Categories

Archive | Features

→ PBN: I-195 commission hears two more pitches, ‘moving ahead’ on 2 others

By on July 22, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project

195-land-aerial-ridot

The Interstate 195 Redevelopment Commission Monday heard presentations from two developers with plans for the east side of the former highway land.

Royal Oaks LLC, a group led by Richard Baccari II, vice president of Providence-based Churchill & Banks, is pitching a project south of Wickenden Street, adjacent to existing Churchill & Banks properties in the Fox Point neighborhood.

After Royal Oaks, Carpionato Group of Johnston was slated to present its plan for the Connection at College Hill, an 850,000-square-foot apartment, retail, hotel and pharmaceutical research complex on nearly 6 acres and multiple parcels stretching across Wickenden.

The Carpionato Group proposal has been discussed before here.

Also see in the PBN article, the two developers who presented to the 195 Commission at the last meeting do not plan to construct any parking for their projects.

0

195 Redevelopment District Commission Meetings – July 21 and 23, 2014

By on July 17, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project, Parking, Parks/Open Space
featured-195commission A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode Island, on MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014, beginning at 5 P.M., for the following purposes

I. Public Session

  1. Welcome by Chairperson: Chairperson Colin Kane.
  2. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on June 16, 2014 and June 30, 2014.
  3. Executive Director’s Report – Review of Activities During Past Month and Business Plan for the Period July – December 2014.
  4. Discussion Regarding the Request by Mr. Stephen Beranbaum for Use of a Portion of Parcel 28 for Parking and Vote.
  5. Update from Counsel Regarding District Permitting Process.

    6. II. Executive Session

    To consider and act upon such matters as may be considered at a meeting closed to the public pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws, Section 42-46-5(a) (the Open Meetings Law), specifically matters permitted to be so considered under subsection (5) (acquisition and disposition of public property).

  6. Review of Proposals to Purchase and Develop District Property.

    7. III. Public Session

  7. Chairman’s Report – Review of Activities in Past Month and Proposed Future Activities/ Tentative Agenda for August 18, 2014 Meeting.
  8. Vote to Adjourn.
featured-195commission A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode Island, on WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2014, beginning at 5 P.M., for the following purposes

Call to Order

  1. Review and Approve Minutes of Meeting of July 9, 2014.
  2. East Side Park: Conceptual Discussion of overall impact and design.
    Fixed Attractions: historic markers, walkways, furniture, art, play.
    Materials and Plan.

    3. Connections to CityWALK, Harbor Walk parks, Point Street bridge, bicycle lanes.

  3. West Side Park: Conceptual Discussion of overall impact and design.
    Fixed Attractions: Water Feature, for Ship Street Triangle; furniture, art, play.

    4. Built Structure(s): program of uses, “look and feel.”

    Flexible Program Spaces: performances, seasonal sales, pushcarts, art, music, theater, temporary installations.

    Community involvement: school children, Children’s Museum, public water access.

    Connections to CityWALK, bicycles lanes, River Walk existing infrastructure and in connection with South Street Landing.

  4. Schedule and timeline in connection with DOT’s I-195 overall schedule.
  5. Vote to Adjourn.
2

GC: Photos

By on July 6, 2014 in GC: Photos

Flickr totally changed the sharing function on their website, and frankly it sucks and causes me to have to rewrite a bunch of code to properly share people’s photos, and a bunch of great photographers who share in our group have changed their share settings; so I haven’t done a GC: Photos post in quite a while. But there’s some really great stuff in there, so I suffered through it. Some of these photos go back a while, hence the snow:

Photo © Donna St.Pierre

Photo © Anthony Nathan Photography

Continue Reading →

0

195 Redevelopment District Commission Meeting – July 9, 2014

By on July 3, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project
featured-195commission A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode Island, on WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014, beginning at 5 P.M., for the following purposes

Public Session

Call to Order

  1. Pavilion: Discussion and Recommendations for Program of Uses for the built structure in the West Side Park and Proposed Design of the structure.
  2. East Side Park: Discussion and Recommendations for Interactive Features and Overall Proposed Design.
  3. West Park and Pedestrian Bridge: Discussion and Recommendations for Design Plans.
  4. Water Feature: West Side Park water feature options for Ship Street Triangle.
  5. Historic Markers: Discussion and Recommendations for design of inset Historic Markers at key locations in the District.
  6. Vote to Adjourn.
0

→ ProJo: Route 195 panel seeks more park designs for former highway land in Providence

By on July 2, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project

West Side Park Pavillion

Landscape architects and designers offered plenty of images to the Route 195 Redevelopment District Commission Monday night of what the public parks on the now-vacant former highway land might become, noting at times that they’ve made some changes over the last 8-1/2 months to reduce the cost to build the parks.

But as the commissioners viewed designs, they pushed back, saying they’d like to see other proposals before plans are finalized and questioned whether designers might develop other possibilities for a proposed pavilion. Commissioners debated whether designs should include public restrooms.

[Commissioner Mark T.] Ryan stressed it would be foolish to do more design work if the commission doesn’t like that design.

“I don’t like it,” commissioner John M. Kelly said.

“I think it’s beautiful,” commissioner Barbara A. Hunger said.

“I think the architect should come up with some options,” Ryan said.

What exactly are the 195 Commissioners’ (or RIDOT’s for that matter) qualifications for designing parks?

