Newly constituted I-195 commission has first meeting

NEWLY APPOINTED chairman of the Interstate 195 Redevelopment District Commission, Joseph Azrack presided Monday over the commission's first meeting with new members. / PBN PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD
NEWLY APPOINTED chairman of the Interstate 195 Redevelopment District Commission, Joseph Azrack presided Monday over the commission's first meeting with new members. / PBN PHOTO/MARY MACDONALD

PROVIDENCE — A newly formed I-195 Redevelopment District Commission met for the first time Monday, encouraged in welcoming comments by Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and its own leadership.
The seven-member commission is now led by chairman Joseph Azrack, who in his first meeting thanked the members for their volunteer efforts. “We have a uniquely talented group of commissioners and I think we will do great things,” he said, in an interview following the meeting.
In its first meeting, the board listened to an overview of the public meeting laws in Rhode Island and had a primer on the updated Providence zoning ordinance, which took effect for city properties in December, and could be extended to the Interstate 195 lands by commission vote.
At Azrack’s direction, the commission took the ordinance under advisement until its next meeting, with the chairman explaining that members needed to look at the information before voting.
In a brief update, the commission’s executive director, Jan Brodie, explained that the prospective purchasers of both parcels now under contract have requested a time extension on their purchase and sale agreements, to allow them to complete negotiations with Providence officials on city tax incentives.
The commission will meet again on May 18.

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