Development group announces request for proposals for healthy foodbusiness in renovated Bronx slums

VIOREL FLORESCU FOR NEWS/STR

BY DANIEL BEEKMAN / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Kelly Street Restoration is developing five troubled apartment buildings on Kelly St. in Longwood.

"Kelly Street Green" project would offer grants, free apartment, access to local produce

Wanted in the Bronx: entrepreneur to convert notorious slum into fresh food enterprise.

The development group behind the renovation of five buildings on Kelly St. is looking for an individual or organization to open a new business there, such as a healthy takeout restaurant, it announced Thursday.

Kelly Street Restoration has released an unusual request for proposals for 2,822 square feet of revamped commercial space at 935 Kelly St., with frontage on bustling E. 163rd St. in Longwood.

The applicant the development group selects will lease the space at a substantial discount - $7 per square foot or roughly 1/4 of market rate - and benefit from up to $150,000 in grants and loans to cover startup expenses.

It will also gain access to fruits and vegetables grown at a new community garden behind the buildings and farms upstate. Lastly, the selected operator will score a rent-free apartment at 935 Kelly St, plus mentorship from successful Manhattan restaurateurs.

Kelly Street Restoration hopes to select a local go-getter with a small bank account and a big heart, said John Crotty of Workforce Housing Advisors, 1/3 of the development group.

Longwood needs a new type of business that caters to busy working people who want to eat healthy, he said. The project is called "Kelly Street Green."

"We want to take someone on a well thought-out gamble, someone who understands that this will require effort and commitment and someone who can be an agent for change," Crotty said.

That someone could be Darada David. For two years, the Bronx native ran a tiny restaurant, health food store and Internet café sandwiched between bodegas and fast food joints on Melrose Ave. near the Hub.

PeaceLove Café hosted live jazz and poetry slams, and served tasty sweet potato pie. But the cafe closed last August because David could no longer make rent.

"That type of business in the Bronx needs a lot of support," said David, who will think about applying for the Kelly St. space. "Sometimes a feel-good business makes less money, but it does a lot for the community."

Kelly Street Green is the cherry atop a $16 million residential overhaul that began in January.

Workforce Housing Advisors, Monadnock Construction and Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association, a nonprofit, are rebuilding 916, 920, 924, 928 and 935 Kelly St., some of the worst slums in the borough.

For years, tenants in the gritty walkups lived with broken windows, leaks, rats and roaches, and went without heat. The tenants are living elsewhere during the renovations but will keep their old rents when they move back.

The new business will replace a Chinese takeout restaurant, nail salon and discount store that all closed this past winter. To learn more, visit kellystgreen.com.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/development-group-announces-request-proposals-healthy-food-business-renovated-bronx-slums-article-1.1127767#ixzz22m0kTe2o

Kelly Street Restoration Announces RFP for Healthy, Fresh Food Purveyor in South Bronx

Kelly Street Restoration LP announces a Request for Proposals for the newly redesigned 935 Kelly Street commercial space

Seeking an operator to provide fresh, healthy food options in the South Bronx
Significant incentives provided to ensure long term success.
www.KellyStGreen.com

Kelly Street Restoration LP (KSR) announces the launch of their Request for Proposals seeking an operator for the newly designed commercial space at 935 Kelly St in the Bronx. KSR is actively seeking proposals from individuals, companies, or organizations to lease, operate, and maintain any portion up to and including the full 2,822 square feet of commercial space that is part of the Kelly Street Portfolio. Specifically, KSR is looking to fill the commercial space with a business use that will produce significant impact in the following three areas:
1. Increasing access, availability and awareness of affordable, healthy and fresh food for all members of the community.
2. Improving health and nutrition options available.
3. Generating economic opportunities through the creation of fulltime and part time jobs for community residents.
In order to help ensure the success of this new venture, KSR will offer the following:
• The space will be rented at roughly 1/4 the current market rate ($25 Sq ft vs. $7 Sq ft)
● The lease of an apartment on Kelly Street at no cost
● Access to and coordinated use of a portion of the adjoining food-producing community garden to supplement the goods sold.

