Good decisions often are not easy decisions

The second-quarter numbers are in, and it comes as no surprise that fewer homes are being sold in Rhode Island than a year ago. The median selling price, however, actually increased compared with the same 2005 period – a sign either that Rhode Island’s allure is strong enough to combat the increasing inventory or that pricier homes are selling better than those costing less.

New housing development in the state is slowing down as well. One result is that Toll Brothers, the Pennsylvania homebuilder, is going back to the drawing board with its plan for town houses and condominiums on the former Rocky Point Amusement Park site in Warwick. Its first plan boasted the combination of density and open space that makes proponents of “New Urbanism” happy, with nearly 400 units in close proximity and more than half of the 122-acre site left as open space.

But citing market forces – which must include the state’s 25-percent drop in condominium sales in the second quarter – as well as concerns about infrastructure and traffic issues, Toll Brothers is revamping its plan in favor of one with lower housing density.

The developers obviously must ensure they receive an acceptable return on their investment. But we hope this doesn’t signal an abandonment of the philosophy that is the best road forward for development in the state.

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New Urbanism is not just the latest fad to capture the fancy of planners. Rather, it represents a blueprint for sustainable development that builds Rhode Island while retaining the state’s special characteristics. At the end of the day, such an outcome will benefit everyone.

Innovation must be nurtured to take root

State-supported programs designed to keep Rhode Island companies healthy and competitive only work to the extent that they are used. And they can be used only if the companies they are supposed to be helping know their help is available. In that regard, the Manufacturing Summit’s “innovation audits” come up short.

Five years ago, manufacturers and state agencies formed the Manufacturing Summit to enhance the competitive advantages of Rhode Island-based companies. Last year, the partnership launched free innovation audits to help companies figure out how to stay successful in the face of a constantly changing market.

Some businesses, like CAS America, have used the audits’ advice to their benefit. Others, like United Contract Packaging, have learned of the program too late. That 24-year-old business is foundering in the face of foreign competition and has few resources left.

The summit has tried newspaper advertising and informal networks to get out the word. So far, those efforts have not been enough. The state must put a little muscle behind the process if the program is to achieve the desired impact.

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