7

195 Redevelopment District Commission Meeting – June 30, 2014

By on June 27, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project

West Side Park Pavilion

Conceptual design of pavilion on West Side park.

featured-195commission A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode Island, on MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2014, beginning at 5 P.M., for the following purposes

I. Public Session

Call to Order: The Chairperson

  1. Welcome by Chairperson: Chairperson Colin Kane.
  2. Executive Director’s Report – Review of Activities in Past Two Weeks and Proposed Future Activities.
  3. Presentation by CDR Maguire of West Side Park, East Side Park and Pedestrian Bridge Design Plans and Discussion.
  4. Discussion of Latest Interim Use Submissions for District Property and Vote to Select Interim Installations.
  5. Discussion of Pending Liquor License Applications for New Nightclubs Near District Property and Vote Regarding Position of District with Respect to Those Applications.

    6. II. Executive Session

    To consider and act upon such matters as may be considered at a meeting closed to the public pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws, Section 42-46-5(a) (the Open Meetings Law), specifically matters permitted to be so considered under subsection (5) (acquisition and disposition of public property).

  6. Discussion and Review of Proposals to Purchase and Develop District Property.

    7. III. Public Session

  7. Chairman’s Report – Review of Activities in Past Two Weeks and Proposed Future Activities/ Tentative Agenda for July 21, 2014 Meeting.
  8. Vote to Adjourn.

195 Parks

West Side Park Design pdf
East Side Park Design pdf

Find further items related to this meeting and minutes of past meetings on the 195 District website.

0

→ PBN: Garrahy parking garage seen as lure for development

By on June 23, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project

garrahy-garage-bing

Image from Bing Maps

Contrary to conventional wisdom, things may be looking up for the future of Providence’s former Interstate 195 lands.

At least five organizations have confirmed making formal bids to build on the 19 developable acres freed by the removal of the highway.

One of them, a plan by Ocean State Angels and Cambridge Biolabs to build a life science accelerator at the corner of Richmond and Clifford Streets, is just the kind of “Knowledge District” concept envisioned by state leaders when they created the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission in 2012.

And perhaps even more favorable for commissioners, the General Assembly last week approved the construction of a $45 million, seven-level parking garage explicitly intended to boost interest in the land.

It would be enlightening to know what if anything those five bidders have said about parking. But since those discussions are held in closed door Executive Session meetings not open to the public, I guess we’ll never know.

5

→ ProJo: Route 195 redevelopment panel hears pitch for life-science accelerator facility

By on June 17, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project

195-land-aerial-ridot

ProJo gets some info about what took place in “Executive Sesion.”

A lawyer, a doctor and an architect met behind closed doors Monday night with the Route 195 Redevelopment District Commission and Governor Chafee to pitch their idea to build a life-sciences accelerator in Providence with laboratories and all the co-working space necessary for 15 to 20 nascent companies to work at any given time to build their companies.

They foresee health care, information technology and diagnostic medical companies working together on the former highway land now available for development, in a building on the western side of the Providence River. It would also have room for lawyers, venture-capital investors and others who work with such companies, the three told reporters after meeting with the commission.

0

195 Redevelopment District Commission Meeting – June 16, 2014

By on June 13, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project
featured-195commission A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode Island, on MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2014, beginning at 5 P.M., for the following purposes

I. Public Session

Call to Order: The Chairperson

  1. Welcome by Chairperson: Chairperson Colin Kane.
  2. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on May 19, 2014.
  3. Executive Director’s Report – Review of Activities During Past Month/Action Plan and Business Plan for June – December, 2014.

    4. II. Executive Session

    To consider and act upon such matters as may be considered at a meeting closed to the public pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws, Section 42-46-5(a) (the Open Meetings Law), specifically matters permitted to be so considered under subsection (5) (acquisition and disposition of public property).

  4. Meetings with Parties Which Submitted Proposals to Purchase and Develop District Property; Discussion and Review of Proposals.

    5. III. Public Session

  5. Discussion Regarding Extension of Deadline for Second Round of Submission of Proposals to Purchase District Property from August 1 to October 15, 2014 and Vote.
  6. Discussion Regarding Public Disclosure of Proposals and Disclosure Policy.
  7. Discussion Regarding License Agreement with City of Providence on Parcel 1A and Vote.
  8. Discussion and Update Regarding Role of State Historic Preservation Officer and Selection of Consultants for Disposition of District Property.
  9. Chairman’s Report – Review of Activities in Past Month and Proposed Future Activities/ Tentative Agenda for June 30, 2014 Meeting.
  10. Vote to Adjourn.
Further items related to this meeting pdf
0

195 Redevelopment District Commission Meeting – May 19, 2014

By on May 16, 2014 in 195 Relocation Project
featured-195commission A meeting of the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission will be held at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, 315 Iron Horse Way, Providence, Rhode Island, on Monday, May 19, 2014, beginning at 5 P.M., for the following purposes

Public Session

Call to Order: The Chairperson

  1. Welcome by Chairperson: Chairperson Colin Kane.
  2. Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on April 21, 2014.
  3. Executive Director’s Report – Review of Activities During Past Month/Action Plan and Target Activities May – June, 2014.
  4. Discussion Regarding Public Disclosure/Confidentiality of Proposals to Purchase District Property and Vote Regarding Policy.
  5. Discussion of Proposed Business Terms for Letters of Intent and Purchase Agreements.

    6. Executive Session

    To consider and act upon such matters as may be considered at a meeting closed to the public pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws, Section 42-46-5(a) (the Open Meetings Law), specifically matters permitted to be so considered under subsection (5) (acquisition and disposition of public property).

  6. Review and Discussion of Proposals to Purchase and Develop District Property Received as of May 1, 2014 and Vote to Proceed/Reject.

    7. Public Session

  7. Discussion Regarding Extension of Date for Second Round of Submission of Proposals to Purchase District Property from Current Date of August 1 and Vote.
  8. Chairman’s Report – Review of Activities in Past Month and Proposed Future Activities/ Tentative Agenda for June 16, 2014 Meeting.
  9. Vote to Adjourn.

0