Council delays Torpedo Factory operator search to address historic ship's future

Revised solicitation will ask bidders to consider 18th-century vessel due back in 2028

Alexandria City Council’s Public Hearing on Saturday, January 24, 2026. (Screenshot)

City Council unanimously rejected the Torpedo Factory Art Center management RFP on Saturday, sending it back for revision after concerns that the solicitation failed to address a potentially transformative addition: an 18th-century ship hull being conserved for return to the city in 2028.

The surprise vote came on what was supposed to be the second reading and final passage of an ordinance launching a formal process to find an outside operator for the waterfront arts center at 105 Union Street. Proposals had been due March 30.

Instead, the council directed staff to revise the RFP to include specific language about the ship and return at the earliest possible date.

“I firmly believe that we should already know a couple of locations where this should go, and if we don’t, we’re behind the times,” Councilman John Chapman said.

The ship hull was discovered during waterfront construction in 2015. The city funded its conservation with the goal of eventually exhibiting it in Alexandria. That work is expected to be complete in 2028.

Ivy Whitlatch, chair of the Alexandria Archaeological Commission, told council the RFP’s silence on the ship was a problem for potential bidders.

“As we read the RFP, there is not any language to suggest the possibility of exhibiting the ship hull and artifacts with the new operator within the five-year term of this agreement,” Whitlatch said. “Knowing about this possibility could significantly affect how and possibly which future operator would respond to this procurement document.”

She noted that housing the ship in the Torpedo Factory could affect studio space, revenue, renovation timelines and event operations — all factors a prospective operator would need to weigh.

Deputy City Manager Emily Baker said staff had intentionally kept the RFP flexible to attract a broad range of bidders.

“We want to first and foremost understand who is interested in operating and maintaining this facility and what are their capabilities,” Baker said. “We do not want to preclude who might be interested in submitting by making it too narrow.”

But council members said the ship is too significant to leave out.

Vice Mayor Sarah Bagley, who made the motion to reject the ordinance, said including the ship in the RFP could actually provide useful feedback — even if bidders say they can’t handle it.

“There’s almost some value in including it because the feedback we get from the bidders is, ‘That’s not something I’ve done before,’ or ‘That’s a quirkier item to market,’” Bagley said. “There’s still value I think in hearing that in the RFP process.”

City Attorney Cheran Ivery advised that adding the ship would constitute a new subject requiring the ordinance to be re-advertised — meaning council could not simply amend the document Saturday.

“Our advice is to let — give us the time to come back with a new ordinance,” said Deputy City Attorney Bonnie Brown.

Bagley framed the motion carefully: “With sincere enthusiasm for seeing the project move forward and excitement for what’s ahead at the Torpedo Factory, I move to deny the approval of the RFP and return it basically at the earliest day possible for re-advertising.”

The vote was unanimous.

The Alexandria Archaeology Museum has occupied the Torpedo Factory’s third floor since 1979. Baker said the city remains committed to keeping the museum there “until and unless we find another home that may be more appropriate.”

The effort to find an outside operator for the Torpedo Factory began with a stakeholder task force in 2021. A request for information last year gauged interest from potential operators. The original ordinance contemplated a minimum five-year lease, with possible extensions up to 40 years.

Staff said the revised RFP could return within weeks, though a specific timeline was not announced.