300 330 E Chestnut Avenue Purchase and Adaptive Reuse RFP

REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF ALTOONA LAND BANK
1301 12th Street, Suite 400
Altoona, PA 16601
Phone: 814-949-2470 * planning@altoonapa.gov
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
LOCATION: 300-330 East Chestnut Avenue, Altoona, PA
16601
PROJECT: Purchase and Adaptive Reuse of Property
The Redevelopment Authority of Altoona (RA), on behalf of the Land Bank (LB), has acquired 300-
330 East Chestnut Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601. The LB intends to solicit proposals from qualified
bidders for the purchase and adaptive reuse of the former Immigration and Customs Enforcement
facility.
The site is at ground level and elevated above road level. All public utilities are connected to the site,
including public sewer, natural gas, and electricity. The site comprises parcels 01.07-12..-003.00-000
and 01.13-26..-005.00-000. The lot size is approximately 5.58 acres. The property does not lie within a
flood zone and is on FEMA Flood Map 420113C0144D, effective 3/2/2012. The site has direct access
to East Chestnut Avenue. The site is properly improved for use, and no adverse conditions have been
noted. The present use of the facility is warehouse/commercial/office/ indoor shooting ranges.
The warehouse/office space covers approximately 51,615 square feet and comprises five buildings. The
warehouse areas have concrete floors, while the office areas have carpet, tile, or vinyl flooring over
concrete. Multiple offices are located in the front section of the main building, along with two men's
restrooms, two women's restrooms, a half bath in one office, a break room, a vault area, and multiple
warehouses. Two indoor ranges, one for pistol and the other for rifle, together span over 166,000 square
feet. The pistol range is fully automated and has 20 firing points. Both ranges are fully operational and
include air-scrubbing and lead-abatement systems.
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MINIMUM BID PRICE:
The LB will accept no bids below $1,500,000. The successful bidder will be required to provide the City
of Altoona Police Department with scheduled access to the indoor pistol and rifle ranges, at no cost to
the City of Altoona, in perpetuity.
AVAILABLE USES AND SUBSIDIES:
The adaptive reuse of approximately 51,516 square feet of warehouse/office space, along with the
creation or retention of at least 10 jobs, is required and is a priority for the City of Altoona's economic
and redevelopment efforts. In addition, the operational use of the indoor pistol and rifle shooting ranges
must be maintained.
Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA):
The Local Economic Revitalization Assistance (LERTA) Program, authorized by PA Act 76 of 1977, is
an effective way to encourage revitalization and new construction. Properties that qualify for LERTA
are exempt from real estate property tax on a graduated scale over the 5-year LERTA period. Base taxes
continue throughout and after completion of the construction/improvement.
Under the provisions of the City of Altoona Ordinance No.5797, adopted by the Altoona City Council
on December 5, 2022, a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) program is available
as a tax incentive for the rehabilitation and development of business property within the city limits of the
City of Altoona, to encourage property improvements. Business improvements are exempt from the City
of Altoona real property tax, as provided for in the following schedule.
For the remainder of the year, the 100% of the eligible assessment is exempt
improvement is completed and otherwise
taxable, and the 1st complete fiscal year
thereafter
2nd complete fiscal year 80% is exempt
3rd complete fiscal year 60% is exempt
4th complete fiscal year 40% is exempt
5th complete fiscal year 20% is exempt
After the 5th complete fiscal year The exemption terminates
NAP - Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Program :
Basics:
- Eligible applicants are private, for-profit companies
- Project must be located within the defined Enterprise Zone
- Maximum tax credit award is equal to 25% of qualified investment, up to $500,000 per project
- Qualified investment includes rehab/expansion, improvements to buildings, improvements to land,
engineering, architectural, and acquisition costs
- Investment window typically runs from July 1 of the program year through Sept 30 of the following
year (15 months)
- Application window is typically April through May
- Project audit is required to close out and receive tax credit proceeds
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Tax Credit Awards:
- The awardee may use tax credit awards to offset certain state taxes, including but not limited to:
- Personal Income Tax
- Corporate Net Income Tax
- Capital Stock-Foreign Franchise Tax
- Bank Shares Tax and more
- The applicant awarded EZ Tax Credits may also opt to exercise three other options for use of the
credits:
- Carry Forward
- Sell for cash or assign (cash proceeds typically range from 80-90% of the credit amount)
- Pass through to another eligible entity
* (Neither DCED nor ABCD Corporation provides tax advice. Applicants should consult their
respective accountants or tax advisors for specific tax-related questions.)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
The LB has a clear title to the land. The successful bidder will begin work once all applicable agencies have
approved the site development and building plans. The proposal should indicate whether the developer plans
to begin work immediately.
The successful bidder will enter into a Developer's Agreement with the Land Bank for the following:
a. Final inspection to verify that the proposed project scope is completed and approved by the Land
Bank.
b. Building permits and subsequent inspections will be required for all applicable work.
c. General Liability Insurance and, if applicable, workers' compensation insurance, will be required as
part of the executed Developer's Agreement on the property.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eric Luchansky, Director
City of Altoona
Altoona Redevelopment Authority Land Bank
1301 12th Street, Suite 400
814-949-2470
planning@altoonapa.gov
Eluchans@altoonapa.gov
PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Proposal packages must be delivered to the Community Development Department no later
than 12:00 PM on July 15th, 2026.
2. Must include the signed statement on page 6.
3. All submissions, including attachments, must be on 8 12" x 11" paper.
4. Respondents must submit 3 copies of the proposal, including attachments. Electronic submission will
be accepted.
5. The Land Bank reserves the right to discuss any items in an applicant's proposal, including, but
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not limited to: scope of work, prior experience, financial concerns or clarifications, and project
schedule. After review, the applicant will have 5 business days to resubmit any required items.
