EDITORIAL: The 195 Commission Approves Harry Potter’s Castle

EDITORIAL: The 195 Commission Approves Harry Potter’s Castle

 

If you love Harry Potter and have always wanted to visit Hogwarts, you will love the design that the 195 Commission approved on Wednesday night for Parcel 5.

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GoLocal has no dog in the fight other than being tired of watching the 195 Commission's endless bungling. We recommended the design brought forward by the Rhode Island team.

Instead, the 195 Commission selected the design put forth by one of the teams comprised of out-of-state interests. The winner is Boston-based Ionic Development Corporation, which partnered with JLL Partners and others. It is called the Art & Design Center, featuring 30,000 square feet of retail and an apartment complex with 150 units.

Why the 195 Commission thinks Providence needs more retail is beyond confusing. There is vacant retail space in Providence Place Mall (in receivership), throughout downtown, in the Arcade, Wayland Square, Federal Hill, Thayer Street, on South Main Street, and in nearly every retail area of the city.

Remember, the state and federal government (aka taxpayers) spent nearly $1 billion to move 195 and clear the land that was intended to be a hub for the modernization of the Rhode Island economy.

To date, 195 District's development has produced a lot of apartments and a Trader’s Joe, a local pizza chain and a liquor store.

In 2009, The New York Times hyped the impact of how the new land opportunity would transform Providence.

“The surplus parcels are situated between the city’s hospital district, its downtown and its educational institutions, and the vision is for a mix of uses that will foster a new ‘knowledge-based economy’ centered on Providence’s educational and medical institutions," wrote The Times.

The then-mayor talked about the 195 lands being a game-changer for the future of Providence. "This is an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city," said Providence’s mayor at the time, David Cicilline, in an interview with the Times.

The beat went on.

“The availability of this reclaimed land presents an exciting opportunity to attract new, high-quality jobs and bolster the economy of the city and the state,” said Senate President Dominick Ruggerio in 2011. “This redevelopment district is a key advantage for our state. It bodes well for our ambitious goals that this collection of exceptional individuals will guide the development of this vital district.”

In 2014, the 195 Commission marketed the project under the name of "The Link" and hyped the business opportunities.

“Rhode Island is home to many internationally-recognized industries, including marine sciences, manufacturing and tourism and hospitality, has financing programs for businesses in all phases of development,” said the website.

“From microloans, to incentives, to taxable bonds, a wide array of business financing solutions are available for all organizations looking to move into The LINK,” was the promise.

But due to failed leadership and buffoonery, the 195 Commission skipped the chance to transfer the capital city and create a hub for innovation. Instead, they went for low-hanging fruit — apartment buildings and now, thanks to the most recent decision by the 195 Commission, we have a tourism hub — Harry Potter’s Hogwarts.

The Commission will claim that 225 Dyer—the CIC—is a hub for hundreds of workers. This is true, and many of them moved there from other spaces in and around Providence, including Brown University.

But now folks won’t have to travel to Florida to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando; they can just drive by the 195 District.

Built and owned by a Boston firm in conjunction with a New York firm.

Welcome to Hogwarts.