Providence poised to consolidate offices in former Blue Cross building

PROVIDENCE is slated to consolidate its offices to 444 Westminster St., the former home of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. /
PROVIDENCE is slated to consolidate its offices to 444 Westminster St., the former home of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island. /

PROVIDENCE – The city is poised to consolidate some of its offices scattered throughout the city into a building at 444 Westminster St.
The Providence Board of Contract and Supply is slated to hear the proposal on Monday afternoon. According to the agenda, Mayor Angel Taveras is proposing a 25-year lease with an option to buy the former Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island building.
The lease would cost the city $735,000 in the first year. The cost in future years was unclear and a spokeswoman for Taveras did not immediately respond to a call from Providence Business News.
Former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino Jr. owns the building, which was constructed in 1967.
The deal requires approval only from the Board of Contract and Supply, City Council President Michael Solomon said.
“It’s my understanding [that] the city will have the option to buy the property in three years and by consolidating, they are going to be saving a lot more money,” Solomon said.
Solomon, citing city staffers, said the deal would reduce city expenses by $100,000 annually.
Former Mayor David N. Cicilline touted a central city services center as a way to cut expenses and create a one-stop location for transacting city business.
In February 2010, nine properties answered a call to host for such a center. Buildings answering the request for proposals included the Providence Journal headquarters on Fountain Street, the vacant National Grid building on Dorrance Street as well as buildings on Dyer, Eddy and Fountain streets, and land fronting Washington Street.
Berkeley Investments had offered One Empire Plaza, a building that now hosts gaming company 38 Studios.

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