Olin Thompson, an officer in the Jewelry District Association, recently shared the results of an emailed survey of Providence residents who are members of various neighborhood associations. The residents were asked to weigh in on the Fane Organization’s proposed 46-story residential tower, a development project that gained initial approval in March from the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission.
The survey, which attracted 453 responses, was distributed between Feb. 13 and March 15. Thompson said it was sponsored by the Jewelry District Association and Building Bridges Providence, a nonprofit that will encourage use of the city open space in the district, including the pedestrian bridge under construction.
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After receiving the survey results, the Jewelry District Association this week voted to object to the project. Proposed for Parcel 42, the development will move from the I-195 Commission to city review this month. Thompson spoke with the Providence Business News about the survey.
PBN: The summary indicates the survey results were 4-to-1 against the Fane residential tower, with respondents in the adjacent zip codes, including downtown and the East Side, against by a 6-to-1 ratio. Were you surprised?
THOMPSON: No. Anecdotal conversations indicated people were not pleased with the proposal. I wasn’t really surprised with the 4-to-1 response. You could select one of four positions: “for,” “against,” “undecided” and “need more information.” Then there was a list of reasons for why you felt that way.
PBN: Your summary indicates the height of the building and concerns over “spot zoning” were the most common reasons for respondents objecting to it. Was the “spot zoning” term put to survey respondents as an option?
THOMPSON: No, spot zoning was not a specific question. I didn’t want to use that in a survey because it’s not something that’s universally understood. It was … ‘there is nothing else around it’ … those kinds of things.
PBN: People who said they were in favor chose “investment in Providence” as the top reason. Did they elaborate?
THOMPSON: No, not really. I was surprised. The reasons “for” were relatively generic, you could apply [them] to any development in Providence. Whereas the [reasons] “against” were focused on the location or the architecture as “too tall” or “too ugly.”
PBN: The project is going to be redesigned from earlier renderings. Were residents advised of this?
THOMPSON: The survey had a picture of the current design but had a footnote that said this was not a final design.
PBN: Is this the first time the association has surveyed the city residents on a development project?
THOMPSON: We’ve done this before, [but] not across the city. This has an impact on the entire city, not just the Jewelry District.
Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.
