69传媒

After receiving no proposals by the original deadline of Friday, Oct. 20, the city has extended it to Friday, Oct. 27, Director of Planning and Economic Development Jenny Haines told 69传媒.

The deadline was extended at the request of potential bidders, Haines said. 聽bidders have registered to receive the city's request for proposals as of Monday, so the city is "hopeful" some will be submitted this week, she added. If so, finalists will be chosen for interviews and the contract will be awarded in November. If not, the city will regroup and "work on plan B," Haines said.

"Our first step in working to be fiscally responsible to our taxpayers is trying to get the private sector to take on this project through this RFP process," she said in an email.

According to the RFP, the city hopes to complete the removal of the Hunter Dinerant by May 17, 2024. As reported by 69传媒 in September, the city is looking to relocate the iconic railcar diner from its position above the Owasco River. Since taking ownership of the property through tax foreclosure in May, the city has determined that a breach of the Mill Street Dam a quarter of a mile upstream would cause loss of life if anyone was inside the diner. The steel beams holding it above the river are significantly rusted as well, Director of Municipal Utilities Seth Jensen told 69传媒.

The RFP also details the criteria the city will use to score proposals. Priority will be given to those that would reopen the diner within 69传媒 after completing all three phases of removing it: purchasing, removing and relocating the railcar itself; demolishing the rear wooden structure where the kitchen is located; and removing the steel beams and concrete piers holding the diner. The city also seeks a bidder who has the financial capacity to complete those phases in a cost-effective manner, saying in the RFP that it anticipates some costs will be "offset by the value of the diner."

Previously owned by Rachael and Bill Juhl, the Hunter Dinerant served its last customer on Dec. 31. The diner has been located above the Owasco River at 18 Genesee St. since 1951, and has been a popular destination due to its neon signage and connection to the family of President Joseph Biden. His late first wife, Neilia Hunter, was the daughter of past diner owners Robert and Louise Hunter.