The city's state representatives object to GeoNova Development Corp.'s request to build fewer units of affordable housing at East Pointe.

12:24 PM EDT on Friday, July 7, 2006

By ALISHA A. PINA
Journal Staff Writer

EAST PROVIDENCE -- It's the waterfront development plan all have been praising ... until recently.

Last month, GeoNova Development Corp. again unveiled its proposal to turn 29 acres of the city's dilapidated coastline into a New England-style village that could bring in an estimated $3 million a year in property taxes.

New to the plan, however, was the New York-based company's request to reduce the number of affordable housing units to 5 percent, from the state-mandated 10 percent.

That request didn't sit well with the city's state representatives.

"As elected officials representing the city of East Providence, we request the East Providence Waterfront Commission require GeoNova to comply with state law," read the late June letter signed by Sen. Daniel Da Ponte and Representatives Elizabeth M. Dennigan, Henry C. Rose, Helio Melo and John A. Savage.

The letter continued, "Affordable housing is an important issue in East Providence and statewide. ... This is more important than ever since the cost of housing in East Providence has increased by 248 percent since 1999 and the average cost of a new home in East Providence in $260,000. In fact, Housing Works RI estimates that the household income required to afford an average home in East Providence is $83,414 annually."

GeoNova Vice President Mary Voce said the request to build fewer affordable housing units is an attempt to present its building developer with a plan that is not "too costly.". The developer had already paid additional, unexpected money to clean the site, which had been contaminated by decades of heavy industrial use by Ocean State Steel and its predecessor, Washburn Wire.

GeoNova excavated 35,000 tons of contaminants from the property south of Bourne Avenue near the Phillipsdale Landing. It was 29,000 tons more than expected.

It also had other costs, such as creating the infrastructure, raising the flood plain to FEMA-approved standards and relocating the Providence-Worcester railway, Voce said.

The project proposes to transform the former brownfield into 495 townhouses, lofts or apartments, as well as offices, shops and restaurants. In the future, the $200-million proposal called East Pointe may also include a 150-slip marina.

Commission chairman Pat Rogers, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, previously said GeoNova's request to reduce the number of affordable housing units is "duly noted" and "under consideration."

"The Waterfront Commission is very committed to diversity within the waterfront and we take the affordable housing very seriously," Rogers has said. "The Waterfront Commissions may have very limited flexibility."

Said Voce, in response to the state representatives' letter, "Obviously, we're considering all sides [city and state officials, residents and its building developer] with this. We're trying to balance things."

She continued, "... We have given our request to the Waterfront Commission and anybody can express their views. We haven't heard anything back from [the commission]."

Jeanne Boyle, East Providence's interim city manager and director of the Waterfront Commission, said GeoNova's basic design is consistent with the vision of the city. The company hasn't heard from the commission because the proposal is still in the pre-submittal, or review, stage.

Yet, she also said the 10-percent mandate is more than just a state law. Boyle said it is in the city's water district zoning laws and plan, as well as the city's comprehensive plan.

"There are multiple layers requiring 10 percent," she said. "It's expresses as both a requirement and a policy."

GeoNova expects to announce a date for a neighborhood meeting in the next couple of weeks. The next Waterfront Commission meeting is July 17.

apinaATprojo.com / (401) 277-7465