Day: October 20, 2010

From The City of Gloucester-

The City invites all those with interest and vision for harbor development to submit
A Schematic Design Proposal that explores feasible uses for I4-C2.
Schematic Design Proposal Requirements
Each Proposal must include the following elements:
• A visual representation of the idea (hard and soft copy).
• A summary of the proposed uses (which need to conform to current zoning)
• A cost estimate for bringing idea to implementation
• Identification of sources of financing
• Benefits of idea to community
Grant Support for Preparation of Proposals
Funded through the economic development grant the city received from the Seaport
Advisory Council, the City will offer up to a total of $50,000 in grants of up to $2500
each to reimburse applicants who hire architect/design, legal or financial services
expertise for the preparation of their response. Preference will be given to Gloucester
citizens and the goal is to stimulate the best design and implementation concepts for I4-
C2.
To be eligible for grant funding, applicants will submit a letter of interest to the
City. Funds will be distributed in a first round by November 3, 2010. If funds
remain available, late applicants will be considered.

Can I submit this?

Gloucester Landing Proposal

Of course this isn’t my design, it was the proposal that was slated for  I4C2 lot in between the Gloucester House and The Building Center over twenty years ago and was fought by the regular group of people who fight every development in town.

It had underground parking for downtown, it had public space, a beautiful courtyard for the public to enjoy, it had right of ways to insure the fishermen could get to their boats it had a glass atrium so that harbor views would still be seen. It was to be financed with private (read not grant money or taxpayer money) money and would have been paying us millions in taxes by now.

It all made too much sense I suppose.

So on to the the things you should include if you would like to get one of the  $2500 grants

If you would like your proposal to be accepted  and qualify for the grant money here is what you should include-

• free dockage for fishermen- add one thousand bonus points for free dockage for fishermen
• any non-profit idea that doesn’t pay taxes –add three bonus point if your plan is a non-profit
• any non-profit idea that requires taxpayer grants (the higher dollar amount the better)- add two bonus points if your plan requires the public to subsidize it
• parks -add three bonus points if your plan includes a park
• under no circumstances should you include anything that might be construed as profitable and able to be financed privately (the idea of someone getting financing on their own and turning profits is highly frowned upon) deduct one thousand bonus points if your plan is to be financed with private dollars and is deemed to be for-profit
• museums- some new type of of museum or aquarium supported by grant money because we don’t have enough museums that depend on the generosity of donors to keep operating like the Sargent House, The Cape Ann Museum, The Maritime Heritage Center or Ocean Alliance  – add 3 bonus points for another museum or ocean research center
• green energy- toss a few windmills or solar panels on your plan and you get ten bonus points it doesn’t matter if the solar panels cost $5,000,000 and the return will be ten cents if you can get taxpayer subsidies for those you get an additional ten bonus points
• schooner center- anything to do with Schooners gets you five bonus points- if you can figure out how to put schooners down there without displacing any fishing boats add ten bonus points

Of course I’m kidding about all this (not really) but if you are interested you should submit your proposal according to the real guidelines which can be found here-

http://www.gloucester-ma.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=537

What are you waiting for?  Get planning!