PROPOSED: Vista Della Torre

[JimmyGreaves]

It's baaack!

On July 22, 2008, the Board continued the following matter to September 10, 2008 for hearing:

TALON REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND THE PROVIDENCE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PROPERTY OWNERS AND TALON REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, APPLICANT: 21 & 32 Federal Street at Bradford Street. The applicant is requesting relief from Sections 305, 305.1(10), 418, 420.2 and 425, a dimensional variance, and seeks relief from regulations governing maximum height, minimum lot area per dwelling unit, building lines and articulations and corner setback in order to construct a new building measuring 250 feet in height on the Tax Assessor

[FjmArch]

It's baaack!

Providence Zoning Board of Review -September 10, 2008 05:30 PM

[jencoleslaw]

there is no affordable component to this. the Providence Housing Authority is involved because there's a landswap thing going on. Don't even ask me how it is that HUD signed off on that.

[09/21/38]

Are there any renders of what this would look like from Rt. 146? Or how would it tie into the exisiting skyline?

[runawayjim]

Are there any renders of what this would look like from Rt. 146? Or how would it tie into the exisiting skyline?

[quente]

Don't even ask me how it is that HUD signed off on that.

[JimmyGreaves]

Anyone know what the outcome of last night's hearing was?

[quente]

Anyone know what the outcome of last night's hearing was?

[Pseudo_Work]

I called the ZBR: The variance was approved unanimously.

I wasn't able to attend last night because I was in class but I am curious to know how the meeting went.

[JimmyGreaves]

Thanks quente. Unanimous approval for a project that is being built in an transitional area of development (as defined by the new comp plan) in which the vision for this area is mandated by the comp plan to be decided by the neighborhood planning process. A ZBR approved variance is not part of this process. Extremely disappointing to say the least.

[runawayjim]

i'm not overly surprised. it's really sad when a mayor who runs and wins on an anti-corruption platform, claiming to end the back room deals, is allowing all this crap to go on in the city. why bother carrying on with the song and dance that is the charettes?

[matt]

I was there. The developer spoke from around 6pm till around 8pm. Then opposing statements were heard. I left around 9:30, but I think it went well past 11.

I stated for the record, as did others, that an ad-hoc variance should not be granted for a project of this magnitude until such time as the charrette process has been completed.

Even after hearing so many people speak both for and against the project, there is still so much about it that I don't understand.

[matt]

i'm not overly surprised. it's really sad when a mayor who runs and wins on an anti-corruption platform, claiming to end the back room deals, is allowing all this crap to go on in the city. why bother carrying on with the song and dance that is the charettes?

[runawayjim]

Um... Cianci ran on an anti-corruption platform.

Speaking of... Michael Corrente was there last night. He spoke in favor of the development.

[JimmyGreaves]

So what were the reasons people gave in support of it?

[JimmyGreaves]

Also, what was the justification for ZBR's approval. I thought the whole point of Providence Tomorrow was to collectively decide where and how to intensify development in a public forum. Then, the result of that process would be the guide for future development decisions.

[JimmyGreaves]

And just to clarify, by public forum, I mean a series of workshops or charettes that is inclusive of the entire Providence community where consensus is reached and that consensus is the basis of the development pattern.

[jencoleslaw]

When something so universally reviled is passed unanimously, you cannot help but smell a rat. There was another federal hill project that smelled like this one... Belmont Castello...calls to the zbr members, the zbr chair being wined and dined by the developer...Whatever. La plus ca change....same meat, different gravy.

[FjmArch]

I was there. The developer spoke from around 6pm till around 8pm. Then opposing statements were heard. I left around 9:30, but I think it went well past 11.

I stated for the record, as did others, that an ad-hoc variance should not be granted for a project of this magnitude until such time as the charrette process has been completed.

Even after hearing so many people speak both for and against the project, there is still so much about it that I don't understand.

[JimmyGreaves]

Was this project in process prior to the change in the COMP plan requiring the Neighborhood approval process? If it was it would receive zoning approval through the courts if they tried to deny on the grounds of not going through the Charette Process.

[jencoleslaw]

This project could have been simply denied on the height issue. Although I think they were asking for something like 15 variances? I don't know.

[runawayjim]

Was this project in process prior to the change in the COMP plan requiring the Neighborhood approval process? If it was it would receive zoning approval through the courts if they tried to deny on the grounds of not going through the Charette Process.

[jencoleslaw]

This is a very old project. But i don't know whether or not permits and stuff were filed before the comp plan process STARTED.

[Liamlunchtray]

same meat, different gravy.

[matt]

So what were the reasons people gave in support of it?