Sitting along the James River waterfront, the Intermediate Terminal Building stands as both a relic of Richmond’s industrial past and a blank canvas for its future. Now, city officials are looking for proposals to bring new life to the historic structure at 3101 E. Main St.

The City of Richmond’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the reuse, redevelopment or rehabilitation of the building, which sits adjacent to the Rocketts Landing neighborhood, the Riverfront Pulse bus rapid transit line, and the Virginia Capital Trail.

According to the city’s RFP, the Intermediate Terminal Building was completed on May 23, 1938, and was originally used as warehouse storage for raw sugar imports from Cuba, sand, gravel, newsprint, gas and oil. It was one of the first commercial buildings in Richmond constructed on concrete-reinforced piers to avoid flooding. More recently, the structure has been used to store voting machines between elections.

The building is approximately 32,000 square feet and stands two stories high. The road beneath the structure once supported automobile and trolley traffic.

“This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of Richmond’s riverfront,” said Interim CAO Sharon Ebert. “With direct access to the James River, a vast and thriving trail network, access to multi-modal transportation, and close proximity to City economic and cultural hubs in Shockoe Bottom and Downtown, the ITB offers a unique blend of a number of our City’s most exciting attractions.”

Proposals will be evaluated based on several factors, including total fiscal impact, community benefits, developer or business experience, and the proposed use for the site.

“This site is more than just a development opportunity,” said Acting EDA Director Matt Welch. “It is a chance to create something that connects people to their environment, to enhance our outdoor recreational assets, and to fuel Richmond’s economic momentum. So we are looking for proposals that are fit for that purpose, and which keep the community and the natural landscape front of mind.”

The deadline to submit proposals is Aug. 28. Additional details about the property, submission guidelines, and evaluation criteria can be found at go.rva.gov.