Comments on: DRC to consider demolition of Weybosset Street “110″ facade http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:25:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Downcity Design Review Committee (03/08) — Greater City: Providence http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-144053 Downcity Design Review Committee (03/08) — Greater City: Providence Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:14:00 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-144053 [...] may remember that back in November the DRC was asked to consider allowing the demolition of the facade at 35 Weybosset Street. I was [...] [...] may remember that back in November the DRC was asked to consider allowing the demolition of the facade at 35 Weybosset Street. I was [...]

]]> By: GC: Photos – 35 Weybosset Facade — Greater City: Providence http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-140257 GC: Photos – 35 Weybosset Facade — Greater City: Providence Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:32:58 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-140257 [...] more about 35 Weybosset here and [...] [...] more about 35 Weybosset here and [...]

]]> By: jencoleslaw http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-138013 jencoleslaw Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:59:42 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-138013 Or it could be a way to move liability around without it actually landing on any one of them...? I wonder if they owe money around town... Or it could be a way to move liability around without it actually landing on any one of them…? I wonder if they owe money around town…

]]> By: Peter Brassard http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-138001 Peter Brassard Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:11:51 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-138001 Maybe, but assuming that they are related, it also could be that O’Connor Jr. has bailed out O’Connor III for making an unwise or unlucky choice and O’Connor Jr. is left holding an investment that isn’t worth as much as what was previously assumed. Maybe, but assuming that they are related, it also could be that O’Connor Jr. has bailed out O’Connor III for making an unwise or unlucky choice and O’Connor Jr. is left holding an investment that isn’t worth as much as what was previously assumed.

]]> By: Corey http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-138000 Corey Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:50:18 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-138000 Ooooh, great catch! If that is coincidental, it's quite unusual. In the much more likely instance that it isn't coincidental, this adds a new level of corporate sleeze to the whole thing. Ooooh, great catch! If that is coincidental, it’s quite unusual. In the much more likely instance that it isn’t coincidental, this adds a new level of corporate sleeze to the whole thing.

]]> By: Peter Brassard http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-137996 Peter Brassard Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:22:22 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-137996 Jeremiah W. O’Connor, Jr. is the Managing Partner of O’Connor Capital Partners. It might be a coincidence but Jeremiah O’Connor, III was the Development Director of BlueChip Properties, LLC. Jeremiah W. O’Connor, Jr. is the Managing Partner of O’Connor Capital Partners. It might be a coincidence but Jeremiah O’Connor, III was the Development Director of BlueChip Properties, LLC.

]]> By: Aaron Masri http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-137994 Aaron Masri Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:36:37 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-137994 In David's Brussat's column in The Providence Journal on 9/27/07, he wrote that BlueChip Properties, the original developer of 110 Westminster when it was a condo/hotel/retail project, sold the project to O'Connor Capital. Apperantly, his company also owns the Superman Building. http://www.projo.com/opinion/columnists/content/CL_brussat27_09-27-07_OM76UES.25448e5.html In David’s Brussat’s column in The Providence Journal on 9/27/07, he wrote that BlueChip Properties, the original developer of 110 Westminster when it was a condo/hotel/retail project, sold the project to O’Connor Capital. Apperantly, his company also owns the Superman Building.

http://www.projo.com/opinion/columnists/content/CL_brussat27_09-27-07_OM76UES.25448e5.html

]]> By: jencoleslaw http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-137993 jencoleslaw Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:29:12 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-137993 The irony, of course, is during the providence "boom" developers were declaring hardships so it is hard to give anyone the benefit of doubt, personally. When did this O'Connor company take over this project? I mean, did they really think they'd build something there? Or did they buy the property with the intent of just sitting on it until the economy turned around? If that's the case, that is not hardship. That's just playing chicken with the city and based on past experiences, the city always blinks first. The irony, of course, is during the providence “boom” developers were declaring hardships so it is hard to give anyone the benefit of doubt, personally. When did this O’Connor company take over this project? I mean, did they really think they’d build something there? Or did they buy the property with the intent of just sitting on it until the economy turned around? If that’s the case, that is not hardship. That’s just playing chicken with the city and based on past experiences, the city always blinks first.

]]> By: Peter Brassard http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-137992 Peter Brassard Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:11:32 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-137992 Unfortunately, the developer could go to court a claim a hardship. This happens rather routinely in New York, when developers will actually have zoning on a particular site changed or reinterpreted, because they made a bad choice or expected an outcome based on what was permitted, but that couldn’t happen. The city is probably aware of this as a possibility, which may be why they’re acting timidly or at least trying to give the developer the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, the developer could go to court a claim a hardship. This happens rather routinely in New York, when developers will actually have zoning on a particular site changed or reinterpreted, because they made a bad choice or expected an outcome based on what was permitted, but that couldn’t happen. The city is probably aware of this as a possibility, which may be why they’re acting timidly or at least trying to give the developer the benefit of the doubt.

]]> By: jencoleslaw http://www.gcpvd.org/2009/11/02/drc-to-consider-demolition-of-weybosset-street-110-facade/comment-page-2/#comment-137991 jencoleslaw Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:59:41 +0000 http://www.gcpvd.org/?p=5038#comment-137991 Oh and the city seems to have an aversion to eminent domain--I have been trying to get them to take Grove Street School (before they started with the illegal demo)and the city wouldn't really entertain the possibility. I do not know what it is, although I do know that it can open the city up to some insane legal action as well as it costing money up front. Certainly a few years ago there would have been a lot of private interest in redeveloping some of Providence's buildings, but the city opted to allow them to be turned down and turned into parking lots instead. Oh and the city seems to have an aversion to eminent domain–I have been trying to get them to take Grove Street School (before they started with the illegal demo)and the city wouldn’t really entertain the possibility. I do not know what it is, although I do know that it can open the city up to some insane legal action as well as it costing money up front. Certainly a few years ago there would have been a lot of private interest in redeveloping some of Providence’s buildings, but the city opted to allow them to be turned down and turned into parking lots instead.

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