STEVENS COUNTY ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION, INC. (SCEIC)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to sell and to redevelop the vacant
commercial property located at 1126 Atlantic Avenue, Morris, MN 56267.
DESCRIPTION
Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission, Inc. (SCEIC) is seeking proposals for the
purchase and redevelopment of the 2.16 acre commercial property located at 1126 Atlantic
Avenue, Morris MN 56267. The property is improved with a 17,160 square foot vacant
commercial building. The property is the location of the former Coborns grocery store.
The current fee owner of the property. Holiday Stationstores, Inc. has engaged with SCEIC to
identify parties interested in purchasing and redeveloping this property for purposes consistent
with SCEIC’ mission, and SCEIC has agreed to assist the fee owner as facilitator and clearing
house for the proposals.
The site previously contained several in-ground petroleum storage tanks associated with
Coborns. The tanks have been removed by Coborns. No known pollution is present and the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a “Petroleum Release Site Closure Letter”, dated
31 January 2011.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Legal Description:
Bk 1 Lot 9 & Partial Lot 10 Industrial Park Addition
Site Acreage:
2.16 Acres
Site Square Footage:
94,091 Square Feet
Building Square Footage: 17,160 Square Feet
Year Built:
1982
Year Renovated:
1993
Construction Type:
Masonry, Steel Joist, Built-up Roof
Exterior Finish:
Block, Brick
Interior Finish:
Sheet Rock, Suspended Ceiling
Clearances
To Ceiling
11’0”
To Bottom of Roof Deck 14’8”
To Bottom of Bar Joist 13’0” to 13’6” (Depending on Location)
Loading Docks:
3 Loading Doors at Grade in Back of Building
Zoning:
Highway Business (HB)
Property Tax 2016:
$11,976
PHYSICAL CONDITION OF BUILDING
The property will be sold in it’s as-is condition. Potential bidders, before submitting bids, are
welcome to conduct an on-site walk through. If and to the extent a definitive purchase agreement
is executed with the fee owner, the accepted bidder may conduct further due diligence at that
time.
This past summer the building was informally inspected by the City of Morris Building
Inspector, the local plumbing company hired by the fee owner to repair the water leak and a
roofing company. The inspections found:
 The buildings key structural elements have been determined to be sound.
 The interior space can be made free standing.
 The roof does not require replacement.
 There is some minor damage to the roof drain on the edge of the northwest corner.
 The roof has some small leaks. The leaks are a result of improper installation of roof
penetrations for ventilation and drainage.
 The heating system will require replacement.
 The suspended ceiling is in need of replacement or removal.
 There are no signs of rodent infestation.
 A water leak several years ago that was visible at the northwest corner of the building
was the result of frozen pipes in the fire suppression system that lead to the release of the
installed freeze plug on the city water inlet line; releasing water to the building’s interior
and exterior. No Permanent damage resulted from the water leak.
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Proposals must contain:
1. The name of the business;
2. Contact information (name, title, address, phone number, email);
3. The type of business being proposed that will redevelop the property;
4. The price to be paid for the property (there is no minimum price established by the fee
owner).
5. The number of existing jobs (as of the date of the submitted proposal);
6. The number of jobs to be created if the proposal is accepted by the fee owner;
7. A brief business plan containing any known cost estimates, financial projections, etc. that
clearly defines the use of the property and how the proposed redevelopment of the
property matches the SCEIC Mission Statement, “to create and to retain jobs”; and,
8. ‘Quality of Life’ and community resource businesses will be considered.
Email proposals in Microsoft Word to sceic@hometownsolution.net.
EVALUATION PROCESS
SCEIC will act as a facilitator and a clearing house for all the submitted proposals. The SCEIC
Board of Directors will review each proposal and make recommendations to the fee owner
identifying proposals that best fit the SCEIC’ Mission Statement, “to create and to retain jobs”.
The SCEIC Board of Directors will not consider any bid amounts in its recommendation to the
fee owner, but all bid amounts will be entertained by the fee owner.
