Ongoing Advocacy Efforts

The JDA is actively engaged with the following projects:

Fane Tower

Proposed 50+ story apartment tower on Dyer St. adjacent to the new riverside park.

The JDA joins many other organizations and individuals in opposing this project because it exceeds the 100-foot zoning for the site by hundreds of feet. A classic example of spot zoning — extraordinary privilege illegally granted to a single user for a single project — the Fane Tower would rise to six hundred feet and substantially alter the character of our neighborhood.

Action: The JDA endorses the ongoing lawsuit against the project. We are monitoring developments at I-195 Commission meetings, contacting local decision makers and campaigning to raise public awareness of the threat the building poses.  We continue to monitor the City Plan Commission, Downtown Design Review Commission, and Zoning Board of Review, to ensure that the planning department does not allow structures of inappropriate mass to be built in our neighborhood.

RIDOT Transit Hub

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has proposed a major restructuring of public transportation in downtown Providence. The plan includes relocating part of the transit hub from Kennedy Plaza to a location on the edge of the new waterfront park in the District. The JDA believes that the plan has not received sufficient public input from the transit riders and the affected neighborhoods. Further, by imposing a second transfer to some routes, it will seriously degrade  the quality of passenger service. We are also concerned that implementation of the plan is being rushed simply to take advantage of previously allocated funding, a hastening of the process that skips proper public input for this very public service.

Action: Participation by JDA members in demanding further public input as well as a study of service impacts before RIDOT moves ahead with the plan.

Waterfront Park

In the spring of 2020, more than a year behind the original schedule, RIDOT supposedly completed a new public park stretching along the east and west sides of the Providence River. To our dismay there is no real grass, only patches of grass planted on construction sand without benefit of topsoil. There are no benches nor sufficient trash cans, and newly planted trees have already been vandalized. Worse still, the north end of the park on the west bank stands uncompleted, abandoned by the contractor and fenced off as a repository for scrap metal, trash and discarded RIDOT signs proclaiming, “Done: Fall ’19 On Time. Cost: $9.2 M.”

Action: On July 8th, The JDA sent a letter to RIDOT Director Alviti and I-195 Commission Chairman Davis expressing our outrage at the condition of the park which RIDOT delivered to the I-195 Commission on July 1st. We continue our outreach to stakeholders and are in the process of sending a letter to Governor Raimondo demanding her attention to this matter.

Pedestrian Bridge

When opened in August 2019, the new Pedestrian Bridge over the Providence River was an instant hit with the public. It has been the scene of picnics, gatherings, family fun and at least one funeral. A great public space, the bridge attracts tourists and serves as the east-west connector for people living and working on opposite sides of the river. And, unfortunately, as a wide-open public space it has attracted graffiti, strewn trash and out-of-control nighttime behavior, including a careening car which severely damaged the railing on this pedestrian-only bridge at 3:30 am on September 17th.

Action: At our insistence, the management of the Pedestrian Bridge has been removed from City Administration and transferred to the Providence Parks Department under the able leadership of Director Nilsson. The Parks Department has responded day and night, with crews removing graffiti, repairing other acts of vandalism, and have secured surveillance cameras which will be installed shortly. Similarly, the Providence Police Department has been adding both daytime and nighttime patrols to prevent further incidents. Things are improving, but we continue to work to keep this wonderful public resource a safe, well-maintained special place for public enjoyment. 

Development in the District 

With the removal of I-195 and the continued conversion of factory buildings, development opportunities abound in the District. Exciting projects such as South Street Landing, Wexford, Chestnut Commons and the Aloft Hotel are transforming the area. New projects proposed or in the works include 33 Bassett Street, and a major apartment complex on Parcel 28.

Action: JDA committees review all new projects to see how they fit into the District. We attend I-195 Commission meetings and zoning and design review hearings, encourage developers to present their projects at our monthly meetings and testify on a case by case basis to get what we believe is best for the District. Currently, we are supporting an appeal by a JDA property owner to oppose the development of a 13-story building at 151-155 Chestnut Street. We believe that this proposal is totally inappropriate for the block in that the mass, scale, and density dwarf the surrounding properties. The JDA has already suggested that the developer relocate this building from this site to one of the other parcels the developer already owns in our district.

Greening the District

When the District was transformed from a jewelry manufacturing hub to today’s mix of business, residential, medical, institutional and hospitality uses, its greenery disappeared. Over the years, the JDA has actively worked with the City Forester to restore street trees. More than 60 new trees have been planted in the past three years.

Action: Organize community volunteers and institutions for clean-up days to remove trash and weeds from around our young trees. We continue to work with the City Forester to monitor the condition of our trees, provide regular watering and pruning and mulching, and install protective bollards for street trees. 

Bicycle and Pedestrian lanes

The City of Providence has embarked on a major project called the Great Streets Initiative. The program seeks to increase pedestrian and bicycle safety and slow vehicular traffic. Currently, a patchwork of dedicated bike lanes is woven into the construction zones on Clifford Street. Installation of additional protected areas is promised. The JDA feels that the execution of the program has been flawed, with signage confusing or non-existent. Concrete islands were installed with insufficient warning markers for motorists, and the challenges of lane closures for ongoing building construction has been ignored, threatening the safety of all road users.

Action: The JDA has met with the Mayor to protest the faulty implementation of the program, presenting clear evidence of the dangers facing motorists due to missing warning signs and confusing lane changes. We continue to work with City officials to attempt to correct the flaws and replace vital lane markers when they are damaged.

Cooperative Efforts with Other Neighborhood Associations

Many of the issues in today’s Providence are shared in all neighborhoods. The JDA attends monthly meetings at other associations as a way to build citizen involvement in confronting controversial issues. Together our voices can reach out to city officials more powerfully. 

Action: The JDA has joined the Coalition of Neighborhoods in support of the campaign to stop the installation of a liquified natural gas terminal abutting a residential neighborhood on the South Side. Similarly, we are working on a citywide initiative to force RIDOT to abandon its current proposal which would negatively impact transit riders and our neighborhood (see Transit Hub above).