Bristol to Seek Bids for Proposed Maritime Center on Waterfront

A request for proposals (RFP) to design and build the proposed maritime center in the former Naval Reserve armory on Bristol’s waterfront is expected to be sent out soon.

The maritime center will take the place of the community center, which is moving to the former Quinta-Gamelin Army Reserve building in Colt State Park. It will be built with an $861,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a matching grant from Bristol, according to eastbayri.com.

Getting the former armory off of Thames Street up to building codes is the first step of the $1.75 million conversion project, according to Diane Williamson, Bristol community development director. 

Bristol’s capital projects committee is still determining the scope of work and what it wants to include in the maritime center.

The building dates to 1896. Bristol has been using it as a community center for decades. 

Acquiring the federal grant began when Roger Williams University students did a feasibility study in 2012 through the college’s Community Partnership Center. That study estimated the $1.75 million cost of the conversion to a maritime center. 

A pre-bid hearing is expected to be held in late January. A bid opening is expected to take place in February.