The City of Amesbury announced that a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be made available in the coming days for two city-owned properties located at 5 and 9 School Street. The two adjoining parcels are situated within the City's Central Business zoning district and are being sold together. The parcel at 5 School Street consists of an approximately 2,160 square foot existing building on an 0.13-acre parcel of land. The parcel at 9 School Street consists of an approximately 8,535 square-foot building, formerly known as the Ordway School, on a 0.53-acre parcel of land.  Although no minimum bid has been set by the city, the assessed 2025 value of the 5 School Steet property is $442,700, while the 9 School Street property is valued at $893,700. 

In October of 2024, Mayor Kassandra Gove sponsored on order, Council Bill 2024-133, seeking to dispose of the two properties, removing them from the city’s maintenance obligations, and opening them up for potential future development. Once restored and/or reconstructed, both properties would return to the city’s tax roll with an estimated combined value of $3.1 million. 

Led by Director, Nicholas Cracknell, staff in the Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED) worked proactively to include a “Preferred Development Plan” which defines the building and site design for redevelopment of the properties. The RFP allows for the development of up to eight (8) residential units at 9 School Street, with the building being renovated and a preservation restriction being placed on the exterior. 5 School Street will have the potential to either be renovated or, if too structurally compromised to be restored, reconstructed “in-kind” to allow for reuse as a single-family residence. To further streamline the process for potential bidders, OCED worked closely with the Planning Board, the Public Library Board of Trustees, and the Historical Commission to garner support for the Preferred Development Plan. By providing a Preferred Development Plan, pre-permitting support from the Planning Board, and the letters of support, OCED hopes it will serve as a successful model for the future disposition of city-owned properties to be surplused.  

“I give full credit here to the Mayor and the City Council for their collective support of a thoughtful disposition process that intentionally lays out a well-supported and prescriptive building and site plan to address the many competing objectives at play such as off-street parking, land use, and the preservation of these two historically significant buildings", said Nick Cracknell.  "The hope being, by providing interested bidders a preliminary building design, program, and conceptual site plan, it will substantially diminish their risk and uncertainty in permitting this project.  In return, that reduced risk should result in higher net proceeds to the city to support the needed repairs at the Public Library as well as ensure a better design outcome for the School Street Corridor and these two important historic structures”. 

Integral to the strong local support for the proposed redevelopment plan, the proceeds from the sale of 5 & 9 School Street will be deposited into a Receipts Reserved for Real Estate account to be used to support the restoration and repair of the Amesbury Public Library. A future vote of City Council will be required to transfer funds from the Receipts Reserved for Real Estate account to a capital account for Library maintenance and repairs, which will be focused on water infiltration mitigation, including but not limited to roof, gutters, windows, masonry, exterior paint, soffits, eaves, and stairs. Additionally, approximately half of the 5 School Street property will be subdivided by the buyer and reserved for the city to allow for potential future expansion of the Amesbury Public Library. 

“This is an exciting step for us in advancing our stewardship of the School Street area and managing our facilities and assets. The preferred development plan directly addresses goals in our Housing Production Plan and the needs of our community. I know residents are anxious to see some of these vacant city buildings redeveloped, as am I. Taking our time to establish a process and maximize our returns was important and with the team we have in place this should be the first of more to come" said Mayor Kassandra Gove

Those interested in the RFP or who have questions are encouraged to call the Office of Community & Economic Development at 978-388-8110. The RFP will available on April 9th on the the city website at www.amesburyma.gov/Bids.aspx. 

History of the Properties 

Originally constructed in 1863, the Ordway school at 9 School Street was built for the growing town of Amesbury. The building is a two-story Italianate building with a below-grade fully finished basement. The school was converted to town offices in the 1960s. The property underwent renovation and an addition for a new entrance and stairwell in 1981. Since then, it has been home to various departments including Inspectional Services, the Senior Center, and most recently, the Fire Department Emergency Operations Center. It is currently unoccupied. 

The Orlando S. Bailey House at 5 School Street is a two-story Greek revival single family residence with a below-grade unfinished basement originally constructed in 1850. The house was obtained by the city of Amesbury in 2001 but is currently vacant as well.