36 replies to this topic

[ruchele]

Lone Ranger, on Apr 7 2007, 11:31 AM, said:

I find it hard to comment on this proposal.  For one thing, the scope here is immense.  But for another, I am not one of those born-'n'-raised Newporters, so I can't honestly claim to see these plans through those eyes.

I find it hard to comment on this proposal, too.  It seems so enormous and far-fetched at this point, it seems like it would be a waste of energy to even debate its merits.

[MapmanNo1]

ruchele, on Apr 7 2007, 12:16 PM, said:

I find it hard to comment on this proposal, too.  It seems so enormous and far-fetched at this point, it seems like it would be a waste of energy to even debate its merits.

I agree. Not only is the project massive and somewhat ill-defined, TPG is proposing to build on land it doesn't even own. The Bridge ramps are given over to the city only if RIDOT and the Bridge Authority approve it - and that's no sure bet. If you'll remember, one of the controversies around the North End Master Plan is that the city was planning for lands that the state wasn't sure it was even going to give up in the first place. And there are private businesses along Connell Highway that TPG's proposal bulldozes over. Would they be interested in selling? The Navy Hospital is given over to the city at the whim of the Defense Department. Then, as with the RIDOT land, the City has to do an RFP process; Procaccianti will be one of the many developers vying for a piece of Newport's waterfront.

Maybe the North End Master Plan and TPG's proposal will create a momentum for excessing state and federal land to the city and then on to TPG, and that's probably what they're counting on. But that's a big IF.

Also, TPG says that the North End Master Plan was its inspiration (they made an exact carbon copy of the plan with their proposal), but if I remember correctly the City Council hasn't even yet approved the North End Master Plan.

Re: Stokes comment on affordable housing. I'm suspect that a proposal involving talk of a Ritz-Carlton will also have all of its housing as affordable units. Sure, it's the North End, but the thrust of this project seems to be to "class up" that area.

In short, I'll believe it when I see it. For now, TPG has a Power Point show and soon they'll have Newport Grand.

[Lone Ranger]

ruchele, on Apr 7 2007, 01:16 PM, said:

I find it hard to comment on this proposal, too.  It seems so enormous and far-fetched at this point, it seems like it would be a waste of energy to even debate its merits.

No, it's not just that.  Heck, it seemed enormous and far-fetched before, and I had no problem commenting about it then.  

Now it seems enormous and looming.  Before, it was just a pipedream; now it has money behind it.  And that changes things.  

Kind of scary.  If you care about Newport.  And I do.  Native or not.

And it's scary to think of the resources TPG is going to have to acquire to get this done.  I'm talking in terms of people & talent.  What experience do they have with casinos?  What experience with lifestyle centers?  What experience with intermodal centers and tramways?  

Understatement of the week: TPG is branching out here.  I hope they can pull it off.

Nevermind the amount of capital they're talking about investing.  

MapmanNo1, on Apr 7 2007, 02:06 PM, said:

I agree. Not only is the project massive and somewhat ill-defined, TPG is proposing to build on land it doesn't even own. The Bridge ramps are given over to the city only if RIDOT and the Bridge Authority approve it - and that's no sure bet.

TPG suddenly has a lot more clout than they had ... not so long ago.  They were big before, but this project is a completely different scale.  It occurred to me (wrily) this morning that in this wink wink nudge nudge Rhode Island we live in, they probably made their future approval processes a lot easier.

In particular, in this state, I think the casino element really changes the playing field.  Like it or not, Newport Grand and the state of Rhode Island are bedmates, and everybody knows it.

Quote

Re: Stokes comment on affordable housing. I'm suspect that a proposal involving talk of a Ritz-Carlton will also have all of its housing as affordable units. Sure, it's the North End, but the thrust of this project seems to be to "class up" that area.

In short, I'll believe it when I see it. For now, TPG has a Power Point show and soon they'll have Newport Grand.

That's exactly why the comment caught my eye in the first place.  I had to re-read it a couple of times to let it soak in.  Is this a promise, or is Stokes just baiting us along, trying to curry favor, pitch his project to the working folks of Newport?  

We'll see.  But like I said: if TPG makes that residential element happen at the price range Stokes talks about, it would go a long way with the residents of the city.

Edited by Lone Ranger, 07 April 2007 - 01:08 PM.

