Pawtucket and Central Falls announce Conant Thread district plans

THE CONANT THREAD district includes about 160 acres in Pawtucket and Central Falls and will have consistent zoning to encourage development. / COURTESY CONANT THREAD DISTRICT WEBSITE
THE CONANT THREAD district includes about 160 acres in Pawtucket and Central Falls and will have consistent zoning to encourage development. / COURTESY CONANT THREAD DISTRICT WEBSITE

PAWTUCKET – A 160-acre section of Pawtucket and Central Falls that encompasses a new train station planned for both communities, as well as several million square feet in underused mill space, has a new name, logo and website.

The Conant Thread district also has its own joint planning commission, representing both cities, with the goal of consistent zoning and incentives that could encourage redevelopment for apartments and commercial investment.

The plan is to have the area rezoned to encourage appropriate redevelopment for a transit-oriented district, said Peter Friedrichs, Central Falls director of planning and economic development. “The only thing we don’t want is heavy truck traffic or pollution,” he said.

The joint commission, including the five members of each city’s zoning board or commission, has been meeting on the district since mid-September. About 85 percent of the land area is in Pawtucket, with the remainder in Central Falls.

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On Thursday, city and state officials presented the map of the district and the goals for redevelopment.

The district is named for the Conant Thread mill complex, later known as the Coats Clark mill complex, a sprawling campus of eight buildings. Six are vacant, according to Friedrichs.

The Conant Thread district has a newly launched website with an interactive map of the area, funded by the cities, as well as a logo that draws on the textile history of the former manufacturing area. The site is at www.conantthread.com.

Within three years, a new train station will be positioned on the existing Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority tracks.

The Pawtucket Central Falls Train Station has already received $50 million in funding commitments from federal, state and city governments. The bus service for the cities is also expected to be relocated to the area. The new transit hub should be completed by 2021.

Mary MacDonald is a staff writer for the PBN. Contact her at macdonald@pbn.com.

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