Two Bids Submitted For Governor Prence Project

ORLEANS – A review committee will consider two bids that have been submitted for work at the former Governor Prence Inn in the coming weeks.

Select Board chair Michael Herman, one of two select board members serving on the bid committee, said that Pennrose and Housing Assistance Corporation have each submitted proposals to develop the 5.5-acre property, which the town is eying for the creation of affordable and workforce housing. HAC is partnering with two other agencies, Habitat for Humanity Cape Cod and Preservation of Affordable Housing, on its proposal.

Herman declined to go into specifics on the bids, including dollar amounts. But he said the committee will likely be ready to award a contract for one of the two proposals in February.

“It’s going to take us that long to review them,” he said.

The committee, which includes two select board members and two members of the affordable housing trust fund board as well as Director of Planning and Community Development George Meservey and Marcia Allgeier, the town’s housing coordinator, was to hold its first meeting this week. The committee will also work with a financial consultant as part of its review, Herman said.

The town and the affordable housing trust jointly purchased the Prence property in 2021 for $2.9 million. A Governor Prence planning committee was then assembled to study options and make recommendations for what to develop on the property. In September 2022, the committee submitted its final report, which advocated for the development of multifamily housing structures up to three stories in height “primarily” for affordable housing units, with some space set aside for “missing middle” housing.

Herman said having bids in hand to develop the property represents “a milestone” for the project.

“We have two very qualified applicants that we’re currently working with that do a lot of developments on Cape Cod and in Massachusetts,” he said.

Both Pennrose and HAC are nearing the start of construction on two other housing projects in town. Pennrose is developing the site of the former Cape Cod Five headquarters on West Road into a 62-unit development, with 52 of those units being set aside as affordable. HAC, meanwhile, is redeveloping the site of the former Masonic lodge at 107 Main St. into 14 units of affordable housing. Herman said both projects are on track to break ground in early spring.

Herman said Pennrose and HAC’s interest in the Governor Prence project reflects well on the town.

“It’s a complement to the town, to be honest,” he said. “They’ve worked with the town, and they find that they still want to.”

Herman said the review committee will weigh the two proposals, which he said will be ranked according to specific criteria.

“It’s a pretty standard thing,” he said. “Then we make our recommendation to our head of procurement, which is [Town Manager] Kim Newman.” The select board will ultimately ratify the decision before a contract is awarded, Herman said.

Discussion and planning at the town level surrounding the Governor Prence Inn dates back more than three years. But Herman said while there’s a sense of urgency behind advancing the project, that urgency needs to be met with due diligence.

“Everybody involved, including the townspeople, wants things to move along as fast as possible. But we also have to take the proper steps to make sure that these are successful projects.”

Email Ryan Bray at ryan@capecodchronicle.com