The property will be sold by Holiday Stationstores, Inc. to the business selected by Holiday
Stationstores. Holiday Stationstores Inc. reserves the right to accept or to reject any or all of the
submitted proposals. All proposed uses of the property must conform to City of Morris Zoning
Ordinances.
SCHEDULE
 Appointments to tour the property, including the building’s interior, can be made by
contacting SCEIC, Michael Haynes, Executive Director, 320-585-2609,
sceic@hometownsolutions.net., 215 Atlantic Avenue, Morris MN 56267.
 Proposals are to be received by 4pm on Monday, February 1, 2016.
 Email proposals in Microsoft Word to sceic@hometownsolution.net.
 Holiday Stationstores, Inc. will announce the proposal that will be acceptable to them.
 It is anticipated that an announcement will be made in the spring of 2016.
CITY OF MORRIS HIGHWAY BUSINESS (HB) ZONING ORDINANCE
Chapter 11, Section 11.30 HB – Highway Business District, Sub-division. 1. Purpose. The HB,
Highway Business District, is intended to provide a district of centralized areas for service
oriented enterprises, and for quasi-industrial and wholesale enterprises that do not require an
industrial setting but have considerable contact and a dependence on transient trade and traffic.
A. PERMITTED USES (Principal).
1. Single family and two family dwellings.
2. Multiple dwellings and apartment buildings.
3. Attached dwellings.
4. Boarding and lodging houses.
5. Fraternity, sorority houses whose chief activity is a service carried on as a business.
6. Automotive agencies selling and displaying new and used vehicles.
7. Automotive accessory stores service stations, and car wash establishments.
8. Bowling alleys and roller skating rinks.
9. Drive-in restaurants, retail stores or service uses.
10. Agricultural implement and other construction sales and showrooms.
11. Motels and camp grounds.
12. Professional businesses and governmental offices.
13. Travel trailer, motor home, recreational equipment, marine and boat sales lots.
14. Public and truck garage.
15. Warehouses and wholesale businesses.
16. Parking lots, malls and transient corridors.
17. Automobile repair shops and establishments.
18. Veterinary clinics for small animals.
19. Liquor Stores, lounges and private clubs.
20. Taverns, restaurants and night clubs.
21. Seasonal produce stands.
22. Cafes and restaurants.
23. Bait and sporting goods shops.
24. Lumber yards and construction materials sales.
25. Garden and landscaping sales and service.
26. Parks.
B. PERMITTED USES (Accessory).
1. Private garages.
2. Gardens and conservatories for plants and flowers not as a business trade or industry.
3. The renting of rooms or the providing of table board for not more than three persons per
single family dwelling.
4. Buildings for the storage of yard care equipment. Bus or taxi loading and unloading
facilities.
5. Home occupations utilizing not more than one third of the gross floor area of the
dwelling.
6. Storage of merchandise, solely intended to be retailed by a related established principal
use.
7. Parking lots, malls and transient corridors.
C. CONDITIONAL USES (Requires a Conditional Use Permit).
1. Churches, private schools, including music and dance schools and day care centers and
child nurseries.
2. Nurseries and greenhouses.
3. Cemeteries.
4. Hospitals and rest homes.
5. Publicly owned buildings, telephone transformer and electrical sub-stations, but not to
include maintenance.
6. Public schools, colleges and universities.
7. Public parks and playgrounds and recreation, refreshment and service buildings in those.
8. Mobile home parks and sales lots.
9. Billboards.
10. Distributing station for milk and other beverages, carting or hauling stations.
11. Outdoor or drive-in theater.
12. Fabricating and light manufacture.
13. Privately owned commercial outdoor recreational uses including, but not limited to, auto
and go-cart racing tracks, golf driving ranges, skating rinks and tennis clubs.
14. Retail establishments not listed under permitted uses which may meet the purpose of the
district.
15. Solar energy systems, solar and earth-sheltered structures.
16. Offices and other highway businesses, which in the opinion of the Planning Commission
and Council will not have a detrimental effect on the Central Business District.
SCEIC is not a government entity and does not provide legal or accounting services
SCEIC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER