Council President David Salvatore met with Providence resident Sarath Suong in celebration of his Naturalization Ceremony and presented him with a citation from the Providence City Council
At tonight’s City Council meeting four Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs) were passed for the first time. Each will need to be passed one more time by the Council to formally be approved.
“We are creating jobs and growing businesses here in Providence,” stated City Council Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Finance John J. Igliozzi. “More cranes in the city skyline mean two things – more jobs, and more growth – and that’s a good thing for all of us.”
These TSAs were vetted by the Committee on Finance through a transparent, open, and predictable process, and were sent to the full Council for passage. Three of the projects passed tonight by the City Council are for the rehabilitation and redevelopment of approximately 207,000 square feet of underused space, which will be redeveloped into mixed-use residential and commercial spaces in the North End and the downtown corridor. The fourth project, also in the North End, will develop an empty lot into nearly 111,000 square feet of new commercial space.
“These projects expand our tax base which is a direct benefit for every taxpayer, and will bring greater opportunity for our residents,” stated City Council Majority Whip and Committee on Finance member Jo-Ann Ryan. “Providence continually gets ranked as one of the best cities to live, and development like these only adds to the quality of life for current and future residents who wish to call Providence home.”
The first two TSAs passed tonight are both located in the City’s North End neighborhood. Providence 2017, LLC plans to transform an empty lot at 145 Corliss Street into a self-storage facility which would include 863 storage units. The second is for Wanskuck Mill, located at 725, 726, 715, and 745 Branch Avenue; the development is owned by Branch Holdings, LLC, and currently has 60 apartment units. The project would include an additional 150 apartments with affordable rents ranging from $1,100 to $1,400 per month in rent. The project would also include the addition of commercial space in the property, such as a restaurant, retail and/or office space.
The final two TSAs passed tonight are both located in the downtown corridor. The property located at 185 Westminster Street will include the redevelopment of 50,000 square feet of underused space. The developer will create new mixed-use residential and commercial spaces, which will also include a restaurant. A property located at 170 Westminster Street will be redeveloped into 57,000 square feet of residential and commercial/office space, including a restaurant on the top floor.
Together these projects will create 360 high-paying construction jobs and 140 full-time jobs upon their completion. The developers have also agreed to use minority and/or women-owned businesses when possible, will enter into a First Source agreement with the City, will take part in the “Buy Providence” initiative as much as possible, will make an investment into the City Council Parks and Recreation Trust Account, and will ensure that all contractors and subcontractors have or are affiliated with an apprenticeship program.
Projected total annual tax revenue for these projects at the end of their TSAs is expected to be more than $2M.
Today, Providence City Councilmember Nirva LaFortune was selected as one of eleven leaders from nine states across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of innovative state and local leaders led by Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Mark Warner and former Governor Jack Markell. Members of the 150-plus-person network, who are working to enact pro-growth progressive solutions in a diverse array of communities, have been chosen from among more than 1000 nominations over its seven-year history.
LaFortune and her peers in the new class of leaders (listed below) were recognized for their unwavering commitment to expanding opportunity, as they work to move their communities forward in the new economy and reject the idea that policymakers can or should want to turn the clock back to a prior era. These leaders’ work will help build on policy agendas NewDEAL develops for state and local officials, including the upcoming release of recommendations from the organization’s Future of Work Policy Group, as well asThe Way Forward, an agenda that addresses the most pressing issues facing Americans in the digital age.
“While much of the political world is focused on how the balance of power in D.C. will shift in a couple of weeks, we must also remember the tremendous impact that innovative state and local officials have on enacting policies that meet the demands of a changing world and expand opportunity for all,” said Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and former Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Honorary Co-Chairs of NewDEAL. “Supporting the rising leaders in the NewDEAL has never been more important. We look forward to promoting Nirva’s work and giving her the opportunity to learn from other leaders as she joins a network with a proven track record of winning and governing successfully in diverse communities.”
NewDEAL Leaders have found broad support for their work, with 98 percent of members winning elections in 2016 and 2017, across red, blue, and purple states, including eight elected to higher office. Four members were elevated to statewide office, including in the swing states of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. More than 25 leaders have run for higher office in 2018, including for Governor (such as Andrew Gillum in Florida and Stacey Abrams in Georgia) and Congress (such as Paul Davis in Kansas, Ben McAdams in Utah, Greg Stanton in Arizona, Clarke Tucker in Arkansas, and Jennifer Wexton in Virginia).
“As we continue to fight for better jobs, access to quality education, and economic security for the people of Providence, I look forward to sharing the lessons we have learned and hearing from other leaders who are setting the standard for effective governance,” said LaFortune. “I am very excited to be a part of this new class and to work with my cohorts in furthering NewDEAL’s efforts to expand opportunity in communities nationwide.”
