A Rochester-based joint venture between S&S Construction and American Commercial Group and the Washington, DC-based Metis Group are development advisors to the VA for this project. Libby Kavoulakis of Metis tells GlobeSt.com the garage calls for a minimum capacity of 1,100 structured parking spaces.

The parcels that will be available for ground lease are the two-acre Yeatman Property across from the medical center and the 1.2-acre John Cochran Property, directly adjacent to the east of the center. "The potential use of the parcels is wide open," Kavoulakis says, "as long as the development is not inconsistent with the VA's standard guidelines." A bar, for example, would not be consistent, but retail, multifamily and other commercial developments would.

The scope and options for the project will be fully discussed at the Oct. 19 meeting, "including opportunities to obtain financing from local, state and federal sources," Kavoulakis says. Her company and the S&S/ACG partnership are charged with marshalling this project for the VA, beginning with site and market analysis through to help in selecting the developer and closing the transaction.

This project is part of a larger commercial development at the medical center, which is located in the city's Grand Center cultural district. The approximately 10-block district is currently undergoing significant revitalization.

The Enhanced Use Leasing program is designed to maximize the value and use of the government's real estate by creating public/private partnerships to develop under-utilized government land and buildings. By providing a long-term ground lease under the EUL initiative, the VA can obtain property, development and/or in-kind services in exchange for private-sector development on VA holdings.

The VA is holding a forum for interested developers at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19 to discuss this project. It will be held at Busch Hall Room 253 B and C at St. Louis University. The scheduled release date for RFPs is Nov. 21.

Instant Insights /

VA Seeks Partner for Medical Center Project

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