BUILDING REPURPOSING OF MARY CHENEY LIBRARY

The Town of Manchester is requesting proposals from established organizations or entities interested in occupying an iconic historic building within a visible, accessible public park in Downtown Manchester. The Town Board of Directors' intent is to see the Mary Cheney Library building repurposed as a community asset and to bring renewed energy and vitality to the Downtown District. The Town seeks a use or combination of uses that will take advantage of the character of the location and space, while preserving the full exterior of the existing building. One proposal from a qualified entity or team in keeping with the preferred goals, objectives and uses outlined in this document will be selected.

Manchester is a forward-thinking community of 60,000 residents and the commercial, entertainment and residential hub of the east-of-the-river Greater Hartford region. This Request for Proposals outlines important information regarding the site, the context for this project, the qualification documentation and other information to be submitted.

The project site is located at 586 Main Street, at the north end of Manchester’s vibrant Downtown district. The Colonial Revival style building was constructed in 1937 and expanded to its current 26,135 sq-ft in 1962. It has served the community as a public library for almost 90 years. The building itself is of primarily brick construction, with Palladian windows set into recessed brick arches. It is perfectly symmetrical, including the two wings flanking either side. A pediment caps the projecting front portico, overhanging stone steps and held up by Doric columns.

The Mary Cheney Library falls within the Main Street Historic District which runs from Center Street to Eldridge Street (see attached map). The Main Street Historic District is considered a National Register Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While the building is not listed individually, it is listed as a contributing building to the larger district.

The building sits within Center Memorial Park, also known as Cheney Park. The park is laid out in an informal and romantic manner with winding paths and landscaping. The building shares a plot with the Manchester Probate Court, which is also a contributing structure to the district. Center Park provides passive recreation opportunities along with an outdoor concert and theater venue, a hill often used for sledding during the winter and a green space for gathering and outdoor events. The park also offers opportunities to learn about the Town’s history including the Revolutionary War Memorial Fountain, Civil War Monument, and Spanish American War Monument can be found there.

Manchester’s Downtown is in the midst of a positive transformation, fueled by tens of millions of dollars in public and private funds over the past five years. While key incremental improvements have come steadily during that time, the Town’s efforts are about to be turbo-charged with a $50 million, 75,000 sf public library project soon to be completed. The new library will still be located on Main Street, several blocks to the south. The project envisioned in this RFP will occupy the site of the previous library building and is intended to both compliment and benefit from this generational public investment. In addition to public investment, the district has seen a marked increase in private downtown investment over the past several years. Most recently, a $40 million private mixed-use development has recently been proposed directly across the street from the new library. Investments of this scale have not been seen in over 100 years in Downtown Manchester.

Downtown is an authentic mixed-use district, the great majority of which was constructed in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Existing buildings occupy all or most of the lot area on which they stand and represent a well-preserved collection of Victorian era commercial architecture including Classical Revival, Romanesque, and Queen Anne Revival styles. Main Street runs north and south from I-384 to Routes 6 and 44.

Downtown has endured several shifts in retail activity to other areas of town, first to the Broad Street area with the development of the Manchester Parkade shopping center in the 1960's. The opening of the Buckland Hills Mall in 1989 began the rapid development of the Buckland Hills area into a superregional shopping, entertainment and residential destination. Despite these shifts, Downtown’s access to Interstate 384 and State Routes 6 and 44, its historic significance, unique architecture, central location and flexible zoning regulations have allowed it to continue to remain a viable center of activity in the community. Recent interest in supporting local businesses, downtown living, walkability and vibrant quality of life have burgeoned Downtown as a true, center of commerce, culture, and community.

Today, Downtown includes restaurants, specialty retail shops, and financial and personal service offices. Newer businesses including Silk City Coffee, Urban Lodge Brewing, and the Firestone Art Studio and Café, which have opened in recent years and along with older, established businesses, draw customers both locally and from the surrounding region. The Town-owned-and-operated WORK_SPACE is a unique co-working and meeting space with multiple public art galleries that hosts entrepreneurs and small businesses while driving additional visitors to the area. Downtown sits between two of Manchester’s historic neighborhoods and is served directly by I-384 Exit 4. The district also benefits from CT Transit bus service and currently has over 800 public parking spaces. In 2024 the Downtown area was officially designated by the State of Connecticut as a Cultural District. Additionally, the Town’s planned $20 million dollar streetscape improvement project will result in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements, additional outdoor dining opportunities and public spaces and amenities in the coming years. The project site will directly and indirectly benefit from these improvements. More information is available here: https://yourvoicemattersmanchesterct.com/downtown-manchester-improvements-project