PROPOSED: E. Providence Waterfront Condos

[Cotuit]

Condo project planned for waterfront

The city is seeking federal money to remove contamination from the site, near the former Ocean State Steel.

BY RICHARD C. DUJARDIN

Journal Staff Writer | Monday, July 12, 2004

EAST PROVIDENCE -- A second waterfront development -- a $6 million project to build 54 condominiums -- is planned near the former Ocean State Steel site.

Peregrine Development Group and New England Construction want to build one and two-bedroom units on 4.2 acres at the northwest corner of Bourne and Roger Williams avenues

The developers will ask the City Council tomorrow night to submit an application for $1 million in federal loans and grants to remediate some 2.4 contaminated acres at the site.

Mayor Rolland R. Grant, and council members Isadore S. Ramos and Daniel F. Harrington went to Washington on Thursday in part to urge the state's congressional officials to facilitate the grants.

City Manager William J. Fazioli said that though the project is smaller than GeoNova's plan to build some 500 homes and condominiums on the land just to the south of Bourne Avenue, it is significant.

"We're very excited that a company has decided to invest in the city and take part in the development of the waterfront," Fazioli said. "We are meeting weekly with other developers who are expressing their interest in doing work along the waterfront. But this one could be the one where we first start to see construction."

The property is across the street from the GeoNova site, between the railroad tracks and Roger Williams Avenue.

Jeanne M. Boyle, the city director of planning, said that in addition to the condominiums -- six of which would be priced at an "affordable" $145,000 -- the two companies want to expand New England Construction's office at the site by 7,000 square feet.

The project is named Rosscommons, and is expected to cost $6 million.

The buildings at Ocean State Steel have been removed and the The land contains metal slag and construction and demolition debris.

The city is seeking $600,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a $400,000 brownfields grant to make the land usable.

The developers have presented their plan to residents. They say they will repair the sidewalks and fix the drainage problems along Roger Williams Avenue. The company would like to break ground on the project this fall.

From The Providence Journal

[mental757]

PROJO: (5/28/08): "In Phillipsdale, shaky markets slow projects"

http://www.projo.com/projohomes/content/HO...30.2a534d8.html

"Plans to redevelop former industrial sites on the Phillipsdale waterfront have been slowed or put on hold thanks to the troubled housing and credit markets, but much of the groundwork is in place for a revival.

Ross Commons, a 54-unit condominium development at 200 Roger Williams Ave., in Phillipsdale, was the first project built in the city