17D-081 RFP One Garfield Avenue 1
Request for Proposals for the Sale of One Garfield Avenue, Florence, MA
Proposal Deadline: January 15, 2014 12:00 PM
The City of Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability invites sealed proposals for the
sale of One Garfield Avenue, Florence, MA, described as “Lot 1A, 5,160± square feet” on a
survey recorded at the Hampshire Registry of Deeds at Plan Book 229, page 23, Assessors’ Map
ID: 17D-81. The Request for Proposal (RFP) document is available at
www.NorthamptonMA.gov/OPD (possibly to be renamed www.NorthamptonMA.gov/Plan
during the term of this RFP) under the small lot | BIG IDEAS tab, until the proposal deadline.
The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals.
Instructions
1. The sale shall be awarded to the highest financial bid that complies with RFP. Requests
for changes to the terms of this RFP must be made by January 7, 2014 by email to Wayne
Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability at WFeiden@NorthamptonMA.gov. Any
acceptable changes will made a part of this RFP by addendum and will be posted on the
above website on or before January 9, 2013. Proposals contingent upon the City’s
acceptance of terms not a part of this RFP will be rejected.
A proposer shall be responsive and responsible if a completed price form is submitted
without additional conditions and a 5% bid security accompanies the price form. The bid
security shall be in the form of a certified check, or a treasurer’s or cashier's check made
to Maple and Main Realty, the City’s realtor for the project.
2. Proposals are due by 12:00 p.m., January 15, 2014 at Planning and Sustainability, 210
Main Street, Room 11, Northampton MA 01060. The attached bid form must be
submitted.
3. The Real Estate Agreement that you will be required to sign if your bid is accepted is
attached. If the buyer refuses to sign the Agreement then the proposal security shall
become the property of the City.
4. Maple and Main Realty is the City’s Realtor for the project. They or any Realtor
participating in the Multiple Listing Service may provide more information on the site.
5. The minimum accepted bid for the site is $72,000
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Bid Form for Purchase of One Garfield Avenue, Florence
The Purchase amount of $ for One Garfield Avenue is proposed.
(Minimum bid is $72,000.)
The undersigned certifies under penalties of perjury that this bid or proposal has been made and
submitted in good faith and without collusion or fraud with any other person. As used in this
certification, the word "person" shall mean any natural person, business, partnership,
corporation, union, committee, club, or other organization, entity, or group of individuals.
Individual or Business Name of Bidder Date
_____________________________________________________________________________
Printed Name of Person Signing
Address of bidder City State Zip
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Purchase and Sale Agreement
One Garfield Avenue, Florence, MA
Section 1 – Information and Definitions
1.2.1 DATE of this Agreement: ____________________________, 2013
1.2 PREMISES: A parcel of land in Florence, Massachusetts, at One Garfield Avenue
containing 5,160 square feet, more or less, and being comprised of the land
described as “Lot 1A, 5,160± square feet”, as shown on a survey recorded at the
Hampshire Registry of Deeds at Plan Book 229, page 23.
The property to the north and west of One Garfield Avenue is part of the protected
Florence Conservation Area (See deeds recorded in the Hampshire Registry of Deeds at
Book 11345, Page 226 and Book 10067, Page 301). The conservation area includes a
capped landfill in a former quarry that is maintained by the City.
1.3 SELLER: City of Northampton, c/o Office of Planning and Sustainability
Address: City Hall, 210 Main Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Seller's Attorney: Robert J. Spencer, Esq., Seewald, Jankowski & Spencer, P.C
Address: 5 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002
Phone: (413) 549-0041, Fax: (413) 549-3818
Email: rjs@sjsamherst.com
1.4 BUYER:
Address:
Buyer's Attorney:
Address:
Phone: Fax:
Email:
1.5 CLOSING DATE: ____________________ [60 days from award of RFP]
1.6 PLACE: Hampshire County Registry of Deeds, unless some other place
should be mutually agreed upon by the parties.
1.7 PURCHASE PRICE: The total purchase price for the Premises is
____________________________ Dollars ($______________),
of which _____________________ Dollars ($______________)
have been paid as a deposit, and the balance of
____________________________ Dollars ($______________)
shall be paid at the time of delivery of the deed by certified,
treasurer’s or bank check, or by wire transfer, at Buyer’s election.
