Above: DARE Tenant & Homeowner Association action at the former Citizens Bank building
Despite public objection and testimony that included over a hundred signatures from neighbors and partner organizations citywide, on August 18, 2020 the City Plan Commission voted to give The Omni Group final plan approval for its short-sighted redevelopment project at the former Citizens Bank properties, located at the intersection of Cranston and Westminster Streets.
It’s a blow, but take heart. As with so many other fights, WBNA will not go away. With both short term and long term goals in mind, here are some of the things we are pursuing.
LEGAL APPEAL: Specific to improving this particular project, direct abuttors Renee Morris and Carol Lombardi, along with WBNA and Providence Preservation Society (PPS), have an appeal with the Rhode Island Superior Court filed by attorney Tim More. Objections include the classification of this project as a Minor rather than Major Land Development, and not adhering to the ground floor commercial zoning requirement. While this project is problematic for many reasons, the issues above are the ones that could best be fought in court.
As far as working to ensure that these type of developments do not continue to be approved in the city, our recent efforts have been threefold, and involve coalition-building:
COMMUNITY FIRST: South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA), PPS and WBNA met with Mayor Jorge Elorza and Planning Directors Bonnie Nickerson and Bob Azar to express our disappointment in the process and approval of The Omni Group’s project. We also questioned why neighborhoods are put in the position to need to take legal action against the city in order to stand up for city plans and ordinances. Officials acknowledged that there are areas in the zoning ordinance that could be clarified and improved upon, and have agreed to continue the conversation with us. Please email WBNA@wbna.org if there are specific areas in the zoning ordinance that YOU think need addressing.
NEEDS INTO LAW: Affordable housing and preventing displacement are core needs that are paramount for the city to address and resolve, yet these needs are not yet reflected or addressed in the city’s zoning laws. This poses a major problem, because while the public is loudly demanding to be heard on these issues which include rent costs and unit size, the lack of zoning laws addressing these needs keeps them out of the purview of city boards like the City Plan Commission. SPNA, PPS and WBNA strongly expressed to city officials that if the public is asking for something, then steps must be taken by the planning department to address these concerns, regardless of whether or not the city deems them to be yet in their purview.
UNITE & SPEAK OUT: Over 100 people attended an action by Direct Action for Rights & Equality (DARE) on Thursday, September 10, in front of the historic Citizens Bank building. Speakers at the event expressed frustration at the developer’s unwillingness to work with the public, address public concerns, hire minority contractors, or charge appropriate rent. We appreciate DARE for organizing this action, and recognize that working together with neighbors and organizations will make it harder for the city to ignore Providence residents. We look forward to continuing to grow as a coalition to take back our city, so that all neighbors will be heard.
WBNA thanks all of the neighbors and partners who have given their time, money and effort so far to stand up for equitable development and fight this development project and others like it. If you are in a position to do so and believe in these efforts, support our work by becoming a 2020 member or by giving a donation today.