COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: A NEW VISION FOR THE ROUNDHOUSE

The Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (“PIDC”), on behalf of the City of Philadelphia (City) seek a community engagement consultant to lead a city-wide engagement campaign to inform the redevelopment of the site of the Police Administration Building, more commonly known as the Roundhouse. The Philadelphia Police department will be vacating the Roundhouse in 2022; at which time the City will seek proposals for redevelopment and/or adaptive reuse of the building and site. The results of this community engagement effort will inform the redevelopment process so that the City can balance economic development with the perspectives of the community at large.

The Roundhouse Engagement Team will oversee this project and the selection process. This Team will include staff from the Department of Planning and Development, PIDC, the Department of Public Property, the Commerce Department, and other relevant City agencies.

Present-day public perceptions of the Roundhouse, outside of the architecture and preservation professions, are primarily negative and stem from the building’s design and function, as well as the often-strained relationship between the Philadelphia Police Department and minority communities in the City of Philadelphia. Many see the building as a symbol of pain and despair.

As the first and most significant step in preparation for redevelopment, the City of Philadelphia wishes to solicit input from the city’s many stakeholders, inclusive of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, and income, through an engagement process focused on repairing the damage caused by urban renewal and police brutality.

A successful engagement program is one that ultimately gives a voice to communities, while managing expectations about the redevelopment process. The outcome should be a vision plan that provides community-driven, realistic guidance to the City for how best to incorporate community desires into the redevelopment of the Roundhouse site. The outcome must address the City’s need to recapture much-needed financial resources as it recovers from the considerable financial and budgetary implications of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This process is an opportunity to hear from and build trust with Philadelphia's communities, during a period of unprecedented attention to the issue of what it means to be inclusive and what it means to be truly heard. This engagement is a critical component of a larger dedication to meaningful community involvement in the development of the city.

Note: This community engagement RFP is being managed The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Planning and Development. All communication should be directed to the Project Manager and Central District Planner, Ian Litwin.

QUESTIONS DUE DATE

• All questions or requests for information should be submitted in writing and sent via email to Ian.Litwin@phila.gov by January 31, 2022.
• Responses from the Department of Planning & Development will be emailed no later than February 7, 2022.

SUBMISSION DUE DATE

• Proposals must be received by 5:00PM (EST) on March 14, 2022.
• Proposals must be submitted electronically in PDF format to Ian.Litwin@phila.gov. Please request delivery receipt for the electronic submission of your firm’s proposal.

KEY DATES – QUICK VIEW

UPDATES

• Roundhouse Consultant RFP Q&A