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1.8 TITLE: Quitclaim Deed.
The lot is being sold with a deed rider that requires that the buyer hire one of the licensed
architects who entered the City’s 2013 “small lot | BIG IDEAS” design competition when
they design a house for the property. There is no requirement that the design entered in
the competition be used. This condition shall that survive the closing. The 19 teams in
competition, which include licensed architects, are:
(a) Pari Riahi Architects-design competition First Place
(b) Paul Lukez Architecture Inc. (Alex Hogrefe, Matt Uminski and Paul Lukez)- design
competition Second Place
(c) Dorrie Brooks, Julie Meyer and Kristian Whitsett- design competition People’s
Choice
(d) Tempietto Homes and Robert Karn- design competition honorable mention
(e) Brian Schumacher, Kathleen Lugosch and Patricia O'Flaherty- design competition
shout out
(f) NOVA Design- design competition shout out for interiors
(g) Janos Keseru Architect- design competition shout out for context
(h) Miller Pollin Architecture
(i) Stephen Schreiber and Ryan Rendano with Jane Thurber
(j) HAI Architecture
(k) Crookedworks Architecture and SITELAB Architecture + Design
(l) Christian C. Carey Architect
(m) Thomas Douglas Architects
(n) Harriman Architects
(o) Michael Burgess, Architect
(p) Richard Bosch Architect
(q) ACME Building Arts and Gordon Greenfield
(r) Metcalfe Associates Architecture
(s) James Middlebrook Architect
1.9 BROKER: City: Maple and Main Realty
Buyer: ______________________
1.10 WARRANTIES
Except as set forth otherwise in this Agreement, the following representations and
warranties are made by Seller as of the date of this Agreement and also as of the time of
the delivery of the deed:
(NONE)
SECTION 2 -- GENERAL PROVISIONS
2.1 Covenant. Seller agrees to sell and Buyer agrees to buy the Premises upon the terms
hereinafter set forth.
2.2 Buildings, Structures, Improvements, Fixtures. There are no improvements on the
property.
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Buyer acknowledges that the Premises is being sold in “as is” condition.
2.3 Title Deed. Said Premises are to be conveyed by a good and sufficient quitclaim deed
running to Buyer, or to a nominee designated by Buyer by written notice to Seller at least seven
calendar days before the deed is to be delivered as herein provided, and said deed shall convey a
good and clear record and marketable title thereto, free from encumbrances, except
(a) Provisions of existing building and zoning laws;
(b) Existing rights and obligations in party walls which are not the subject of written
agreement;
(c) Such taxes for the then current year as are not due and payable on the date of the delivery
of such deed;
(d) Any liens for municipal betterments assessed after the date of this Agreement; and
(e) Easements, restrictions and reservations of record, if any, provided the same do not
interfere with use of and access to the Premises.
2.4 Deed; Plans. Seller shall be responsible for drafting the deed. The survey to be referred
to in the plan is already on record at the Registry of Deeds.
2.5 Registered Title. The title to this property is not Registered.
2.6 Possession and Control of Premises. Full possession of said Premises free of all tenants
and occupants, except as herein provided, is to be delivered at the time of the delivery of the
deed, said Premises to be then (a) in the same condition as they now are, reasonable use and wear
thereof excepted, and (b) in compliance with provisions of any instrument referred to in clause
2.3 hereof. Buyer shall be entitled personally to inspect said Premises prior to the delivery of the
deed in order to determine whether the condition thereof complies with the terms of this clause.
2.7 Extension to Perfect Title or Make Premises Conform. If Seller shall be unable to give
title or to make conveyance, or to deliver possession of the Premises, all as herein stipulated, or
if at the time of the delivery of the deed the Premises do not conform with the provisions hereof,
then Seller shall use reasonable efforts to remove any defects in title, or to deliver possession as
provided herein, or to make the said Premises conform to the provisions hereof, as the case may
be, and thereupon the time for performance hereof shall be extended for a period of thirty
calendar days.
