Taveras Unveils I-195 Plan
Saturday, March 05, 2011
A day after comparing his city’s fiscal condition to a category 5 hurricane, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras announced new plans for “maximizing the economic opportunities of land made available by the relocation of I-195.”
Taveras has hired the internationally renowned design firm Perkins+Will to analyze a range of development scenarios in what is now known as the Knowledge District. In a press release, the Mayor said he hopes to streamline the development process of the roughly 20 acres of property.
“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,” Taveras 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.”GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Involving Everybody In The Process
The Taveras administration said it is committed to bringing a group of public and private sector leaders to the table to have a say in what happens with the area. An advisory committee and a technical committee comprised of between 20-25 members each will be created to help Perkins+Will with the study.
The community will also be invited to participate in the discussion, according to the Mayor’s office.
Philip Palmgren, the urban design director for the New York office of Perkins+Will, said his company is looking forward to working with Providence.
“Our team brings expertise in both urban design and the specific requirements of labs, tech offices, hospitals and science classrooms, which will be the engines of innovation in the Knowledge District,” Palmgren said. “We are excited to be working in Providence as a city with great urban fabric and great opportunity for growth.”
Zachary Darrow, the Mayor’s special adviser on issues related to the development of the Knowledge District, said, “This process will create the much-needed foundation upon which the vision for the Knowledge District can be efficiently and effectively executed.”
“We will conduct a thorough stakeholder review, with the guidance and expertise of a nationally respected consultant, to arrive at a comprehensive and streamlined set of planning and zoning regulations that create a predictable, well-designed path for future development in the Capital City,” he said.
Following Through On Campaign Promise
Perkins+Will has already started looking into the best ways to develop the area and is expected to complete its study by September.
During his campaign for Mayor last fall, Taveras said one his primary focuses would be helping to develop the land around I-195. He said making sure they get it right was vital to the city’s future.
“This redevelopment will create a new hub of job growth - both middle class jobs and high wage jobs in the knowledge economy, create a walkable riverfront from the Mall to the Bay, and provide additional commercial and office space,” he said at the time.
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