City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 13, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: EMILY BAKER, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Final Passage of an Ordinance to lease and manage the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC) to Initiate And Establish The Process To Grant An Agreement For The Lease, Management, And Operation Of The Torpedo Factory Arts Center (“TFAC”), Owned By The City Of Alexandria And Located At 105 Union Street.
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an Ordinance to establish the process to solicit and grant a Franchise to lease, manage and operate the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC).
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Introduce and adopt the proposed ordinance (Attachment 1) on first reading to initiate and establish the process to grant an agreement for the lease, management and operation of the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC); and
2. Schedule the ordinance for second reading, public hearing, and final approval on January 24, 2026.
BACKGROUND: As part of the continued revitalization efforts of TFAC, the City established a stakeholder task force charged with helping develop a coherent approach to vibrancy and sustainability in alignment with the principles for TFAC adopted by City Council at their meeting on December 14, 2021. The TFAC stakeholder process, which concluded in 2023, provided recommendations for the long-term vibrancy and sustainability of TFAC, including the transition to an alternate governance structure. Following the conclusion of the task force, staff undertook market scan efforts to inform the parameters and approach to governance transition. The market scan comprised of (1) conducting comparable facility interviews in 2023 and early 2024, (2) facilitating focus group meetings among stakeholders in 2024, and (3) issuing a request for information (RFI) in 2025 to understand interest, capacity, and capability of potential operators to lease, manage, and operate the Art Center.
DISCUSSION: Following staff’s update to City Council regarding the RFI at the June 10, 2025 meeting, and reviewing the responses, staff has prepared a solicitation to receive proposals to lease, manage, and operate TFAC (Attachment 2).
In order to satisfy the legal requirements associated with both the procurement of management and operations services and the long-term lease of the TFAC, the solicitation process includes multiple administrative and City Council actions. While these components are intended to be combined into a single agreement upon award, they are governed by different procedural requirements under state law and City policy.
The solicitation is structured to allow maximum flexibility in proposed management and operational approaches and does not assume a specific governance model for TFAC. Additionally, while the solicitation requires a submission for a 5-year lease period to allow for the successful entity to carry forward existing leases and for the transition from City operations, the proposers can additionally offer alternate term lengths to recoup any potential capital investment.
Because the contemplated lease term may exceed five years, state law requires the City to publicly advertise and adopt certain ordinances, and to formally authorize the solicitation and award of the lease. Following adoption of the ordinance, the City will issue a solicitation, receive bids, evaluate proposals, and intends to award a combined lease, management and operation agreement for TFAC. All materials associated with this solicitation will be posted to the City’s website at https://www.alexandriava.gov/torpedofactory.
To ensure that the proposals align with City Council and community aspirations, the proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:
• Organizational Qualifications, Experience and Capacity
• Staff Experience
• Operation and Management Approach
• Marketing Plan
• Maintenance, Tenant Improvements and Capital Improvement Strategy
• Stakeholder Engagement Plan
• Financial Bid
FRANCHISE AWARD TIMETABLE:
To solicit proposals for a possible partner to lease, manage, and operate TFAC, the City must issue a request for proposals after approval of an initiating ordinance by the City Council. The request for proposals will be posted on the City’s website for a minimum of 60 days. Once responses to the City’s request for proposals are received, staff will evaluate each proposal based on the City’s criteria. Staff will bring a proposed agreement with the recommended responsive bidder for City Council consideration. The City has the right to reject any and all bids. The proposed dates are:
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January 13, 2026 |
Ordinance: First Reading |
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January 24, 2026 |
Ordinance: Second Reading, Public Hearing and Adoption |
|
March 30, 2026 |
Proposals Due |
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April 14, 2026 or as soon thereafter as practicable |
Receipt and Referral of Submitted Proposals to City Council |
|
Q2 2026 |
Anticipated Recommendation of Award to City Council |
This effort underscores the critical role TFAC plays in fostering a vibrant and thriving arts ecosystem in Alexandria. As the City moves forward, it remains committed to ensuring TFAC continues to serve as a vital hub for creativity and culture.
FISCAL IMPACT: City staff will provide oversight of the franchise. Previously approved and future budgets may be accessed for additional support and oversight as required. The City may receive revenue in the form of payment or realize cost savings in accordance with the lease terms, which shall be considered as a part of the proposal evaluations.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Franchise Ordinance
Attachment 2: Request for Proposals - Terms and Specifications for Bids for Franchise
STAFF:
Bonnie Brown, Deputy City Attorney
Alfred Coleman, Deputy Director of Department of General Services
Julian Gonsalves, Strategic Projects and Public-Private Partnerships Director
Cheran Ivery, City Attorney
Bryan P. MacAvoy, Assistant City Attorney
Jeremy McPike, Director of Department of General Services
Diane Ruggiero, Deputy Director of Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities