[Summit] News from Fox Point, West Broadway & South Providence

Mon Sep 28 02:23:35 UTC 2020

   ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Fox Point Neighborhood Association <foxpointneighborhood at gmail.com>To: 
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2020, 11:29:49 AM EDTSubject: FPNA News: Apartments, Seekonk River, Photo Contest + more

|  
| 
| 
|  
|    |

|  View this email
in your browser  |

  |

  |

 |
| 
|  
|  Image, DBVW Architects
FPNA NEWS The Fox Point Neighborhood AssociationSeptember 24, 2020  |

  |

 |
| 
|  
|  
|  NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Developers Vie for Parcel 9. As neighbors may know, the 195 Commission is considering development proposals for the plot of land known as Parcel 9, located just south of the Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic church in Fox Point. As reported today in Providence Business News, two developers presented proposals last night at a Commission hearing. FPNA President Nick Cicchitelli and our Ward 1 councilor John Goncalves spoke in support of One Neighborhood Builders, a greater Providence-based organization that proposes a mixed-use plan that includes affordable apartments and a childcare facility. ONB spoke with neighbors at FPNA meetings on two occasions over the last year to share early plans and hear feedback. Find the report, here. Image,  DBVW Architects.

Ped Bridge is the Envy of Other Cities. The Buffalo News has looked to Providence as an example of how to create a walkable, livable, vibrant downtown. "What Providence did was a very bold move, and I think it is paying off," stated one resident recently for the article. Find the piece here. Image, Amy Mendillo.

Invitation: Learn About Our Seekonk River. Do you know about the water quality of the Seekonk River? Whether it is safe to swim there? The status of our "Phase 4" stormwater tunnel? FPNA is pleased to announce a lecture by Sue Kiernan, of RIDEM, on the complex ecosystem of very own Seekonk. "'[This river is] a jewel most urban areas don’t have," states Rick Richards of the Seekonk Riverbank Revitalization Alliance, the main sponsor of the lecture. "Its value to us will increase in direct relation to how we care for it." September 30, 6:30pm via Zoom. Register on EventBrite, here. See the poster, here, for details. Image, SRRA.

Young People Invited to Work the Polls. Calling all 16- and 17-year-olds! The State of RI is accepting applications for older teens to apply for paid positions as poll workers in November. Not only will these young people relieve some older, more Covid-susceptible workers at the polls, they will be introduced to civic responsibility (while getting paid!). Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and submit an application. Find information here; scroll to page 2 of the application, here. Image credit, here.

Photo Contest Winners Announced. As mentioned previously in this newsletter, the group Friends of India Point Park (FIPP) held a first-ever photo contest in the late summer to encourage neighbors to celebrate their experiences in the park. As of September 15, the winners have been announced! Their work is available for all to see. Find the exhibition, here, which includes photo submissions from all participants, in addition to the winners and the honorable mentions. Image, Paul Carter.

Free Trees Now Available. The RI Department of Environmental Management, in coordination with other agencies and organizations, has announced it will distribute 1,200 free trees to Rhode Island homeowners next month. See a more complete description at the Daily Dose, here. Sign up for the program, here. Image, here.

Celebrate the Humanities! The RI Council for the Humanities is holding a virtual celebration to honor "people and projects that make Rhode Island a vital place to live." The event will take place on Thursday, October 15, at 6pm. Find a details and a list of the honorees, here. Image, here.  |

  |

  |

|  
|  
|  FPNA October Meeting
SAVE THE DATE
FPNA October Meeting
Tuesday, October 13 2020 (note Tuesday meeting)
7-8pm via Zoom

Agenda to follow
Check our website for updates.