Since being elected in 2017, LaFortune has dedicated herself to expanding education and economic opportunity and creating a safer, more equitable Providence. The Councilmember is a strong advocate for common sense gun legislation, more transparency in local government, education and housing equity. LaFortune has established herself as a leader on education issues, serving as Vice Chair of the Providence City Council’s Special Committee on Education, and on a committee advising the RI Department of Education on implementing the Every Student Succeed Act, the federal law that governs our nation’s public school system. As an advocate for common sense legislation, LaFortune recently introduced a resolution urging the Rhode Island General Assembly to pass legislation requiring registration of all firearms.
About NewDEAL
The NewDEAL brings together leaders focused on expanding opportunity, helping them develop and spread innovative ideas to spur economic growth that is broadly-earned and sustainable. Most importantly, the organization facilitates the exchange of ideas among its members and connects them with other pro-growth progressive political, policy, and private sector leaders.
One of the organization’s signature events, the Annual NewDEAL Leaders Conference, will take place November 28-30 in Washington, DC, where about 70 NewDEAL Leaders will join other innovators from the public and private sectors to address lessons learned from the midterm elections and to discuss a forward-looking agenda for state and local Democrats to address the future of work and climate change, and rebuild trust in government.
Today’s announcement brings the total number of NewDEAL members – statewide officials, legislators, mayors, councilmembers, and other local leaders – to 166 leaders from 46 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Learn more about Councilmember LaFortune and the NewDEAL at http://www.newdealleaders.org/leaders.
The new class of NewDEAL Leaders includes:
Chaz Beasley, State Representative, Charlotte, NC
Wesley Bishop, State Senator, New Orleans, LA
John Cranley, Mayor, Cincinnati, OH
Justin Fairfax, Lieutenant Governor, Virginia
Amir Farokhi, City Councilmember, Atlanta, GA
Margaret Good, State Representative, Sarasota, FL
Derek S. Green, City Councilmember, Philadelphia, PA
Nirva LaFortune, City Councilmember, Providence, RI
Daniele Monroe-Moreno, State Representative, Las Vegas, NV
Laura Register, School Board Member, Cairo, GA
Kathy Tran, State Delegate, West Springfield, VA
Last night, the Providence City Council’s Committee on Finance approved two Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs) that would transform the Fourth Ward, clearing the way for the full Council to review the agreements, which would bring a combined $20 million in private investment to the City’s Wanskuck neighborhood. The properties, located at 745 Branch Avenue (Wanskuck Mill) and 145 Corliss Street, will create 300 temporary construction jobs and an additional 125 permanent jobs once the buildings are completed.
Councilman Nicholas J. Narducci has previously testified at public hearings held regarding these TSAs and has been a staunch advocate for their passage, stating that they would greatly improve the neighborhood he has served for the past 12 years.
“The North End has been a community on the rise and these developments are proof of that,” stated City Council Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. “These two projects will bring much-needed new affordable housing stock to our city, as well as new opportunities for business development to the Ward, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I have met with the developers and their vision for the neighborhood is one I fully endorse.”
“For many years, I have been urging for more investment in the Wanskuck neighborhood, which has long been underutilized,” said Council President David A. Salvatore, whose ward includes parts of Wanskuck. “This is a neighborhood that will benefit greatly from revitalization efforts, and our entire city will benefit for the hundreds of jobs created by these developments.”
Wanskuck Mill is located at 725, 726, 715, and 745 Branch Avenue and is owned by Branch Holdings, LLC, and currently has 60 apartment units. The project would include an additional 150 reasonably priced apartments ranging from $1,100 to $1,400 per month in rent. The project would also include the addition of commercial space in the property that would potentially include restaurant, retail and/or office space.
Providence 2017, LLC plans to transform an empty lot at 145 Corliss Street into a self-storage facility which would include 863 storage units.
The full Council will review these TSAs and vote on them for a first time at the November 1, 2018 City Council meeting.
Councilman Luis A. Aponte introduced an amendment to the Providence Code of Ordinances at tonight’s City Council meeting to codify restrictions for registered sex offenders residing in the City of Providence.
The amendment calls for stronger restrictions for sex offenders who reside in the City of Providence. It increases the distance sex offenders may reside from schools, daycares, and recreational areas from a 300-foot radius to a 500-foot radius. It also redefines the term “daycare” from a school with a certified pre-K program, to include all licensed daycare facilities that are clearly marked with at least one sign. Registered sex offenders will also be prohibited from entering or loitering within a 500-foot radius of the premises of a school, daycare center, or recreational area.
“The City of Providence has no ordinance regarding restrictions for sex offenders,” stated Councilman Luis A. Aponte. “We have depended on state and federal statutes to serve our needs, but what we have learned from Richard Gardner moving into the Washington Park neighborhood is that sometimes those statutes aren’t enough to keep our families safe. Last night at our community meeting, hundreds of neighbors expressed concerns, fear, and outrage that Mr. Gardner has only to register with the police in the jurisdiction where he lives and must stay 300 feet away from schools. For a man that has committed such heinous crimes these restrictions are not satisfactory. Until our state representatives and senators can craft strong legislation, we need to act now.”
The ordinance that was brought to the floor at tonight’s meeting will be sent to the Committee on Ordinances to be vetted and reviewed. Councilman Aponte hopes that this will happen at the committee’s earliest convenience.