2.8 Failure to Perfect Title or Make Premises Conform. If at the expiration of the extended
time Seller shall have failed so to remove any defects in title, deliver possession, or make the
Premises conform, as the case may be, all as herein agreed, or if at any time during the period of
this Agreement or any extension thereof, the holder of a mortgage on said Premises shall refuse
to permit the insurance proceeds, if any, to be used for such purposes, then all obligations of the
parties shall cease and this Agreement shall be void without recourse to the parties hereto,
provided however that all deposits made by Buyer under this Agreement shall be refunded to
Buyer, which obligation shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
2.9 Buyer’s Election to Accept Title. Buyer shall have the election, at either the original or
any extended time for performance, to accept such title as Seller can deliver to the said Premises
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in their then condition and to pay therefore the purchase price, without deduction, in which case
Seller shall convey such title, except that in the event of such conveyance in accord with the
provisions of this clause, if the said Premises shall have been damaged by fire or casualty insured
against, then Seller shall, unless Seller has previously restored the Premises to their former
condition, either
(a) pay over or assign to Buyer, on delivery of the deed, all amounts recovered or
recoverable on account of such insurance, less any amounts reasonably expended by
Seller for any partial restoration, or
(b) if a holder of a mortgage on said Premises shall not permit the insurance proceeds or a
part thereof to be used to restore the said Premises to their former condition or to be so
paid over or assigned, give to Buyer a credit against the purchase price, on delivery of
the deed, equal to said amounts so recovered or recoverable and retained by the holder
of the said mortgage less any amount reasonably expended by Seller for any partial
restoration.
2.10 Acceptance of Deed. The acceptance of a deed by Buyer, or its assignee or nominee as
the case may be, shall be deemed to be a full performance and discharge of every agreement and
obligation herein contained or expressed, except such as are, by the terms hereof, to be
performed after the delivery of said deed.
2.11 Use of Money to Clear Title. To enable Seller to make conveyance as herein provided,
Seller may, at the time of delivery of this deed, use the purchase money or any portion thereof to
clear the title of any or all encumbrances or interests, provided that all instruments so procured
are recorded simultaneously with the deed or, for institutional mortgages, are recorded in
accordance with customary conveyancing practices.
2.12 Adjustments. Taxes for the then current fiscal year shall be adjusted in accordance with
G.L. c. 59, § 72A. If the amount of said taxes is not known at the time of the delivery of the
deed, they shall be apportioned on the basis of the taxes assessed for the preceding fiscal year.
2.13 Brokers. The City has engaged Main and Maple is its broker for a brokerage fee of 4%
of the sales price of One Garfield Avenue. The Broker is authorized to offer compensation to the
cooperating Seller’s Agents from this commission, at a 2% commission. Buyer and Seller agree
to defend, indemnify the other against and hold the other harmless, to the extent permitted by
law, from any claim, loss, damage, costs or liabilities for any other brokerage commission or fee
which may be asserted against the other by any broker in connection with this transaction over
and above the Agreement the City has with its Broker. The provisions of this paragraph shall
survive the delivery of the deed.
2.14 Inspection Rights. The parties agree that Buyer shall have the right to obtain, at Buyer's
expense, an inspection of the premises by a consultant of Buyer's choosing within 45 days of the
award of the RFP to the Buyer (24 hours advance notice to Seller), and if Buyer is not satisfied
with the results of such inspection, upon written notice to Seller within 45 days from award of
RFP, Buyer may terminate this offer and any agreement, whereupon all money shall be refunded.
In consideration of right of inspection and rescission, Seller is hereby released from liability
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relating to defects in the premises actually disclosed or about which Seller had no actual
knowledge.
2.15 Water/Sewer. Seller represents that public water and sewer serve the Premises and has
obtained Water and Sewer Availability permits from its Department of Public Works.
2.16 Permitting. One Garfield Avenue and the abutting lots formerly owned by the City were
permitted under a Comprehensive Permit issued by the Northampton Zoning Board of Appeals
and recorded in the Hampshire Registry of Deeds at Book 7858, page 50, as amended in Book
9666, Page 330, and other amendments and permits as may have been issued on the site. There
is a small isolated wetland on the adjacent conservation land, but the existing permit authorizes
the home to be built in the cleared area of the property.
2.17 Ledge. The site is shallow to ledge. Seller makes no representation as to whether a
basement could be developed without either building up the site or removing solid ledge.
