By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
With Pawtucket leaders struggling to keep the Pawsox from moving to their preferred site in Providence, Mayor Donald Grebien Tuesday announced a proposal for a more than $45 million development on 11 unused acres of land along the Blackstone River.
Grebien says the East Providence-based Peregrine Group has met its request for qualifications, submitting plans for a mixed residential, commercial and retail development, to be called “Festival Pier”, just south of the Division Street bridge spanning the river.
“This exceptional property on Division Street has been vacant too, too long,” said Grebien during an announcement held at a public park about a half-mile south of the land.
Grebien, who has been unable to get a hearing with the Pawtucket Red Sox ownership group pointed to the Festival Pier proposal and other, similar developments as signs of the city’s revitalization.
“These are the types of things that I think the baseball franchise and Mister (Larry) Lucchino are missing in Pawtucket,” Grebien said.
“I think they’re missing, you know, a big opportunity here. And, if they don’t listen and don’t open their eyes, I think they’re going to end up with a strikeout.”
Peregrine Group co-owner Colin Kane said it may take 18 to 24 months to secure permits and other approvals for the project, adding that tax incentives, but no taxpayer dollars would be sought to build the project.
“We need to activate this unbelievable riverfront. We can see Route 95 from here. You can walk to downtown from here. You can fish, you can kayak, you can do everything from here. The bones of this place are remarkable. We need to bring people to these bones. We need to put flesh and blood on these bones,” said Kane, former chairman of the I-195 Commission that continues trying to market the site in Providence which includes the site where the Pawsox owners prefer to build their ballpark.
Kane said the Peregrine Group revitalized the Rumford Center in East Providence and the Ocean House in Westerly. The group’s website also highlights projects including: St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, New England Institute of Technology in Warwick, American Locomotive works and United Natural Foods Corporate Headquarters in Providence and others.
The Pawtucket City Council may begin to study the proposal this week.