The successful proposal is expected to be selected at the July 15th, 2026, Redevelopment
Authority / Land Bank board meeting. Proposals will be held for ninety (90) days.
6. Evaluation criteria will include, but not be limited to, price, prior work experience, project
schedule, prior and pending code violations from the bidder within the City of Altoona, and
compliance with the terms of this request for proposals.
7. The LB reserves the right to reject any or all proposals (in all or in part), to waive any
technicalities or informalities, to advertise for new proposals, or to proceed with work when its
completion is in the best interest of the LB.
8. The successful bidder will be required to deposit $1,000.00 into an escrow account held by the
Altoona Redevelopment Authority Land Bank to cover legal counsel fees and costs associated
with the Developer's Agreement and other transaction costs. The deposit will be credited upon
completion of the Developer's Agreement and will be forfeited if the bidder fails to start or
complete the project.
Proposal Submission:
1. Included in your proposal should be
* Bid price of $1,500,000 minimum.
* Prior experience, current project load, and ability to staff the project.
* Professional References-Do not include LB board or City of Altoona staff members in this
section.
* Provide a 150-day project schedule.
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DEVELOPERS AGREEMENT
1. Upon selection by the Land Bank, I/we agree to enter into a Developer's Agreement in form and
content satisfactory to the Land Bank.
2. I/we agree not to seek any variances from the Altoona City Code of Ordinances without the
expressed written permission of the Land Bank.
3. I/we have examined the existing conditions at the project site and are fully informed as to the
conditions and limitations of the property/project. I/we may not at any time after the execution of
the Developer's Agreement make any claim against the Land Bank based upon insufficient data
or any incorrect assumptions on my/our part. I/we fully understand that the Land Bank is
retaining the property.
4. I/we understand that the Land Bank reserves the right to utilize a multitude of evaluation techniques so
that, although the offered price will be a consideration, the selected developer may not necessarily be the
"highest bidder."
5. I/we certify the following:
(1) I/we am/are not delinquent in paying real estate taxes on any property located within the
City of Altoona or Blair County wherein I have an ownership interest.
(2) I/we have no outstanding violations of the property maintenance code or other codes
regarding properties located within the City of Altoona or Blair County wherein I have an
ownership interest.
(3) I/we have no outstanding municipal utility bills that are more than one year outstanding and
owed to the City of Altoona or Blair County.
(4) If I/we am/are submitting this application on behalf of an entity, I/we make the above
certifications on behalf of the entity and all Related Parties.
(5) To the best of my/our knowledge, all of the information in this application is true, correct,
and complete.
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CONTACT INFORMATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF STATEMENT OF PROPOSED DEVELOPER
Organization: Phone:
Contact Person
Address:
Email:
Developer is a(n) individual, partnership, corporation
I/we have read this Proposal Package, understand the proposal requirements of the LB, and submit this
Proposal on this _________________ day of _________________________ , 2026.
______________________________________
Print
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Signature Title
______________________________________
Print
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Signature Title
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LEGAL INFORMATION
APPLICANT NAME(S):
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT STREET ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________________
CITY: __________________________________________________STATE: ______ ZIP CODE: ______________
MARITAL STATUS: _____ SINGLE _____ MARRIED ______ N/A
OWNERSHIP (REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS):
_____ INDIVIDUAL _____ JOINT ____OTHER (DESCRIBE): _______________________________________
IF APPLICANT IS AN ENTITY, LIST ALL INDIVIDUALS AND ENTITIES THAT HAVE A DIRECT
OWNERSHIP, CONTROLLING OR MANAGING INTEREST IN THE ENTITY (E.G., OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
PRINCIPALS, GENERAL AND LIMITED PARTNERS, MANAGING PARTNERS, MEMBERS, MANAGERS,
AND STAKEHOLDERS) (COLLECTIVELY "RELATED PARTIES"):
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP INTERESTS IN ANY PROPERTIES LOCATED IN
ALTOONA OR ANY OWNERSHIP, CONTROLLING, OR MANAGING INTEREST IN ANY BUSINESS ENTITY
THAT OWNS PROPERTY LOCATED IN ALTOONA? ____YES ____ NO
IF YES, LIST THE PROPERTY(IES) AND/OR ENTITY(IES) BELOW. INCLUDE THE PROPERTY ADDRESS AND ZIP
CODE, OWNER/ENTITY NAME:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
DO ANY RELATED PARTIES HAVE ANY OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN ANY PROPERTIES LOCATED IN
ALTOONA OR ANY OWNERSHIP, CONTROLLING, OR MANAGING INTEREST IN ANY BUSINESS ENTITY
THAT OWNS PROPERTY LOCATED IN ALTOONA? ____ YES ____ NO
IF YES, LIST THE PROPERTY(IES) AND/OR ENTITY(IES) BELOW. INCLUDE THE PROPERTY ADDRESS AND ZIP
CODE, OWNER/ENTITY NAME:
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
IF THE APPLICANT IS AN ENTITY, INCLUDE A COPY OF THE CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL
DOCUMENTS. SUCH DOCUMENTS INCLUDE:
A. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, ASSOCIATION, OR ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS
(STAMPED AS ACCEPTED BY THE STATE)
B. CERTIFICATE OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, INCLUDING ADMENDMENTS (STAMPS AS ACCEPTED
BY THE STATE)
C. LLC AGREEMENT, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS (SIGNED)
D. PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, INCLUDING AMENDMENTS (SIGNED) IF THE APPLICANT IS A
NONPROFIT ENTITY, INCLUDE A COPY OF A CURRENT IRS 501(C)(3) LETTER OF
DETERMINATION
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