2.18 Hazardous Materials, Lead, Asbestos, and Oil. The Florence Conservation Area north of
One Garfield Avenue contains a former rock quarry which was the filled with debris, trash, and
other materials which was reported to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The
City hired Tighe & Bond (engineers and licensed site professionals) to perform an
Environmental Site Assessment of the site, draft an Activities and Use Limitations for this old
quarry, oversee the capping of the quarry landfill, and file a Release Action Outcome DEP.
These documents are available for public inspection from the City and from DEP. In return for
allowing the Buyer’s due diligence and this disclosure, the Buyer, hereby releases, holds
harmless, and waives all claims against the City related to the quarry site.
Seller represents and warrants to Buyer that, to the best of Seller’s knowledge, information and
belief, (i) there has been no release of any hazardous materials or oil on, from or near the
Premises, except as noted above, (as used in this Agreement, the terms "release," "hazardous
materials" and "oil" shall have the meaning given to them in M.G.L.c.21E), (ii) there are no
underground storage tanks or other subsurface facilities holding petroleum or oil products
currently in use or previously abandoned on the Premises and (iii) chlordane has not been used as
a pesticide on the Premises. These representations and warranties shall survive the closing.
2.19 Mortgage Contingency. Buyer’s obligation to purchase the Premises is contingent upon
Buyer obtaining a firm commitment from a bank for a first mortgage loan in the amount of
_________________________ for 30 years at prevailing interest rates. Buyer shall use
reasonable efforts to obtain such firm commitment, and shall notify the Seller’s attorney,
Seewald, Jankowski & Spencer, P.C., 5 East Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, in writing, on or
before ________________ [30 days from award of RFP], at 5:00 p.m. if, after such efforts,
Buyer is unable to obtain such firm commitment, without which notice this contingency shall be
deemed waived by Buyer.
2.20 Title to Premises. Notwithstanding anything herein contained, the Premises shall not be
considered to be in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement with respect to title unless:
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(a) No building, structure, or right of way, easement or improvement, including any
driveway(s), garages, septic systems and wells or property of any kind encroaches
upon or under the Premises from other premises;
(b) Title to the Premises is insurable, for the benefit of Buyer, by a title insurance
company acceptable to Buyer, in a fee owner's policy of title insurance at normal
premium rates, in the American Land Title Association form currently in use;
(c) All structures and improvements on the Premises, including any driveway(s)
garage(s), septic systems and wells and all means of access to the Premises shall not
encroach upon or under any property not within the lot lines of the Premises;
(d) The Premises abut a public way, or have the benefit of an access and utility
easement over a private way leading to a public way, duly laid out or accepted as
such by the municipality in which the Premises are located.
2.21 Affidavits, etc. Simultaneously with the delivery of the deed, Seller shall execute and
deliver: (a) affidavits and indemnities under oath with respect to parties in possession and
mechanic's liens to induce Buyer’s title insurance company to issue lender's and owner's policies
of title insurance without exception for those matters, and Seller shall indemnify and hold
harmless the title insurance company for any losses, costs, or damages sustained as a result of
issuing a policy without exceptions covered by such representations; (b) an affidavit, satisfying
the requirements of Section 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations issued
thereunder, which states, under penalty of perjury, Seller’s United States taxpayer identification
number, that Seller is not a foreign person, and Seller’s address (the "1445 Affidavit"); (c)
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or Form W-9, as applicable, with Seller’s tax identification
number, and an affidavit furnishing the information required for the filing of Form 1099S with
the Internal Revenue Services and stating Seller is not subject to back-up withholding; and (d)
such additional and further instruments and documents as may be consistent with this Agreement
and customarily and reasonably required by Buyer and/or the Buyer’s title insurance company to
complete the transactions described in this Agreement.
2.22 Title Standards. Any matter or practice arising under or relating to this Agreement which
is the subject of a title standard or a practice standard of the Real Estate Bar Association at the
time for delivery of the deed shall be covered by said title standard or practice standard to the
extent applicable.
2.23 Deposit. All deposits made under this Agreement shall be held in a non-interest-bearing
escrow account by Seewald, Jankowski & Spencer, P.C., as escrow agent, subject to the terms of
this Agreement, and shall be duly accounted for at the time for performance of this Agreement.
