SPRINGFIELD -- The city, aided by trustee group offering an incentive of up to $50,000, is seeking developers interested in buying and restoring an architecturally unique house at 60 Byers St., across from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

The two-story, city-owned house is in the downtown area in the Quadrangle-Mattoon Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has three legal housing units.

The city is offering the house for sale, and the Trustees of the Springfield Historic Preservation Fund are offering up to $50,000 in incentive funds for the development.

The fund was established by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and MGM Springfield to assist in the renovation of historic properties within a half-mile of MGM's casino project, officials said.

"We're hopeful this effort will result in turning this property around to a productive use," Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said.

The home is a rare International Style house, designed by Thurston Munson, according to the city.

The historic preservation fund will help address some of the most challenging historic properties, Sarno said.

The funds must be used for exterior repairs and will be made in the form of an interest-free forgivable loan that will be paid out as reimbursement of expenses, according to guidelines. Any exterior repairs need review approval from the Springfield Historical Commission under a Historic Preservation Agreement.

The Byers Street house is the first project slated for funding under the Springfield Historic Preservation Fund. The trustee group, whose president is Robert McCarroll, is an independent entity, he said

Public funds had been used to rehabilitate the property in the past with the requirement that it remain an affordable housing property until Dec. 31, 2022. As a result, there is an "Affordable Housing Restriction" attached to the sale.

One of the units must be reserved for occupancy by very low-income households, and one for low-income households, under the guidelines. The remaining unit can be rented at market rate.

While the city will consider the price offered for the house as a factor in selecting the best proposal, it will also consider other factors, the city said.

"The city is most interested in proposals that creatively integrate the site with the surrounding area, respecting zoning, and in a manner that creates a viable redevelopment opportunity and enhances the aesthetic appeal of the streetscape," according to the advertised request for proposals.

The city will consider proposals for up to four housing units, but a fourth unit would be subject to needed approval of a special permit or variance, with no advance guarantee.

Open houses are scheduled Jan. 12 and Jan. 25, both at 10 a.m.

Proposals are due by Feb. 14, 2017. Proposal packets are available from the Springfield Office of Procurement at (413) 787-6284.

According to the city news release, the Springfield Preservation Trust described the Byers Street house is "one of the most unusual buildings in Springfield as it was originally a two-family Victorian home. In 1953. Munson rebuilt it from the inside out as a modern style home, with curved walls, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired iron work, and an entire wall of glass on the rear with spectacular views of downtown."

The home was a local talking point and was featured in architectural magazines when it was completed, according to the city.

"Mr. Munson was an artist and architect who painted portraits and murals, and designed churches throughout New England, and created a 92-foot mosaic for the Church of the Holy Cross in Portland, Maine," the city's news release stated. "He also painted large murals for hotels and restaurants during the 1930s, and portraits of players for the original Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield."