Laurel Park Historic Documentation

Location:	Massachusetts
Posted:	Nov 14, 2025
Due:	Dec 19, 2025
Agency:	City of Northampton
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	B - Special Studies and Analyses - Not R&D
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Request for Proposals for Consulting Services

A. Overview

The City of Northampton, acting through it Office of Planning and Sustainability (OPS) and in

cooperation with its Historical Commission, seeks an experienced preservation consultant to

inventory and document historic resources at Laurel Park, update an existing incomplete area

form (NTH.N) and prepare a National Register significance statement for the Laurel Park

community.

The City will consider the Qualifications submitted in response to this Request for Proposals

(“RFP”) and will select a consultant to prepare the documentation in conformance with

Massachusetts Historical Commission and federal requirements, with an expected final product

by July 31, 2026. In this RFP, the phrase consultant includes solo practitioners or firms. The

selected company will enter into a service agreement with the City of Northampton, during

which time the selected company(s) will conduct the work necessary to complete the final

product

Estimated total value of the contract is $35,000. This is a performance-based contract with a

fixed fee for the work.

Proposals should be submitted electronically in PDF format (no hard copies) no later than

December 19, 2025 to Sarah LaValley, Assistant Director, Office of Planning and Sustainability

slavalley@northamptonma.gov

Questions may be directed to Sarah LaValley via e-mail, slavalley@northamptonma.gov

B. About Laurel Park

In 1872, the Methodist Church’s Springfield District Camp Meeting opened Laurel Park in

Northampton’s sparsely settled northeastern section. Meeting attendees reached by the camp by

horse and carriage until 1881, when the New Haven & Northampton Railroad built its own

branch line next to the Connecticut River Railroad tracks and established a station near the

Hatfield town line. The railroad reportedly transported thousands each summer; visitors walked

up the hill from the station to the camp, originally staying in tent structures and attending open-

air religious meetings. By the late 1880s, wood-frame summer cottages many of which remain

today - and a Chautauqua-style educational and cultural program replaced the camp meetings.

The program remained active until ca. 1917.

Today, Laurel Park is a closely settled secular residential community with about 100 cottages,

five historic common buildings [including a tabernacle (meeting) building and dining hall], and

common grounds, distinguishing the 29-acre property from other historic neighborhoods in

Northampton. The cottages display a range of Stick, Victorian Gothic, and Queen Anne-style

details. Historic community buildings are put to a wide range of uses and made available to the

public. Two organizations oversee Laurel Park, (1) the Homeowners at Laurel Park (HALP) and

(2) the Laurel Park Association (LPA). The HALP acts as a condominium association, managing

day-to-day operations of the property. The LPA is a cultural organization, sponsoring and

publicizing annual summer Chautauqua festivals (revived in contemporary form in 1987) and

offering concerts, lectures and multi-denominational religious services to the wider community.

More information about these organizations and historical and contemporary images of Laurel

Park buildings is available at https://homeownersatlaurelpark.com/.

C. Project Description

In 2024, the City of Northampton updated the historic preservation element of its

Comprehensive Plan (Sustainability Plan). This document identified areas within the City as

high priority for recognition through listing on the National Register of Historic Places, among

them, Laurel Park. Existing inventory information on the property is limited to a 1976 MHC

Area Form, NTH.N, available for viewing and download through the Massachusetts Cultural

Resource Information System (MACRIS). Information on the form is limited to four paragraphs

on historical significance; individual inventory forms (Form B) are lacking for each of the

buildings and for the landscape (Form H).

The purpose of this project is threefold: (1) to prepare individual inventory forms for the

buildings and landscape; (2) to update the Area Form; and prepare a Statement of Historical

Significance for Laurel Park, recommending listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The consultant selected for the project will work closely with of Northampton’s Office of

Planning and Sustainability and Historical Commission, participating in meetings and providing

and responding to drafts at established points in the process.

The inventory work will be prepared according to guidelines in state and federal manuals,

including: Historic Properties Survey Manual Massachusetts Historical Commission; National

Park Service (NPS) National Register Bulletins 15 (How to Apply the National Register Criteria

for Evaluation) and additional guidelines and policies for digital photography and MACRIS

survey database entry.

Both the HALP and LPA support the City’s effort to nominate Laurel Park to the National

happen. The HALP and LPA will offer access to their archives for research purposes associated

with the nomination.

Available Resources:

∼ Historic Northampton and Forbes Library both have a collection of Laurel Park

photographs online.

∼ Forbes Library also has programs and information about Chautauqua events held at

Laurel Park.

∼ Six outdoor interpretive signs installed in 2022 at locations around Laurel Park explain

some of the history using photos and text.

∼ The book, Laurel Park 150 Year Anniversary, explains in detail the celebration on

October 22, 2022, and presents Laurel Park's history through speeches and newspaper

articles included in its pages. Also printed in the book are copies of the six permanent

signs mentioned above.

City of Northampton - Laurel Park Documentation RFP (11/14/25)

∼ Notebook of Newspaper Articles from 1872 to 2016

∼ Notebook of Memoirs and Historical Writings about Laurel Park

∼ Four multi-page historical write-ups covering different time periods: 1914-1937, 1857-

1957, 1957-1972, 1972-1983

∼ Folders of loose photographs and photograph albums and scrapbooks

∼ Information about buildings and cottages

∼ Videotape (and text version) of an interview about Laurel Park's history with Irv and

Isabel Baker on September 16 & 18, 1997, produced by UMass editor Ken Walker

∼ Five display boards of information presented in the form of a historical display at the

150th Anniversary Celebration

∼ File drawers of folders sorted by subject covering all aspects of Laurel Park's history

∼ Minutes of meetings and notebooks of official documents of Laurel Park throughout the

years

∼ Files pertaining to religious and non-religious programs presented throughout the years

D. Minimum Eligibility Requirements

The City requires an experienced consultant meeting the following minimum requirements:

1. A Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation, Architectural History, History,

Art History, Urban Planning, or a closely related field and at least two (2) years full-time

experience in an area relevant to the project or otherwise provide evidence of necessary

qualifications for this project.

