SOMERS, CT — A café, a kayak rental shop or a community gathering space could be next for the former Village Players building at 55 School St., where Somers is seeking proposals for a new tenant.
Sealed proposals are due to the Somers Town Clerk at 600 Main St. by 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to the town's request for proposals. Interviews with finalists are scheduled to continue through December.
The roughly 2,200-square-foot building sits within Mill Pond Park. The RFP describes a 1.51-acre primary site with parking, a boat launch, fishing areas and adjacent playgrounds.
In an Oct. 12 Facebook post, the Somers Economic Development Commission encouraged residents to imagine a place where families could rent kayaks, cyclists and hikers could stop for coffee, and veterans could gather before visiting nearby Legacy Veterans Park.
"That future could start at 55 School Street," the commission wrote.
The commission floated a community café, a paddle and bike outfitter, a display about Somersville's history and a home base for outdoor programs. Those are suggestions; the town has not selected a use through this proposal process.
Business, nonprofit and philanthropic ventures can submit proposals. The town says it will give special consideration to nonprofit groups whose plans promote economic vitality and quality of life.
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Applicants must explain how they would use the building and any surrounding land, estimate how long renovations would take and provide financial projections and revenue sources.
The town also wants to know what financial benefit a proposal would bring to Somers, whether the applicant would seek town funding and how the applicant would pay for repairs, improvements and ongoing operations.
The tenant would be responsible for electricity, heating oil, water and sewer, waste disposal, cleaning and snow removal from the stoops and stairs. The RFP also sets insurance requirements, including $1 million in general liability coverage per occurrence.
A sample lease is included, but rent and the length of the lease are left blank. The document says the sample is illustrative and that the town expects an eventual lease to be substantially similar.
Patch reported in March that Somers was preparing to seek proposals for the building, also known locally as Legion Hall, which was most recently used by the Village Players.
The commission's latest appeal connects the building to broader ideas for Somersville discussed after the 2015 mill fire, including river recreation, trail connections, historic interpretation and small businesses serving park visitors.
The town's Special Projects Committee will review proposals and interview finalists before recommending a selection to the Board of Selectmen. Selectmen have final authority to accept, reject or require changes to a proposal.
For more Northern Connecticut news, follow Patch editor Jay Kenney.
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