Commission: Reduce Allens Ave. development

PROVIDENCE – The City Plan Commission last week suggested that the City Council scale back a proposed redevelopment area along Allens Avenue. Some area business owners feared including their property in the area would be the first step toward the city taking their property by eminent domain.
After five hours of comment and discussion, commissions agreed and lowered the northern boundary line to Thurbers Avenue from the previously proposed hurricane barrier. It also removed the Johnson & Wales University campus from the plan.
The commission also reiterated that the sole intent of the plan was to help the city acquire two properties by the city-owned Port of Providence in order to expand the port and spur economic growth.
The commission declined, however, to recommend that the City Council ban hotels along the area used predominately by marine industries. Business owners said a hotel might try to force their noisy businesses to move and, as a result, stifle investment and job growth. But commissioners said they wanted to keep options open for the city. &#8226