Land Battle: What Next For 195 Development
Monday, June 20, 2011
There is not an elected official in the city of Providence or on Smith Hill arguing that the relocation of I-195 isn’t a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for Rhode Island. The question is who should be able to set the guidelines as to how to develop the 35 acres of prime real estate owned by the state but located in the Knowledge District downtown.
Both sides – the city and the state– want to make to most of the opportunity, which is why Mayor Angel Taveras has put together an elite group of public and private stakeholders and an internationally respected design firm to help with the development process and Governor Chafee has led fact-finding trips to Houston and Baltimore to learn about what those cities are doing to maximize their value.
Taveras: An Incredible Opportunity For Providence
Taveras has said the key will be to have a streamlined zoning and permitting process that doesn’t cause developers to get bogged down by the “bureaucratic red tape.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“The relocation of I-195 is an incredible opportunity for Providence to attract new businesses, open up new revenue-generating, taxable property, and build a stronger economy in Providence,” he said “Too often, the efforts of entrepreneurs, business owners and developers get caught up in bureaucratic red tape that has a chilling effect on growth and investment in the city. This direct and streamlined zoning and permitting process will offer efficiency and predictability to those who seek to start and grow their businesses here.”
But as much as the city wants to have the right team in place to assist with the development of the project, the state appears to be holding all the cards.
Governor’s Commission Would Control 195 Development
Earlier this month, the Senate voted to create a seven person commission responsible for making the decision as to how to develop the area. The commission, which has drawn some criticism questioning how much oversight it will have, will be appointed by the Governor.
The bill, which still needs to be voted on in the House, sets guidelines and stipulations for the project, according the Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio.
“The availability of this reclaimed land presents an exciting opportunity to attract new, high-quality jobs and bolster the economy of the city and the state” Ruggerio said in a press release. “It is important to both support the facilities that already exist and foster the enormous potential for growth of life science industries such as research and development, computer sciences, and software design and application. Such a life-science district capitalizes on our existing strengths, such as our density of world-class institutions of higher learning, research and health care facilities, as well as our prime location in the Boston to New York corridor.”
Commission Could Have Too Much Union Control
The concern, according to one State House source, is that a commission appointed by Governor Chafee may result in a group that doesn’t reflect exactly what the city wants from the project.
“It’s the state’s property so the Governor can appoint anybody he wants,” the source said.
The Governor has not given any indication that he will keep the city in the dark for the project. At a public breakfast last week, he even suggested leasing a portion of the land and giving some or all of the revenue generated to the city.
But if the Governor appoints a commission made up mostly of union officials, the source said the city could be left on the outside looking in.
“It’s not that Providence won’t have some of the say,” the source said. “It’s that at the end of the day, the Governor can put anyone on that commission and they might not be looking out for the best long-term interests of the city.”
Council President: Development Is Crucial
Still, the city intends to play a major role in the project. When the city announced it was forming a team of public and private stakeholders to analyze and assess how to make the most of the real estate, City Council President Michael Solomon said developing the 195 district is “crucial” for the city of Providence.
“Development of the 195 land and the Knowledge District is crucial to moving the city's economy forward,” Solomon said. “The City Council looks forward to working with Mayor Taveras, and all our partners in the business and nonprofit communities to create a clear blueprint for growth and economic development in Providence.”
One Overarching Goal
Now all eyes turn to the House, which will vote on the commission at some point over the next two weeks before the session ends. House Speaker Gordon Fox, who represents Providence and is viewed as a close ally to the Mayor, could play an important role when it comes to creating the seven person group.
Of course, the commission is something members of the Providence delegation on the Senate side supported. Each Senator from Providence co-sponsored the legislation in that chamber. State Sen. Maryellen Goodwin said bringing all stakeholder to the table is the key to making the most of the 195 project.
“We believe this legislation takes into account the interest of the various stakeholders and potential developers while at the same time maintaining the one overarching goal for use of the land – serving the public interest through the creation of jobs and growth of the city and state economy,” Goodwin said.
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