i?vfayer 0ij Providence

Target i3. titer?

i\lovernber 30th, 2018

"The lW-lonorable Mernbere ot the Providence City Council
Providence City? Hall

25 Dorrance Street

Providence, RI 02903

Regarding: AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OP CHAPTER 27 OF
THE CODE OP ORDINANCES OF: THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE, ENTITLED: CITY OF
PROVIDENCE ZONING APPROVED NOVEMBER 24, 2014, AS AMENDED,
FOR A TEXT CHANGE AND CHANGE IN ZONING MAP, FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON
PLAT 20, LOT 397 (250 DYER STREET)

Honorable Members of the City Council,

Investment in our Capltai City is criticai to our long term success. As Mayor, have made
economic growth and opportunity a top priority. When I took office there was minimal
development activity in our downtown and even less in our neighborhoods. Today, we have
approximately 70 projects either completed, under construction, or in the pipeline. With more
investment and development than we?ve seen in over a decade, Providence is a city on the rise!

As a growing and vibrant city, we see increasing interest from people who want to invest in our
future. We consider every proposal on its merits and always keep the best long?term interests of
the city in mind. With respect to the Hope Point Tower, 2 have listened to residents and to a
myriad of stakeholders? views. i deeply appreciate everyone?s input and the fact that people care
so much about our city.

With all of this in mind, I made it clear to the developer and to the public that the design of the
building was my top priority. I want to be sure that the building, both from a skyline and from a
streetscape perspective, worked for the city. requested that the City, either through the DDRC
or the Planning Department, have finai approval over the design of the project, rather than
merely advisory input. if this building is going to reshape our skyline, then the city should be
able to approve what it looks like.

City Hall, 25 Dorrancc Providence, RI 02903
Phone (401) 42137740 Fax (401) 2748240

Residents of Providence have also asked that a ?public benefit? be an eesential compoaent of
this project. The proposed zoning change is an extraordinary etep and it significantly increases
the value of the parcel. (Elven that the project is adjacent to the l~195 park land and the new
pedestrian bridge, the City has asked for maintenance support of the bridge. All #195 land
developmente provide funding to eupport the i495 park land and the City is seeking
complemeatary funde for the bridge a major piece of infrastructure connecting tbe innovation
and [Design District. in fact, public benefit requirements are common featuree of such
development projecte to cities tlt'trougttout the nation.

Lest, we want to encourage development and disincentivize landnbanking. As such, we asked
that the deveioper start and complete thie project within a reaeor?iable timetable.

While the developer was amenabie to giving some assurances on the timeline artd open to
some level of public benefit contribution, we were not able to reach agreement on the first and
most important point. Given that this project would reshape our skyline and dramaticaliy impact
our streetscape, i made it clear both privately and publicly, that the design of the building was
my top priority. The developer has been unwilling to provide assurances that the city?s design
recommendations would not be disregarded. As such, I have decided to veto this zoning
change.

 

Jorge?O. Elorza
Mayor