PAWTUCKET – The City Planning Commission has approved a preliminary plan for construction of 325 multi-family rental units and a 475-car parking garage at 45 Division St., across the Seekonk River (Pawtucket River) from Centreville Bank Stadium.
Wood Partners is carrying out this next phase of the Furtuitous Partners plan for Tidewater Landing on both sides of the river, a mixed-use project meant to revitalize the riverfront.
On June 2, the commission unanimously approved a site plan and had positive comments for the project on the site, a parcel targeted for a number of failed development initiatives over the years.
Separately, the commission discussed plans for a pedestrian bridge located near this new residential complex and crossing to the stadium side of the river.
Dan Kroeber, director of development and managing director for Fortuitous Partners, explained at a preliminary May 19 meeting that this process started back in 2019 with a grand master plan for the east and west sides of the river.
The stadium has been a tremendous success, he said, drawing in some 200,000 people over the past year and now hosting six or seven leagues. There’s a lot going on, he said, and they’re thrilled with how things are going and very proud to have delivered with the stadium.
Stadium project phase 1B features two great partners, said Kroeber, Wood Partners on this project and Pennrose on a separate housing project nearby off School Street, to help Fortuitous fulfill its vision for a mixed-use site, he added. Kroeber said they’re happy to have those two companies by their side.
“We’re now well on our way to delivering the broader aspects of the project,” he told the commission.
They’ve also been working with the city on the public infrastructure aspects of the project, including a pending riverwalk, pedestrian bridge, and amphitheaters, among others, as this side of the river really starts to come alive in the coming months.
“Tidewater landing is going to be truly something special,” Kroeber told board members.
After permitting and design, he said, they’ll hopefully break ground on this next phase during the first quarter of next year. The city’s portion of the project, riverwalk work and other portions of public infrastructure, will happen sooner, he added.
Kroeber said at the May 19 meeting that they expect to file an application with Rhode Island Housing this month as part of an attempt to incorporate 10 percent affordable housing into the project, and they’re hoping that bill will be successful.
The building would have full high-quality amenities such as a pool and gym, according to Kroeber, and they’re excited about the “unparalleled views” that will be available to future residents. He said it will be “a really desirable community to live in,” with an adjoining park space and rooftop terrace.
Asked about a potential marina, Kroeber said it’s not officially in the plans, but he expects “an explosion of a lot of incredible things” over the next five years and that could certainly be one addition. The sky is the limit on this project, he emphasized.
The new residential building’s parking garage would be for residents of the building, leading to a discussion about general parking and traffic in the area and whether there will be enough parking for the stadium when 45 Division St., a vacant parcel where a former car dealership was located, goes offline and when a current gravel parking lot near the stadium is converted into a mixed-use commercial, retail, and residential complex.
Kroeber said they were nervous at the beginning about traffic, but said having so many exits nearby onto Route 95 has really helped. A traffic study showed that the major impact with traffic would be from the stadium itself.
As for the 300 or so parking spots in the lot near the stadium, he said they’re working on other solutions, and work is ongoing to soon open a new lot directly on the other side of the stadium, where Rhode Island Energy is finalizing a cleanup of its property.
Asked if anyone thought to add a garage on the stadium side, with 45 Division St., the Apex property, and the parking lot to be lost, Kroeber said future phases include a parking garage with the mixed component, and it will probably be a bit larger to accommodate stadium parking as well. He said they’re also considering other opportunities adjacent to the soccer stadium.
The question of parking is a good one and a “very big one” to answer, said Kroeber, and they’re also aware that space for 600 or so cars at the Apex property will also be lost.
The main door of the new residential complex on Division Street will be across from the Portuguese Social Club.
Michael Schuster, of Providence Yarn Company across the street from 45 Division St., said he and others at the fourth-generation family business are excited about the potential along the riverfront and believers in the “renaissance in the making” happening here, but said they’re concerned about impacts to their rooftop solar installed in 2021. He said their business also requires the ability to get trucks there for delivery of materials.
A shade study showed that the height and location of the new building will adversely impact their solar production, said Schuster, so the planning staff’s statement that there will be no adverse impacts to the surrounding area isn’t entirely true. He said he was respectfully requesting some relief if possible, adding that under state law, any adverse impact to offsetting electricity with renewable sources should be taken into account.
Kroeber said their studies showed that there won’t be a significant impact, but they can have their architect look at the matter further.
On the pedestrian bridge, which was not up for a vote this week, representatives said it will be pre-fabricated and designed to accommodate higher elevation requirements related to high tides and flooding.
