28 replies to this topic

[MapmanNo1]

Middletown officials see room to grow [NDN 1/10/07]

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The Town Council recently approved the hiring of [the Mayforth Group of Providence] to help the town come up with a strategy for growing Middletown's defense and high-tech economic base. As part of its contract with the town, Mayforth will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including surveying local and off-island business leaders to see what the town could do to make itself more attractive to businesses. "If you look at what's out there, first and foremost, we have to keep and sustain the businesses that are currently in Middletown," said Louis P. DiPalma, the councilman who pushed for the study.

Two studies in 2005 about the town's economy indicated that there was much that could be done to help make Middletown more user friendly to businesses. One study from Pare Engineering of Providence found that there was about 1.5 million square feet of available office and light industrial space spread across town. The other study, from the Gifford Design Group of Cumberland, reported that the [Aquidneck] corporate park [on Johnnycake Hill Road] was in need of a facelift. The project would be paid for with $100,000 in federal money secured by U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, D-R.I.

Town Planner Ronald M. Wolanski said the effort is not about developing open spaces, but augmenting those areas where business already is rooted. The one exception to that, he said, would be the Omni Drive business park, on a parcel once home to the Skater Island indoor skateboard park.

[MapmanNo1]

1/25/2007: George Wein sells Festival Productions [NDN] [NYT]

HUGE news a long time coming. At a time when jazz and folk festival attendance is dwindling due to the proliferation of festivals and the live concert options at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, this deal could be good news for Newport. The new owner has a deep appreciation for destination festivals, a core part of the Newport events that, according to the Times, Wein required a new buyer to value.

UPDATE: The ProJo has the best article on the sale. The new owner is a member of the Haffenreffer family.

Edited by MapmanNo1, 27 January 2007 - 04:14 PM.

[MapmanNo1]

Newport Harbor Corp. coverts to 100 percent wind power
Press Releases from: [Harbor Corp.] [North American Wind Power]

This is great news! Certainly sets an example.

For those who don't know, Newport Harbor Corp. is the hospitality industry giant. They own/operate: Castle Hill Inn & Resort, 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille, The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar, The Smokehouse Café, The Boat House Restaurant in Tiverton, Blackstone Caterers, Gatehouse Caterers in Providence, the Newport Yachting Center, Newport Waterfront Festivals (Irish, Oktoberfest, Sunset Music, etc.), Born Family Skating Center, the Newport Exhibition Group (May & September Newport Boat Shows, as well as Providence Boat Show) and the soon-to-open Waterman Grille in Providence, as well as several real estate holding companies.

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[Newport Harbor Corp.]announced that is has converted its electrical needs at all of its hotel, restaurant, corporate, real estate and event spaces to environmentally friendly wind power. Newport Harbor Corporation is the first and only private Rhode Island company to be certified by the EPA’s Green Power Partnership at the Leadership level.

Effective immediately, Newport Harbor Corporation is purchasing wind farm created energy through Sterling Planet, the nation’s leading retail provider of solar, wind and other clean, renewable energy through direct sales and electric utility partnerships. The wind power is purchased from many different wind farms across the United States.

Newport Harbor Corporation’s estimated annual traditional electricity cost is $333,876. By purchasing green energy, the cost is slightly higher – an additional $8700 or a 2.3% increase overall. However, as part of the purchase through Sterling Planet, Newport Harbor Corporation is able to provide 10% or $870.00 of the additional green cost to an environmental or non-profit of its choice at the end of the year.

To offset the additional 2.3% cost in converting to green energy, Newport Harbor Corporation is currently looking at a number of cost-saving initiatives including: the installation of motion detectors on lights in common areas of the corporate offices; switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs; and utilizing digital thermostats that can be programmed to change temperature based on time of day. By undertaking these simple cost-cutting measures, Newport Harbor Corporation hopes to absorb the additional costs associated with purchasing green energy without passing it along to its customers or shareholders.

[Cotuit]

Where do I go to give them a big sloppy wet kiss?  

[Frankie811]

The Target department store chain is eyeing vacant land at West Main Road and Union Street as a site for a new store. http://www.projo.com...3R.368c2ff.html

[MapmanNo1]

Frankie811, on Mar 1 2007, 12:03 PM, said:

The Target department store chain is eyeing vacant land at West Main Road and Union Street as a site for a new store. http://www.projo.com...3R.368c2ff.html

Well, not too surprising. That site's been on the market forever.

