Commission prepares to solicit Link redevelopment proposals

THE INTERSTATE-195 Redevelopment District Commission said Monday the properties could go on the market as early as Tuesday morning, following the commission's approval of a prospectus for potential developers. Above, an early rendering of proposed development for the area. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE
THE INTERSTATE-195 Redevelopment District Commission said Monday the properties could go on the market as early as Tuesday morning, following the commission's approval of a prospectus for potential developers. Above, an early rendering of proposed development for the area. / COURTESY CITY OF PROVIDENCE

PROVIDENCE – The Link is ready for the market.
The Interstate-195 Redevelopment District Commission on Monday signed off on a prospectus for potential developers of Providence’s former highway land, now branded The Link, clearing the way for the properties to be marketed.
I-195 Commission Chairman Colin Kane said with the package of solicitation materials approved, he expected The Link would enter the real-estate market as early as Tuesday morning.
The commission will accept proposals for the land in what is described as a “rolling application” process with a review of qualified applications every three months.
Applicants whose proposals are considered promising will negotiate with the commission in private until terms are agreed upon and the deal moves for final approval and a public vote.
Kane said he didn’t know yet at exactly what point in the process details of each prospective project would be made available to the public.
Although a prospective schedule of developers fees is listed in the prospectus, it is conditional on final approval after a public hearing at the commission’s next meeting in March.
Also on Monday, the commission approved six temporary art installations at different sites throughout The Link.
The commission is ready to pay up to $12,000 to local artists making the installations, which include arches and sculptures evoking bird houses and jewelry. The commission will not own the pieces.
One of the installation locations is the helipad on the east bank of the Providence River, but the commission does not anticipate either of the two designs being considered for that site to interfere with the roughly 50 landings that take place there each year.

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