It was a scene reminiscent of a 2003 gathering in the governor’s office that was then occupied by Republican Donald L. Carcieri. At that meeting, a host of state and community leaders gathered to tout an 11th-hour deal to keep International Game Technology PLC (then GTECH Corp.) from moving to Massachusetts.
While the immediate stakes of the April 12 Statehouse announcement of a $220 million, mixed-use renovation plan for Providence’s historic but vacant “Superman” building pale in comparison, both are examples of Rhode Island leaders using the state’s small size to their advantage by bringing together unlikely partnerships. That it took nine years to do so in the case of 111 Westminster St. also speaks to the difficulty state leaders have too often had in working together.
“This can only happen in Rhode Island … this type of partnership,” said Rhode Island Foundation CEO and President Neil D. Steinberg at the “Superman” announcement.
After years of failed attempts, what changed?
All sides came to realize “this is the moment,” Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor told PBN. Strong housing demand and COVID-induced weakness in commercial office space made a residential conversion the last real chance to save the building, albeit with $41 million in government financing.
What helped convince state and city leaders is the chance to tie the revived property to much-debated plans to remake Kennedy Plaza as a destination.
It’s a bold, post-COVID vision of the downtown we agree is worth investing in.