(11.15) The Providence Flea has a proposal for developing the strip along the Providence River where for years they have been holding their outdoor Fleas in the warmer months. This Wednesday they will be presenting their idea to the I-195 Commission who had requested proposals. A previous proposal of an over-big, generic “boutique” hotel ran afoul of the Coastal Resource Management Commission (CRMC) whose engineers and biologists questioned “‘the regulatory viability of your project.'” The developer did not pursue the issue. Here is the message from Providence Flea FB page:
After watching unsuccessful bids over the years which could have displaced us, not knowing if we would be able to continue year after year, this go ‘round we have decided to put in our own proposal. Meet the Providence Open Marketplace, or “the POM” as we hope to affectionately call it. The concept is an open air pavilion with a solar array on the roof and a radiant heat slab to extend The Flea into the shoulder seasons, and also invite other uses for the space such as night markets, film nights, sunset concert series, the beloved oyster festival and others. We know there are other developers vying for this property, mostly for residential and fine dining spaces.
The Flea will be presenting their proposal before the Commission next Wednesday at the CIC/District Hall and making the case for leaving this as much an open green space as possible.
Show up at the meeting, give public comment or express your support through the 195 District contact form or to the Flea at info@providenceflea.com.
Certainly the scale of the structure as shown in this mock-up is much more appropriate for this side of the river. And the CRMC will have fewer concerns with the impact of this smaller project. Big thumbs-up on this proposal.
Commission meeting, 5pm, Wednesday, November 15, CIC/District Hall, 225 Dyer Street, (directions)