neighbors,” Daley said.
One of the requirements is that firms purchasing land will be required to extend the city’s infrastructure, water, gas and electric and sewers to the property they purchase for development.
“They have to bring infrastructure into their site which will benefit the city by reducing the cost of building out the infrastructure,” Daley said. “We intend to keep these proposals near the Turnpike Industrial Road section, the southern portion of the property and preserve the northern area for small manufacturing projects consistent with the original concept for the park.
“It’s a great project for Westfield, an exciting opportunity,” Daley said. “The sale of land will have to go through the City Council for approval.”