Please Join Us!  |

  |

  |

 |
|  
|  |

|  |

  |
| 
|  
|   |

  |

|  
|  
Questions?
Contact FPNA Executive Secretary Amy Mendillo at
foxpointneighborhood at gmail.com
or by replying to this message

For more information on
the Fox Point Neighborhood Association,
visit 
www.fpna.net 
 or follow us on
Facebook

Become a member!The Fox Point Neighborhood Association  |

  |

|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|  
|    |

  |

  |

|  
|  
|    |

  |

  |

  |

| 
| 
| 
| Copyright © 2020 Fox Point Neighborhood Association, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Fox Point Neighborhood AssociationPO Box 2315Providence, RI 02906

 |

 |

 |

 |

  |

  |

  |

|  
|    |

  |

| Fri, Sep 25 at 1:04 PM   
|  
|  
| 
|  
|   
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
September 25, 2020  |

  |

 |

  |
|  
| 
|  
|      |

  |

 |

  |
|  
| 
|  
|  
Meet our new tenants at 1577 Westminster 

WBNA welcomes Crêpe Corner to 1577 Westminster Street! Owners Natacha Legein and Anthony Adagboyi took some time to tell us their story, but we encourage all neighbors to get a taste of it yourselves by stopping by their café.

Crêpe Corner’s sweet and savory crêpes, sandwiches, salads, waffles, pastries, and vegan and gluten-free offerings are stand-out, as well as authentically French and Belgian. Supporting local businesses is more important than ever; in the case of this unique eatery, you’ll be extra glad you did.

Above: Ribbon cutting ceremony. Left to right: Anthony Adagboyi, Natacha Legein, Mayor Jorge Elorza, and Lisa Ranglin of the RI Black Business Association (RIBBA).

Read More...
  |

  |

|  
|      |

  |

|  
|  
Citizens Bank development update 

Despite public objection and testimony that included over a hundred signatures from neighbors and partner organizations citywide, the City Plan Commission voted in August to give The Omni Group final plan approval for its short-sighted redevelopment project at the former Citizens Bank properties.

But take heart. As with so many other fights, WBNA will not go away, and we are not alone. With both short term and long term goals in mind, check out some of the initiatives we are pursuing.

Read More...
  |

  |

 |

  |
|  
|  
| 
| 
|      |
|  People Powered Park Upgrades
WBNA is thrilled to announce the completion of park improvements at Dexter Training Ground. Working with Providence Parks Department, the Toddler Lot Ad Hoc team, and community partners, we took part in a collaboration giving neighbors a vital seat at the planning table. This project proves how including the public in civic processes makes for better outcomes!
Read More...  |

  |

 |

| 
| 
|      |
|  Affordable Housing Update
Part of WBNA’s mission is to preserve and promote our diverse urban community. To that end, WBNA’s board, staff, and active members are working on actions and advocacy that support the expansion of affordable housing in the neighborhood. Learn about two recent WBNA affordable housing initiatives, and get an update on what we’ve been working on.
Read More...  |

  |

 |

  |

  |
|  
| 
|  
|   
 |

  |

|  
|  
More WBNA News

   - Candidates Night *General Election Edition* is Tues, Oct 6, at 7pm, held remotely via Zoom. This online forum welcomes House District 9 candidates Rosa M. Hill and Anastasia P. Williams, running for the only contested General Assembly seat in our focus area: Read more...
   - Cranston Street Armory | Some big & exciting news! In an authentic public process, the state is holding two public meetings on Oct 13 (3pm) & Oct 15 (5:30pm) so YOU can learn & ask questions about re-use proposals submitted during the state's call for proposals. Details to come!
   - WBNA's Public School Hero Angel Brown wins another award, this time from Laborers' Local 1033. In January, Ms. Brown won a WBNA Award for her deep & tireless commitment as an educator at West Broadway Middle School for over 20 years. Congrats to Ms. Brown – we are grateful for all that she brings to neighborhood kids: Read more...
   - Special thanks to former board member Melissa Riley of Westcott Properties who listed and showed WBNA's retail spaces at 1577 Westminster pro bono for more than a year, finding excellent tenants for both storefronts. Huge thanks also to board members Cynthia Langlykke and Noel Sanchez for assistance in dividing the space into two units, and to Eugenio Fernandez, Obed Papp, Paul Cotter and Melissa Riley (again) for their work on lease negotiations including Spanish translation.
  |

