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PTC RFP for Pro Bono Design Services
Request for Proposal
for Pro-Bono Design Services for the
Revitalization of the Polish Triangle
The Polish Triangle is a culturally and historically important public plaza, bounded by Division Street, Milwaukee and Ashland Avenues. It is a highly visible and heavily trafficked transportation hub that serves as an entry point to Chicago’s vibrant Wicker Park, Bucktown and East Village neighborhoods. Despite its prominence, the Polish Triangle does not live up to its potential as either a gateway, or a destination. The Polish Triangle Coalition (PTC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed in 2010 by a group of community organizations, businesses and religious and educational institutions with a shared interest in revitalizing the Polish Triangle.
The PTC’s mission is to build on earlier efforts that identified needed improvements and implement them with the goal of transforming the Polish Triangle into a significant public amenity. Previous and continuing efforts to improve the Polish Triangle include:
- Physical improvements including installation of new paving, trees lighting and a fountain in 1997
- Designation of the plaza as the ‘Polish Triangle’, and dedication of the fountain to Nelsen Algren, in 1998
- ‘Placemaking at the Polish Triangle’ report prepared by the Metropolitan Planning Council and Wicker Park Bucktown Special Services Area #33, with broad-based community input, in 2010
- Programming of the plaza by ACTIVATE! Chicago (Latent Design), part of the Chicago Department of Transportation’s ‘People Plaza’ program, a public-private partnership to activate and maintain underutilized public spaces
- Ongoing programming by the Polish Triangle Coalition, featuring neighborhood events, free performances, food vendors and farmers markets These initiatives have succeeded in raising public awareness of the Polish Triangle but have also highlighted a number of needed improvements that the revitalization effort would need to address:
- Explanation of the historical context of the four Chicago neighborhoods that converge at the Polish Triangle, as well as information and wayfinding for contemporary amenities Aesthetic and safety upgrades to the Division Blue Line station entrances to improve the CTA passenger experience Creation of a more welcoming environment for pedestrians, passengers entering and existing the Blue Line station, people waiting for cabs & buses Accommodations for both passive activities and active programming
- Facilities to accommodate limited food sales
- Support for cleaning and maintenance activities
The Polish Triangle Coalition is seeking pro-bono design services to assist in development of a high-level design concept for the proposed improvements. The design concept will be used to foster public awareness, build political support and gauge interest in sponsorship and private funding for the improvements. Interested parties will be asked to propose the specific process by which the work will be performed, but in general terms the project would consist of:
- Facilitation of a visioning session with appropriate group of stakeholders (to be determined) to review public input, survey results, research, public event attendance jurisdictional oversight and other relevant data.
- Development of a conceptual design that integrates the various improvements into a cohesive vision for the space Production of drawings, renderings, a written narrative and an estimate of construction cost for the improvements
- Assembly of the above materials into a suitable format that the PTC can use to promote the funding and implementation of the project. Interested individuals, firms or teams are asked to submit a letter, no later than March 10, 2017, which includes the following information:
- Introduction of yourself, your firm or team and professional qualifications Statement of interest in working with the Polish Triangle Coalition Description of previous experience with similar placemaking, community engagement or public-interest design efforts
- Proposed approach to providing the requested services and anticipated timeframe Proposed deliverables and an estimate of reimbursable expenses anticipated to be incurred
- Acknowledgment of understanding that services will be provided pro-bono.
Please send any questions by March 3, 2017 to: PTCRFP@PolishTriangleCoalition.org
Submissions are due by March 10, 2017 to: PTCRFP@PolishTriangleCoalition.org
The Polish Triangle Coalition will choose up to three respondents for in-person interviews and select the one that best meets its needs. The PTC will contract with the selected respondent using an American Institute of Architects B106 Owner-Architect Agreement for Pro Bono Services.