Loading...
VII.1. Approval to Release a Request for Proposals for the Sale of 907 Mainstreet; Elverum CITY OF HOPKINS City Council Report 2025-040 To: Honorable Chair and Board Members Mike Mornson, City Manager From: Kersten Elverum, Director of Planning & Development Date: April 21, 2026 Subject: Request for Proposals – 907 Mainstreet _____________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDED ACTION MOTION TO approve the release of a Request for Proposals for the sale of 907 Mainstreet. OVERVIEW The property at 907 Mainstreet, Hopkins, was developed as a Masonic Lodge in 1902 and operated as such until 2015 when the organization disbanded due to dwindling membership and the loss of key leadership. The Albert Pike Lodge Chapter No. 237 closed its doors and sold the building in 2015 to the City of Hopkins for $140,000 with the agreement not to demolish the building for at least 10 years. The City purchased the building with the intent to turn it over to the Hopkins Historical Society for use as a museum. Over the next ten years, the Historical Society attempted to raise the funds necessary to renovate the building but with limited capacity and rising costs, the decision was made to end their efforts to occupy 907 Mainstreet. The Historical Society continues to lease at their current location within the Hopkins Activity Center. With that decision made, the City of Hopkins is interested in hearing from potential buyers who would put this important building in the heart downtown Hopkins, back into use. The primary objectives of this RFP are to: •Preserve and protect the historic character of the building, including mandatory preservation of the primary façade and character-defining features. •Prohibit demolition of the primary façade while allowing potential demolition of the rear addition, subject to approval. •Secure a qualified purchaser capable of closing in a timely manner. •Promote an active, publicly-accessible use that benefits the community and enhances downtown Hopkins. Planning & Economic Development Preferred uses are those that have public access and add to the economic and social environment of the downtown including a restaurant, coffee shop, retail or entertainment venue. Price is negotiable. More detail can be found in the attached draft RFP. Input from the City Council discussion of this item will be incorporated into the RFP document, then it will be formatted and pictures added before it is released on or before April 30, 2026. Proposals must be submitted by June 30, 2026. The City retains the right to reject all proposals. If a proposal is selected, the potential buyer would enter into a Purchase and Development Agreement or similar contractual agreement approved by the City/HRA, following a public hearing at the Hopkins Planning Commission. SUPPORTING INFORMATION •Draft Request for Proposals – 907 Mainstreet REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Sale of Historic Albert Pike Masonic Lodge Building 907 Mainstreet, Hopkins, Minnesota Introduction The City of Hopkins/Hopkins HRA (Seller) invites qualifled purchasers to submit proposals for the acquisition of the historic Albert Pike Masonic Lodge building located at 907 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN (the Property). This RFP is intended to solicit competitive offers that recognize the historic signiflcance of the Property, provide for its responsible stewardship, and propose a feasible plan for its future use. The Seller reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to waive requirements and to negotiate terms with one or more respondents in the best interest of the Seller. Property Overview •Property Address: 907 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN 55343 •Current Use: Vacant •Property Identification No: 24-117-22-31-0016 •Approximate Site Area: 38.12’ x 130’ •Year Built: 1902 •Zoning: MX-D, Mixed-Use, Downtown Center The Property is located in downtown Hopkins and represents an important architectural and cultural asset. Proposals that preserve the historic character of the building while supporting adaptive reuse consistent with community goals are strongly encouraged. Objectives of the Sale The primary objectives of this RFP are to: •Preserve and protect the historic character of the building, including mandatory preservation of the primary façade and character-defining features. •Prohibit demolition of the primary façade while allowing potential demolition of the rear addition, subject to approval. •Secure a qualified purchaser capable of closing in a timely manner. •Promote an active, publicly-accessible use that beneflts the community and enhances downtown Hopkins. Preferred and Allowed Uses The Seller strongly prefers proposals that return the building to active community-serving use. Proposals that create public access, vibrancy, and economic activity in downtown Hopkins are encouraged. Preferred uses include, but are not limited to: •Coffee shop or café •Restaurant of food service establishment •Event center or assembly space •Cultural or arts venue •Retail business •Entertainment •Mixed-use concepts that include at least one publicly-accessible component All proposed uses must comply with applicable zoning and building codes. The Hopkins Development Code is available at: City-of-Hopkins-Land-Development-Code-PDF . Proposals should clearly explain the intended use, public accessibility, operating model and any anticipated approvals or variance required. Additional Background The property at 907 Mainstreet, Hopkins, was developed as a Masonic Lodge in 1902 and operated as such until 2015 when the organization disbanded due to dwindling membership and the loss of key leadership. The Albert Pike Lodge Chapter No. 237 in Hopkins closed its doors and sold the building in 2015 to the City of Hopkins for $140,000 with the agreement not to demolish the building for at least 10 years. The City purchased the building with the intent to turn it over to the Hopkins Historical Society for use as a museum. Over the next ten years, the Historical Society attempted to raise the funds necessary to renovate the building but with limited capacity and rising costs, the decision was made to end their efforts to occupy 907 Mainstreet. The Historical Society continues to lease at their current location within the Hopkins Activity Center. With that decision made, the City of Hopkins is interested in hearing from potential buyers who would put this important building in the heart downtown Hopkins, back into use. Property Information Exterior The Albert Pike Masonic Lodge Building is a two -story brick, Colonial Revival style building with some Georgian features. The building was designed around the function of the main assembly hall. The original building consisted of two fioors above