In downtown Atlanta, old Constitution building RFP hits the street

It came to light last week that the City of Atlanta may soon be looking for a buyer for the long-neglected Atlanta Constitution Building at Alabama and Forsyth streets in downtown.

Turns out, development-o-philes of Atlanta won't have to wait long to see that speculation become reality.

The city — through their real estate arm, Invest Atlanta — has released a request for proposal (RFP) in search of a developer for the dilapidated, yet still charming, Art Moderne structure.

While the image painted by the facility assessment report that accompanies the RFP is quite bleak, it's pretty clear the building will play a major role in whatever developers propose for the site.

Adaptive-reuse efforts will be complicated by not only the state of disrepair, but complex surrounding-land ownership arrangements and air rights that result from the building’s position along Atlanta’s original rail rights-of-way at Underground.

WRS via Atlanta Business Chronicle

However, given the building's relatively high profile, and the anticipated wave of development nearby, expect big names to submit proposals.

All responses are due on Dec. 15, so don’t expect a verdict until the new year.

• REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Purchase/Sale and Renovation of 143 Alabama Street [Invest Atlanta]
• Derelict former Atlanta Constitution building could get new life downtown [Curbed]
• New Underground Atlanta Renderings Could Assuage Fears [Curbed]