EP Showdown: Controversial Metacomet Golf Development Proposal to Come Before City Council
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
The East Providence City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday on the proposed redevelopment plans for Metacomet Country Club.
The city council will hold the meeting at 6 PM at 111 Brown Street on Tuesday -- it will also be broadcast over Zoom (more information below).
An online petition has garnered over 3,500 signatures in opposition to the development proposal.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"This entire area is an icon in this city. Destroying this land will affect all of the residents. This area is peaceful and the building on this will take away one of our beautiful and peaceful open spaces as wee as our way of life that every resident in this city so deserves," the petitioners write.
Latest in Golf Course Sale Controversy
Marshall Development formally announced that the company has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to buy the Metacomet Golf Course, the historic Donald Ross 1901 facility.
According to a statement from the company sent to GoLocal, "Marshall plans to redevelop the site into an exciting first-class mixed-use property that will bolster both commerce and community in the upper bay. In the coming months, a vision for the property will be unveiled - a vision that will further strengthen East Providence and Rhode Island’s economy through investment, job creation and the development of a vibrant center of activity in one of the state’s top communities."
Documents secured by GoLocal unveiled that Brad Faxon and his team of high profile investors including a partner of Governor Gina Raimondo in Point Judith Capital had promised to invest millions into Metacomet.
Specifically, the investors assured the club members when purchasing the club in 2019, that the PGA’s Faxon -- a Rhode Island icon -- was dedicated to the “unique love for Metacomet’s fabulous history.”
READ: Broken Promises: Documents Show Faxon and Partners Assured Metacomet Millions in Investments
Some of the top golf historians in the country voiced “surprise” and “horror” that Metacomet was set to be sold a developer and bulldozed into a development.
In March, GoLocal reported that a group of members of Metacomet filed a lawsuit against Faxon and his fellow investors as well as Marshall Development claiming fraud, breach of contract, misrepresentation and other charges.
Meeting Info
According to the City of East Providence:
"An ordinance in amendment of the city of East Providence 2010-2015 Comprehensive Plan update and An Ordinance in amendment of Chapter 19 of the Revised Ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled, "ZONING"
For Full ordinance language, visit: https://clerkshq.com/EastProvidence-ri
They will be listed under 08/11/2020 Council Meeting Agenda.
This meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.
The Council will maintain a three-minute time limit per speaker. This meeting will also be offered on Zoom as an alternative method of participation.
The Zoom Information is:
Log onto: www.zoom.us
Meeting/Webinar ID: 993 0796 0324
Passcode: 653929
You can also copy and past the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/99307960324?pwd=NDA5bHVhQVdhYlRtcmZXUUpMdllDZz09
For those unable to attend the meeting, but would like to have their comments included on the record, all notifications must be received by the City Clerk no later than 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. All written communication can be dropped off in the City Hall dropbox, mailed to: East Providence City Hall - City Clerk, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, 02914 or emailed at [email protected].
Related Articles
- UPDATED: Brad Faxon and Investors Facing Fraud Claim in Lawsuit by Metacomet Golf Club Members
- Broken Promises: Documents Show Faxon and Partners Assured Metacomet Millions in Investments
- Marshall Buying Donald Ross Designed-Metacomet From Faxon Team - Golf Legacy to End
- Golf Historians “Horrified” Donald Ross’ Metacomet to be Developed, Surprised Faxon Is Part of It
- NEW: Metacomet in “Financial Difficulties” Say Faxon and Others, Club May Be Sold for Development
- Triggs Named One of 14 Best Municipal Golf Courses in U.S.
- From Hope High to RI’s Only Black Golf Pro: “Rhode Island is Slow to Change What It’s Always Done”
- A Number of RI Golf Courses Are Under Serious Financial Stress — Some of the Biggest Are Failing
- RI’s Faxon Plays Golf With President Trump
