PROVIDENCE – The City Council has accepted a tentative settlement between the city and Skyline at Waterplace LLC to evict the company from the downtown special events venue it has leased since 2016.
During its meeting Monday, the City Council committee on claims and pending suits unanimously approved a draft agreement between the administration of Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Skyline at Waterplace LLC, which is controlled in part by controversial Rhode Island entrepreneur Michael A. Mota.
The administration had been attempting to evict the tenant in District Court since April 2023, alleging issues ranging from back due taxes, fire code violations and unpaid rent, and sought a $270,000 payment for money owed from December 2019 to August 1, 2023.
The city also demanded Mota provide documentation of any improvements and repairs made on the property since December 2019.
The company, which had received several rental abatements under former Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, argued that it was promised additional relief under the current administration, an assertion disputed by the city.
A judge in November initially granted the city’s motion for eviction, which was then appealed in Superior Court. According to court records, the next hearing on the matter had been scheduled for Aug. 30.
Smiley on Tuesday told Providence Business News that all of the rent collected during the dispute has been held in an escrow account and that the city is now looking to secure another company for the city-owned property.
Smiley said the settlement was "the best possible outcome for the city and for those involved in this property," which he called "a great asset to the city."
"Since taking office, my Administration has worked hard to hold this operator accountable for their obligations [regarding] this valuable property in the heart of our city," he said. "I appreciate that the claims committee has seen the hard work that has gone into reaching this agreement and is helping to bring this matter to a close."
On Aug. 27 Providence Police were summoned to Skyline for a report of a “significantly decomposed body,” according to the police report, which said the venue had been closed since July 27 but that the death did not appear to be suspicious.
Skyline held a memorial “send off” for the victim on Sept. 8, which they identified as former employee Miguel Perez, according to social media posts by the company on Monday.
Christopher Allen is a PBN staff writer. You may contact him at Allen@PBN.com.