2. Compliance with the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification

Standards as described in the Federal Register, Part V:36 CFR 61 (Appendix A)

3. Successful completion of Massachusetts Historical Commission inventory forms, areas

forms and National Register of Historic Places nominations, as evidenced by samples

(see Proposal Requirements, below.

E. Proposal Requirements

The overall proposal must also include:

City of Northampton - Laurel Park Documentation RFP (11/14/25)

1. Overview of Respondent. The identity of the individual, partnership, or corporation

submitting the proposal, basic facts, history, office locations, contact information, etc.

2. Statement of Qualifications: Summary of professional qualifications and work

experience attesting to capacity to perform the required work program. Include

resume(s), detailing academic and professional work experience attesting to capacity to

perform the required work program. Detail the relevant historical/archaeological

degrees and other credentials possessed by your firm; confirm your ability to meet all

relevant federal standards/requirements (see “Minimum Eligibility Requirements”

above).

3. Project Personnel: Identify the personnel who shall complete the documentation;

include their credentials, if not addressed in the Statement of Qualifications. Identify the

Project Leader and describe the team structure/roles. Address the firm’s capacity to

complete the work if the Project Leader or another essential person leaves the project.

4. Experience: Describe the firm’s successful, prior NRHP nominations and architectural

survey work. Detail/confirm that the Project Team members were integral to those

projects. Describe how the nominations and surveys were completed in collaboration

with appropriate stakeholders.

5. Work Sample: Provide one of the NRHP nominations (web link acceptable) and survey

form detailed under “Experience” for review.

6. References. A client reference list, with names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-

mail addresses (if available) especially for clients for whom the proposer has performed

similar services within the past five (5) years.

7. Approach/Methodology. A detailed explanation of the proposer’s approach to this

project: methodology, demonstrated understanding of the scope of work and completion

deadline, and the proposer’s expectations of assistance and services from the City. A

technical work plan and project timeline for accomplishing the tasks described in the

scope of services must be provided. NOTE: A reiteration of the scope of work, outlined

in this RFP, is not required. Proposers are required to agree to performing the scope as

stated, but may propose modifications to the scope, if seen as necessary for successful

completion of the project.

8. Detailed Project Timeline and Itemized Budget: Define key milestones.

Providing draft materials incrementally is desirable to facilitate staff review. Provide an

itemized budget.

9. Additional Information. Any other information deemed relevant to the project, and

which the proposer believes will further the competitiveness of the proposal.

F. Evaluation Criteria and Selection

The City will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible vendor whose

offer meets the stated requirements for project experience, sample products, qualifications,

project approach, and client references.

The City will evaluate bids based on:

City of Northampton - Laurel Park Documentation RFP (11/14/25)

1. The “Minimum Eligibility Requirements” outlined in Section D (above)

∼ Highly Advantageous: consultant exceeds minimum criteria

∼ Advantageous: consultant meets minimum criteria

∼ Not advantageous: consultant does not meet minimum criteria

2. The extent of relevant inventory experience

∼ Highly Advantageous: 10 or more years’ experience

∼ Advantageous: 5 to 10 years’ experience

∼ Not advantageous: Less than 5 years’ experience

3. Three (3) professional references that can provide comment on the consultant’s

quality of work, reliability, expertise and overall performance in similar inventory

projects, and

∼ Highly Advantageous: 3 positive references for similar inventory work

∼ Advantageous: 2 positive references for similar inventory work

∼ Not advantageous: 1 or fewer positive references for similar inventory work

4. Fee.

∼ Highly Advantageous: quote equals or is less than maximum fee

∼ Not advantageous: quote exceeds maximum fee

G. Scope of Work

Phase 1: Start Up

 Attend meeting with staff of Northampton’s Office of Planning and Sustainability (OPS)

and members of the Northampton Historical Commission (NHC) to review scope and

method; locate research materials

 Conduct a windshield survey of Laurel Park, including the buildings, landscape(s), and

other features proposed for inclusion in the inventory.

 Prepare a draft sketch map of Laurel Park, identifying buildings, landscape(s), and other

features to be included in the updated Area Form

 Prepare a draft District Data Sheet listing resources identified in the windshield survey

 Prepare draft list of resources (draft bibliography) to be used in researching the property,

buildings, landscape(s), and other features

 Present information to OPS and NHC for review.

Phase 2: Inventory

 Research history of Laurel Park and its buildings, landscape(s), and other resources

 Photograph the buildings, landscape(s), and other landscape features to be included in

the area form.

 Prepare a comprehensive data sheet and area map identifying all resources

 Submit draft materials to OPS and NHC for review.

Phase 3: Updated Area Form

 Prepare a draft visual assessment narrative, describing the buildings, landscape, and

other features to be included in the updated Area Form

 Prepare a draft historical significance statement to be included in the Area Form

 Prepare a draft statement of recommendation for listing on the National Register of

Historic Places

City of Northampton - Laurel Park Documentation RFP (11/14/25)

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid Title:	Laurel Park Historic Documentation
Category:	All Departments
Status:	Open

Laurel Park Historic Documentation

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