I am no big-box fan, but if it's going to happen, the town needs to be strict with Target as far as getting a good-looking facade, making sure there is a ton of brush and trees to buffer it from West Main, and making sure that the only entrance/exit is on to Union Street. The last thing West Main needs is another stoplight.

Traffic on Union, Jepson, and Oliphant (from Jepson to East Main) is going to go through the roof. If I lived on any of those streets, I'd be hopping mad if this proposal becomes a reality.

[Lone Ranger]

MapmanNo1, on Mar 1 2007, 05:35 PM, said:

The last thing West Main needs is another stoplight.

A mild understatement.  

Stoplights multiply like bunnies.  West Main in Middletown is my own personal hell.  Although much smaller in scope, I really think it's worse than anything on Rt. 2.  

Last thing I want is a northward movement of stoplights on the island.

[MapmanNo1]

From the Daily News:

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CHEERS to KVH Industries' plan to expand in Middletown.

The high-tech company, which specializes in mobile satellite communication products, last week filed for zoning approval for its plan to build a nearly 70,000-square-foot building on East Main Road, north of Town Hall. The new facility, near KVH's headquarters in the Enterprise Center, would house manufacturing operations and offices.

"This is where the company started and this is where we want to be," said KVH spokesman Chris Watson.

Speculation had simmered for some time that the company, with 229 employees in Middletown, might be moving out of the area. Its decision to stay - and grow - here is good news.

[Frankie811]

Visitors to Newport this summer will find a host of new events, hotel accommodations, restaurants and shops, following an unusually dynamic off-season for the city’s tourism and hospitality industry. http://www.pbn.com/stories/25254.html

[Frankie811]

Frankie811, on Mar 1 2007, 01:03 PM, said:

The Target department store chain is eyeing vacant land at West Main Road and Union Street as a site for a new store. http://www.projo.com...3R.368c2ff.html

Target has asked for additional time to modify its design for a proposed department store at Union Street and West Main Road. http://www.projo.com...t.2892767a.html

[Frankie811]

Bahamian Trade Mission.
A sunny destination for business. http://www.pbn.com/stories/25389.htm

[MapmanNo1]

Frankie811, on May 15 2007, 05:48 AM, said:

Bahamian Trade Mission.
A sunny destination for business. http://www.pbn.com/stories/25389.htm

Part two in the Bahamian series from PBN, focusing John Grosvenor of Newport Collaborative.

[Frankie811]

Tall Ships bringing the world to Newport. For the sixth time since the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976, majestic sailing ships from around the world will slip back into the Colonial tapestry of Newport Harbor this month for a Tall Ships festival, this time with an international theme. http://www.pbn.com/stories/25732.html

[Frankie811]

Town to discuss moratorium on ‘big box’ projects. http://www.projo.com...32.367ea3c.html

[Lone Ranger]

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In response, Town Planner Robert Gilstein says that state law will only support a moratorium with a clearly defined purpose for a finite period of time.

Well that's brilliant.  Like Goliath really needs for the odds to be rigged in his favor, too.

[Frankie811]

Newport’s International Yacht Restoration School broke ground today on a $7.5 million restoration of the 1831 Aquidneck Mill building.

Edited by Frankie811, 15 July 2007 - 12:06 PM.

[Lone Ranger]

A worthy project, but pretty heavily dependent on future fundraising.

[Cotuit]

What is going on at the wharf a few blocks down Thames from here, closer to Downtown? There's a collection of honky tonk shops on the wharf, and a pass through to a restaurant, but beside it all there is a big open space with lots of construction work going on (Christie's Landing maybe?).

[Lone Ranger]

Christie's Landing, yes.  And the name is your clue.

[MapmanNo1]

Cotuit, on Jul 16 2007, 11:16 AM, said:

What is going on at the wharf a few blocks down Thames from here, closer to Downtown? There's a collection of honky tonk shops on the wharf, and a pass through to a restaurant, but beside it all there is a big open space with lots of construction work going on (Christie's Landing maybe?).

When was the last time you were in/paid attention to Newport?!

http://www.urbanplan...showtopic=35128

Those honky-tonk shops (Christie's Landing) survived off the crowds going to Christie's at the end of the wharf. Now that Christie's has become 41 North (a pay-to-play marina and restaurant where the triple-digit entrance fee is added to your food and beverage tab - http://www.41no.com/), I'd be interested to see if/how that strip of shops changes now that the anchor in that area is attracting fewer (but more monied) visitors.

I bet the owners of 41 North would snap up the shops at Christie's Landing in a second, if they could. Then they could complete their small fiefdom, from Perry Mill Wharf to Christie's Landing.