Projo Politics Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr., who owns a big slice of the city's downtown real-estate, offered a blunt assessment of the local economy. In short, he said, "downtown is dead."

The John F. Fogarty Building on Fountain Street is vacant. So is the former police and fire complex at La Salle Square. And it won't be long, he says, before the Bank of America building in Kennedy Plaza empties out, too.

Nobody is buying, he said.

"The only economic development you've had in this city," Paolino said, "is Tent City." (The reference is to an encampment of about 80 homeless people and their supporters under a soon-to-be torn down stretch of Route 195 off Wickenden St.)

His comments came during an interview in his office Friday about one of the properties he's trying to sell.

If it were up to him, Paolino said, he'd focus on getting universities and hospitals -- not banks or financial companies -- to fill vacant space in the city's Capital Center because they're the sectors where jobs are growing.

So, is Joe Paolino considering another run for mayor of Providence?

"I am giving serious thought to it," he said. "I think by January I'll figure it out."

 Tags  mayor Paolino

Comments

Providence Resident said:

This city needs someone like Joe Paolino as mayor. Someone with the foresight to revive our economy and create jobs.

Link | July 27, 2009 9:20 AM
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yougotta be kidding said:

someone like Joe Paolino?

I know you're kidding..his reason to run?

Dump his bad real estate on the non profits and forget the taxes..

It's all about money, he could care less for what happens downtown...

What a dope

Link | July 27, 2009 11:30 AM
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rich said:

Bring back Buddy!!!!!!!!!!!

Link | July 28, 2009 3:31 PM
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DJ said:

By the way, @you gotta be kidding ,

Just curious to what your bases is to this since
-Most of "his" real estate is solely owned by his father and his entire family. Which he inherited he never asked for it.
-ALLOT of the real estate he owns isn't even IN RI.
-A better part of the real estate him and his family owns is generally already occupied .

Mr paolino is a Developer and PHILANTHROPIST not a slum lord. I think you have it a little backwards.

He's someone over the years who has given brakes to some of the longest standing watchdog and SMB groups in RI.

Link | July 29, 2009 12:46 PM
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