[CtownMikey]

“Newport is a very mature tourism environment,” he said, with about 3- to 3.5 million visitors a year. “They are coming for the great mansions; they are coming for the festivals. … But they are coming back to us and saying, ‘We wish there was more for us to do.’ They are starting to compare us to Palm Beach, Monterey, Savannah and such. … Great Wolf Resorts, the country’s largest indoor water park developer, has already come to us. They want to be here in the North End.”

[Cotuit]

A new part of Newport [ProJo Editorial]
Newport Grand plays its hand [The Providence Journal]

[MapmanNo1]

mental757, on Apr 5 2007, 09:03 AM, said:

slide show (I love the train idea!!):

Like pretty much the entire plan (a copy of the North End Master Plan, which has not yet been approved by the City Council), the train is not an original idea. Though O2 Newport, coupled with O'Neill's Newport Club development at Melville, makes a train connecting those two destinations with the Gateway Center a REALLY good seasonal amenity that could actually reduce traffic.

So, the next step is for the state to transfer the license for Newport Grand to TPG. Then I assume papers are signed to buy the facility. Do we know how long this might take?

[mental757]

MapmanNo1, on Apr 10 2007, 08:22 PM, said:

Like pretty much the entire plan (a copy of the North End Master Plan, which has not yet been approved by the City Council), the train is not an original idea. Though O2 Newport, coupled with O'Neill's Newport Club development at Melville, makes a train connecting those two destinations with the Gateway Center a REALLY good seasonal amenity that could actually reduce traffic.

thanks - I have already posted in that thread - I was just excited to see that the project included rail.  The proposal's rail station would be an additional station not included in the current DOT rail plan.  The nearest stations to this would be at the gateway center and north of here at the Navy base.

Edited by mental757, 11 April 2007 - 09:27 AM.

[Cotuit]

[Frankie811]

Procaccianti Group unveils vision for Newport Grand and city’s North End. http://www.projo.com...FV.33a9ee3.html

[Frankie811]

Moving ahead in its drive to buy one of Rhode Island’s two slot parlors, Newport Grand, The Procaccianti Group yesterday confirmed the hiring of a former senior vice president for casino operations at Tropicana Casinos and Resorts and Tropicana Entertainment to head gambling operations at the former jai alai fronton. http://www.projo.com...MA.315c7f5.html

[mental757]

well, that didn't last long...

PROJO: "Grand plan for Newport withdrawn"

http://www.projo.com...0D.3556882.html

[mental757]

PBN:  "Newport unfazed by O2 demise"

http://www.pbn.com/stories/26626.html

[mental757]

PROJO:

"Newport Grand to break ground on new space

Newport Grand will celebrate the construction of a new gambling space with a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow at 3 p.m. The $20-million investment will transform the former jai alai fronton into two floors with 835 additional slot machines, enhanced security operations and back-of-house functions. When completed next summer, Newport Grand will offer more than 2,000 slot machines and simulcast wagering to the country’s best tracks. In addition, Newport Grand is making infrastructure improvements and adding new food and beverage outlets. During construction, all slot machines will be operational with no disruption to the existing facility or guests. Newport Grand employs 200 people."


Cotuit - can we change the title of the threasd to simply "Newport Grand" ???

[mental757]

PROJO:  "Expansion ups the ante at Newport Grand"

http://www.projo.com...8I.3392719.html

[mental757]

PROJO:  "Newport Grand growing"

"Construction at Newport Grand, in Newport, is scheduled to reach for the sky today as large cranes will be working atop the building and concrete is poured for the 25,000 square feet of new gaming space that will house 800 additional video slot machines. While most of the construction is taking place inside the former playing court and arena, the facility is also replacing its heating and air conditioning system to accommodate the new space. Throughout construction, the gambling venue remains open. Other construction updates include the near completion of setting the structural steel and, on Friday, more than 300 cubic yards of concrete will be poured for the new gaming floor."

[mental757]

PROJO:  "It was the year a bet went bad for Newport Grand"

http://www.projo.com...10.22b207e.html

[mental757]

PROJO:  "Newport Grand won’t open overnight"

http://www.projo.com...d.fd5ee846.html



Newport Daily New:  "Newport Grand will stay open later, but not all night"

http://www.newportda...39680050957.txt