"I am excited about the release of this new RFP for the newly redesigned Kelly Street commercial space. This new proposal will not only help grow our economy by creating much needed jobs, but is also a positive step toward improving the health of countless Bronxites by seeking a business that provides access to affordable, healthy and fresh food in a neighborhood that is currently underserved,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

In addition, GrowNYC, a key strategic partner, will help secure one or more New York farm(s) to supply the awardee with a continuous pipeline of fresh food for use in this project. Finally, KSR has initiated conversations with various financial and philanthropic partners and will work with them and the awardee to help defray or absorb up to $150,000 of the capital costs (through a combination of grants and low interest loans) associated with the winning proposal.

“For too long, Kelly Street was seen as an eye-sore with few opportunities, but with the redevelopment underway and the release of this RFP, we are seeing the turnaround of Kelly Street. I applaud Kelly Street Restoration's vision, for recognizing that access to healthy, affordable food is a critical part of a healthy community. KSR is pushing the envelope of what an affordable housing project can do to address the needs of its residents and neighbors, and I look forward to seeing the proposals that are submitted for this commercial space,” said City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn

“GrowNYC is proud to partner with KSR. Only in New York could you find such a great opportunity for a budding entrepreneur. We’re able to deliver high-quality product from our regional farmers, putting money in their pockets, and work alongside the RFP winner to provide a needed amenity for an underserved community: a beautifully designed hub where all Bronx residents can purchase healthy, local food,” said Marcel Van Ooyen, Executive Director of GrowNYC.

As a long-term owner and developer, KSR has deep understanding of affordable housing and the complexities of long term ownership. Green food initiatives in NYC are a growing concern. KSR has assembled a broad and diverse team to analyze the submissions, to advise respondents about their submissions in order to refine them, and ultimately, to recommend the winning proposal. The Advisory Committee members with more practical day to day experience of running a commercial enterprise will offer mentoring on an on-going basis for the awardee.

“This type of endeavor was always in our plans,” said John A. Crotty, Partner at Workforce Housing Advisors (a member of the KSR team), “but we are affordable housing developers. Collectively, the KSR team decided that it was better to let the private sector deliver the best proposal to reach our goal in creating an outstanding use of the space with the incentives we have spelled out. We are lucky to have a committee with such deep and diverse experience to analyze the proposals, shape the final product and recommend the best plan. We are grateful for their time and effort. We think the result will be transformative for the neighborhood.”

The Advisory Committee (to date):

• Colleen Flynn, (Community Development Officer, LISC New York City)
• Mario Fuentes (Owner and Chef, Rialto’s)
• Rebecca Lurie (Consortium for Worker Education)
• John Mc Fadden (General Manager and Owner, Pershing Square)
• Neal J. Parikh (Morgan Stanley, Global Sustainable Finance)
• King Phojanakong (Owner, Kuma Inn & Umi Non Chef, CIA Graduate)
• Chris Reisig (Serial entrepreneur and technology executive)
• Marcel Van Ooyen (Executive Director, GrowNYC)
• Kerri White (Co-Director Organizing, UHAB)
• Jeffrey Zurofsky ( Partner & co-founder, 'wichcraft, Riverpark & Riverpark Farm )

To obtain a copy of the RFP, visit www.kellystgreen.com. Questions, contact info@kellystgreen.com or call 646-484-6399.

Kelly Street Restoration Project Partners:


• Workforce Housing Advisors (WFHA) is a for profit affordable housing development firm that specializes in re-purposing distressed multifamily real estate in the New York metropolitan area. WFHA works collaboratively with for-profit, not-for-profit, and government partners to reposition financially and physically distressed properties as long term affordable housing resources. Among other projects, WFHA is currently rehabilitating 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, “The Birthplace of Hip Hop”.

• Monadnock Construction was established in 1975 and has grown into one of the largest and most reputable residential contractors in the New York area. Monadnock's operations are supported by a staff that is experienced in all aspects of government compliance and reporting. Monadnock has a Contractors Controlled Insurance Program (CCIP) with dedicated safety staff monitoring all projects and a large bonding capacity from a AAA- rated company.

• Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association (BK) was founded in 1978 and is registered as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit. BK is recognized by the community they serve and by New York City at large, as committed to the growth and independence of individuals, families, and to the self-sufficiency of the Longwood - Hunts Point community as a whole.