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PBN: Providence office building on Weybosset under conversion to apartments

By on May 19, 2017 in Buildings

259 Weybosset Street, image from Google Street View

A four-story downtown office building near Johnson & Wales University is being converted to apartments and retail space.

The project at 259 Weybosset St. will include large apartments of four to five bedrooms per unit, and appears to be marketed to college students. An online ad indicates the apartments will be available in September, at rental rates of $1,100 per bedroom, or $5,500 per unit.

I like that the contractors working on this project have been able to keep the sidewalk open by providing a passageway through the scaffolding.

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Capital Center Commission Design Review Committee Meeting – May 23, 2017

By on May 19, 2017 in Pedestrians
Design Review Committee of The Capital Center Commission Meeting Notice
TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2017 8:00 AM
Doorley Municipal Building
444 Westminster Street, 1st Floor Conference Room Providence, RI 02903

ccc-roundAgenda

  1. Roll Call
  2. Minutes
    Meetings of March 21, 2017 and April 25, 2017
  3. Parcel 13: Providence Place Mall
    Continued review of the proposal to remove the existing sidewalk planter along Francis Street.
  4. Adjournment
Agenda
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PawSox Propose Private-Public Funded $83 Million Ballpark at Apex Site

By on May 17, 2017 in PawSox, Pawtucket

Rendering of The Ballpark at Slater Mill from the PawSox

The Pawtucket Red Sox yesterday released plans to build an $83 million ballpark at the Apex site along Route 95 in Pawtucket. The plan envisions funding for the ballpark coming from the team, the State, and the City of Pawtucket.

The Pawtucket Red Sox and the City of Pawtucket, with substantial advice and direction from the leaders of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, have reached agreement on a proposal that would keep the team in Pawtucket until at least 2050 with a 30-year lease extension if a plan for a ballpark that is designed to revitalize downtown and the riverfront is approved by the Governor and the State Legislature. The plan is today being presented to the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate for further review and consideration.

The PawSox would pay $45 million, the largest private investment in the history of Pawtucket, according to city officials. The ballpark is estimated to cost $73 million; thus, the club would pay 61.6% of ballpark construction costs. In addition, the minority investment by the State of Rhode Island would be paid back by revenues that are generated by the ballpark and the ballclub, enabling the project to proceed with no new taxes or increases in tax rates. The project will effectively pay for itself from the revenue that it generates. Taxpayers also will be protected by the PawSox, who will take on all ballpark construction cost overruns.

A “Ballpark at Slater Mill” will be part of a larger downtown re-development project. Together, the ballpark and land are expected to cost $83 million; thus, the PawSox would pay about 54% of the entire ballpark and land cost. Even so, the public would own the ballpark and the land, continuing the city’s 75-year practice of providing a public facility. In turn, the PawSox would then pay the highest rent in the International League, increasing their rent in 2020 to $1 million, with annual increases, and devote $500,000 annually from naming rights to help finance the ballpark.

The Ballpark at Slater Mill Overview
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Groundbreaking for new Playground in Burnside Park

By on May 11, 2017 in Parks/Open Space

From the Downtown Providence Parks Conservacy:

An ocean of fun is coming to Burnside Park this summer!

We are thrilled to announce that today in Burnside Park, the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy broke ground on Brandon’s Beach at Burnside Park, a new destination playground for children of all abilities located in the heart of historic Downtown Providence.

The groundbreaking on Brandon’s Beach at Burnside Park marks a significant new investment in Burnside Park, and serves to enhance Greater Kennedy Plaza’s status as a welcoming city center and family destination. The completed playground will be sensory rich, with musical equipment, swings, and spinners. It will be appropriate for toddlers and young children of all abilities.

The DPPC also used the occasion to announce enhancements to the Imagination Center, which features new amenities made possible by a generous grant from the Hasbro Children’s Fund. It will work in concert with the new playground to establish Burnside Park as a compelling draw for families.

“These are major investments that enhance Greater Kennedy Plaza as a thriving, vital city center and destination for Providence residents and visitors,” said DPPC Executive Director Cliff Wood.

Read more to learn about the inspiration and design of the playground, funding sources, and the impact it’s expected to have on the community.

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Bike Month 2017

By on May 3, 2017 in Bicycles

Bike to Work Day is the origin of all National Bike Month events. Started in 1956, this day is a time to try out commuting to work by bike, even if that’s not something you’d normally do.

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Jane’s Walk – May 5-7, 2017

By on May 1, 2017 in Events

Get to know some of Providence’s hidden treasures during Jane’s Walk, a global festival on the first weekend in May! Inspired by urban activist Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walk promotes urban literacy by encouraging people to get out and explore their neighborhoods.

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