Projo Politics Blog

The Capital Center District was created in 1980 by state and city legislation. It comprises 77 acres in Providence bounded by Route 95, Smith Street, Gaspee Street, Canal Street, Steeple Street, Exchange Terrace and West Exchange Street.

It includes the State House, Providence Place mall, the Westin Hotel, the Providence train station, GTECH headquarters, Waterplace condominiums, Citizens Bank headquarters, and the Renaissance Hotel.

The Capital Center Commission was formed in order to shepherd development in the district. Its 15 members are appointed by the governor, the mayor and the nonprofit Providence Foundation.

The commission's oversight includes review of massing, height, setbacks, parking, landscaping, lighting, signage and building materials.

Commission Chairwoman Leslie Gardner said that the commission had an operating budget of at least $130,000 as of last year, with $50,000 coming from the state, $50,000 from the city, and the remainder coming from development application fees.

While the commission expects that it will still receive both state and city funding, it has become clear that both sources of funding will be drastically reduced before the end of the fiscal year.

"Our budget went towards maintaining the office and paying the executive director salary. But funding from the state and the city has been declining steadily over the years," she said.
Cuts in the commission's funding come as building demand in the Capital Center District has slacked off.

Three major projects remain in development in the district, according to Gardner: the new headquarters of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, the headquarters of Moran Shipping, and the residential development Capital Cove.

"Much of the design oversight the commission is responsible for on those projects is complete, so it just seemed like the right time to make the transition," Gardner said.

At its meeting today, the commission eliminated the position of executive director from its charter. It also accepted the resignation of city Planning Director Thomas Deller from the commission's Design Review Committee.

He was replaced by Deming E. Sherman, an attorney for Edwards, Angell, Palmer and Dodge, who will serve until June 30, 2012. Deller, who served as an at-large member to the committee, stepped down to avoid any potential conflict of interest with his office.

It also appointed Samuel Bradner, a development director for Struever Bros., Eccles, and Rouse, to replace Glenn Kumekawa on the design committee. Bradner's term will expire June 30, 2011.