The deposit may not be released from escrow without the assent of both Buyer and Seller. The
recording of the deed to the Premises shall constitute such assent. In the event of any disagreement
between the parties, the escrow agent shall retain the deposit pending instructions mutually given
by Buyer and Seller or an order of court of competent jurisdiction. The parties mutually agree that
Seewald, Jankowski & Spencer, P.C. may act as escrow agent notwithstanding its representation
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of Seller, even in the event of a dispute between the parties regarding this Agreement or the
deposits held hereunder.
2.24 Buyer’s Breach. If Buyer shall unjustifiably fail to fulfill Buyer’s part of this Agreement,
all deposits made hereunder, if any, shall be forfeited and become the property of Seller as
liquidated damages, which shall constitute Seller’s sole and exclusive remedy at law or in equity
for Buyer’s default under this Agreement.
2.25 Notices. Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in
writing and signed by the party or the party's attorney or agent and shall be deemed to have been
given: (a) when delivered by hand, or (b) when sent by Federal Express or other similar courier
service, or (c) when mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or (d) upon electronically
confirmed receipt of facsimile delivery (provided that such facsimile delivery is promptly
followed by one of the other permitted forms of notice contained herein), to the party with a copy
to the party’s attorney at the addresses set forth in Section 1.
2.26 Closing. The deed and other documents required by this Agreement are to be delivered
and the Purchase Price paid at the Date and Time of Closing and at the Place of Closing. All
documents and funds are to be delivered in escrow subject to prompt rundown of title and
recording, which term shall include registration in the case of registered land. Seller’s proceeds
may be in the form of an IOLTA check, and the check shall be held in escrow by Seller’s
attorney who shall release the check to Seller only following the recording of the deed.
2.27 Condition of Premises at Closing. Seller agrees to deliver the Premises at the time of
delivery of Seller’s deed in a condition substantially similar to its condition at the time of the
signing of this Agreement.
2.28 Casualty. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event of damage to or
destruction of the Premises by fire, vandalism or other casualty, then at Buyer’s sole option, this
Agreement may be terminated, whereupon all deposits paid by Buyer hereunder shall be
promptly returned to Buyer.
2.29 Liability of Trustee, Shareholder, Fiduciary, etc. If Seller or Buyer executes this
Agreement in a representative or fiduciary capacity, only the principal or the estate represented
shall be bound, and neither Seller or Buyer so executing, nor any shareholder or beneficiary of
any trust, shall be personally liable for any obligation, express or implied, hereunder.
2.30 Extensions. Buyer and Seller hereby authorize their respective attorneys (as the case may
be) to execute on their behalf any extensions to the time for performance and any change of
location and/or time for delivery of the deed. Buyer and Seller shall be able to rely upon the
signature of said attorneys as binding unless they have actual knowledge before the execution or
other consent to such extensions, that either party has disclaimed the authority granted herein to
bind them. For purposes of this Agreement, facsimile signatures shall be construed as original.
2.31 Construction of Agreement. This instrument, executed in multiple counterparts, is to be
construed as a Massachusetts contract, is to take effect as a sealed instrument, sets forth the
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entire contract between the parties, is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective heirs, devisees, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and may
be canceled, modified or amended only by a written instrument executed by both Seller and
Buyer. If two or more persons are named herein as Buyer their obligations hereunder shall be
joint and several.
2.32 Incorporation; Conflict. All terms of the Request for Proposals and the Buyer’s Proposal
are hereby made a part of this Agreement and are incorporated herein by reference. In the event
of conflicting or inconsistent provisions, the terms of the Request for Proposals and the Buyer’s
Proposal shall control.
2.33 Captions. The captions and headings throughout this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and the words contained therein shall in no way be held or deemed to define,
limit, explain, modify, amplify or add to the interpretation, construction or meaning of any
provisions of, or the scope or intent of this Agreement, nor in any way affect this Agreement, and
shall have no legal effect.
In Witness whereof, the parties hereto sign this Agreement under seal as of this _____ day of
_____________________, 2014.
Buyer
Mayor David Narkiewicz
Wayne Feiden, Director of Planning and Sustainability
Joseph M. Cook, Chief Procurement Officer
Joyce Karpinski, Auditor