grade. In 1956, the structure was lifted and a new foundation and basement was constructed, and a rear addition was constructed on the north side of the building. The walls of the original building are constructed out of a reddish-brown brick in a running bond. The addition is constructed in concrete block and clad in stucco. The character-deflning features of the building’s exterior include: the centered gable and pavilion, the low-pitched hipped roof, the wide eaves, the cornices with brackets and dentils, the rounded arch windows, the brickwork above the windows, the brick corbeling, and the brick pilasters. Interior See the full Historic Structure Report for detailed information. Please note the furnishings in the photos are no longer with the building. The interior murals of symbols and stars are still intact. The structure is weather-tight and effort has been made to prevent water intrusion. While the building is structurally-sound, the property has deflciencies that would need to be addressed during renovation including asbestos abatement and ADA-compliance. Historic Downtown Hopkins The building sits in the heart of historic Downtown Hopkins, across Mainstreet from Clock Tower Plaza. It is prominent as it is the only building in downtown that is set back and elevated from the sidewalk. Downtown Hopkins was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January of 2022, and this building is a contributing structure. Related Documents and Plans •Historic Structure Report: Completed to guide the process of repurposing the building speciflcally as the new home and museum of the Hopkins Historical Society. •Hopkins Downtown Commercial Historic District Nomination Form Available Financial Resources The City of Hopkins/Hopkins HRA is interested in receiving fair market value for the property, but price alone will not be the deciding factor. The City is willing to write-down the price of the property if it is necessary to realize a compelling vision. The City may also offer a Façade Improvement Loan for $25,000 if matched with at least $25,000 in private investment. The building may also qualify for the City’s Hopkins Climate Solutions Fund | Hopkins, MN to offset the costs of energy-saving improvements. This structure is a contributing structure to the Hopkins Downtown Commercial Historic District and is eligible for both State and Federal tax credits. The City is willing to work with the development team to secure other funding and grants available from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minnesota Historical Society, State of Minnesota, Metropolitan Council and/or Hennepin County depending on the project. Pre-Proposal Meeting & Building Walk-through The City of Hopkins will make the building available for a walk-thru inspection on June 3, 2026, from 10 am-noon. If a development team is not available at this time but would like to walk through the building, please contact Don Olson at dolson@hopkinsmn.com by May 15, 2026, to schedule an appointment. Questions and Clarifications about the RFP All questions regarding this RFP should be submitted via email to Revee Needham at rneedham@hopkinsmn.com on or before May 20, 2026. Should any prospective respondent be in doubt as to the true meaning of any portion of this RFP, or should the respondent find any ambiguity, inconsistency, or omission therein, the respondent shall make a written request for official interpretation or correction by the due date above. All interpretations, corrections, or additions to this RFP will be made only as an official addendum and it shall be the respondent’s responsibility to ensure they have received all addenda before submitting a proposal. Any addendum issued by the City shall become part of the RFP and must be incorporated in the proposal where applicable. Evaluation Criteria Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria: •Quality and feasibility of the proposed project •Sensitivity to historic standards for rehabilitation •Experience and qualiflcations of the development team •Purchase price and overall terms •Project schedule and readiness to proceed •Community beneflts Schedule RFP Issued: April 30, 2026 Pre-proposal Questions Due: May 20, 2026 Responses to Questions posted: June 1, 2026 Property Tour (Optional): June 3, 2026 Proposals Due: June 30, 2026 Interviews (if required): TBD Anticipated Selection Date: TBD All dates are subject to change at the Seller’s discretion. All deadlines are 11:59pm central time on the day posted. Submission Requirements Proposal responses should clearly and accurately demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge, experience and capacity of the development team to meet the requirements of the RFP and proposed project. Respondents must submit one digital file of their proposal containing the following information: Purchase Offer and Terms Letter of Intent to purchase the property including the following: o Developer/team’s name and mailing address o Name, mailing address, telephone number and email address of the primary contact person o Signature of authorized representative of responding developer or team o Purchase price o Earnest money deposit amount o Proposed closing timeline o Financing contingencies, if any o Due diligence period requested o Any other material terms or conditions Development and Use Plan •Brief narrative that describes the proposed project including intended use, public accessibility, operating model, and any anticipated approvals or variances required, and how it meets or exceeds the City’s vision and development objectives •Preliminary Site Plan if proposing partial demolition of the rear addition •Conceptual building elevations and renderings to illustrate the proposed project (if available) •Proposed rehabilitation project schedule Historic Preservation Approach •Narrative of how the proposal will preserve and enhance the building’s historic character-deflning features •Experience with historic rehabilitation projects •Compliance with Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation Financial Capacity •Developer’s current legal status: corporation, partnership, sole proprietor, etc. Supporting evidence of flnancial ability to complete project (bank letter, proof of funds, flnancial statement, etc.) •Estimated project construction cost Development Team Qualifications •Identiflcation and qualiflcations of the development team including architect, engineering flrm and contractor (if known) •Any women or minority-owned companies involved with the project and the percent of the overall budget their work represents •Two or more development projects of similar nature or scale References •Three professional references Proposals should be uploaded to this file link (_____________) by 5:00pm central time on June 30, 2026.