  |

|  
|   
 |

  |

|  
|  
Community News

   - Census 2020 ends Sept 30. [N.B. it may end on Oct. 31, depending on the future of a Federal court order.] Submit your response NOW. This is no joke – for every Rhode Islander not counted, RI communities will lose approximately $1,800 per person, per year, for the next decade. These dollars support RI schools, health clinics, highways & more. Respond online or by phone. Responses are confidential: Read more...
   - Got a voting plan? The General Election is Tues, Nov 3, and this year you have 3 ways to vote. You may vote by mail, vote early in person (new option!), or vote on Election Day in person. Voter Registration deadline is Oct 4, and mail ballot application deadline is Oct 13: Read more...
   - 6/10 Connector Project has come under investigation for using toxic and contaminated soil containing known carcinogens. This disturbing breach impacts us directly, as neighbors in Olneyville, Federal Hill, and the West End live alongside the construction site. WBNA is exploring how we can best advocate for neighbors on this critical situation: Read more...
   - Cranston Street Court is a new public basketball court at 126 Cranston Street with a stunning mural by Andrea Bergart. Unveiled last week, this project is by MyHomeCourt.org, which renews public courts & adds public art. See it in person, play ball, or view stunning aerials here. Congrats to Councilor Mary Kay Harris & Providence Parks Department. Read more...
  |

  |

|  
|   
 |

  |

|  
|      |

  |

|  
|  We rely on neighbors to get things done, but we also rely on neighbors to keep us running. Become a 2020 member today!   |

  |

|  
|   
 |

  |

|  
|  
Upcoming Events
Please visit our events page for details.    
   - Oct 6: Candidates Night * General Election Edition
   - Oct 13 & 15: Cranston Street Armory Public Meetings (SAVE THE DATES!)
 |

 |

 |

 |

 |

 |

 |

 |

Good morningneighbors!

Thank you all who joined the South Providence Neighborhood Association (SPNA) in attending the virtual community meeting hosted by Omni Development this past Tuesday about their future plans for the Barbara Jordan II housing development in our neighborhood! As SPNA adheres to guidelines provided by our government agencies on in-person gatherings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we will continue hosting virtual meetings until such time it's determined that we may meet safely in person once again. Listed below are updates on issues & events impacting our neighborhood:

VIRTUAL MEETING - CROSSROADS - 9/29

Crossroads RI, who has presented to SPNA in the past & has attended our prior meetings, has received funding to purchase & redevelop an abandoned building in the Southside of Providence for their services. In the spirit of being good neighbors, Crossroads requested & SPNA has welcomed them to present information about their plans at a virtual meeting this Tuesday, September 29th starting at 6pm. Please RSVP to attend this meeting by replying back to this communication or sending a separate email to SPNA's email address (southprovneighbors at gmail.com). We encourage our neighbors in SPNA's footprint of the Southside to attend this meeting. 

VIRTUAL MEETING - GENERAL ELECTION - 10/14

The Rhode Island Secretary of State's Office is conducting various outreach activities about this year's General Election in November, especially within residents of our Southside community! In support of this outreach SPNA will host a virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 14th starting at 6pm to welcome Melissa Husband, RI Deputy Secretary of State & Southside resident, who will present information pertinent to the upcoming General Election. Please RSVP to attend this meeting by replying back to this communication or sending a separate email to SPNA's email address (southprovneighbors at gmail.com). We look forward to learning about the topics from this presentation in exercising our civic duty with demonstrating our priorities for our neighborhood!

EQUITY & INCLUSION
 SPNA extends a special thank you to our neighbors &fellow neighborhood groups who joined us in committing our focus to championingracial equity & ensuring our neighborhoods are welcoming to all residents,especially our neighbors who are Black, Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC).As we move forward with specific programs for these goals SPNA will announce thoseactivities as they occur plus invite you to participate. Listed below are some areasthat we’re currently moving forward in support of SPNA’s goals for racialequity:   
   - COMPLETED: Community Engagement session at Grow Smart RI's 2020 Power of the Place Summit
   - IN PROCESS: Participatory Budgeting
   - IN PROCESS: Partnership with the RI Chapter of the American Planning Association
   - IN PROCESS: Port of Providence (in collaboration with the Washington Park Association)
   - IN PROCESS: Participation in the Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Association
   - ON-GOING: Barbara Jordan II Redevelopment
   - Anti-Racism Committee of the Providence Human Relations Commission
   - Racial disparities in Historic Preservation
   - ON-GOING: PPSD Re-Opening of Schools & Turnaround Plan
   - ON-GOING: 2020 Census
   - ON-GOING: Participation in HomesRI coalition (preventing evictions plus home/rent affordability)
   - ON-GOING: Participation the Health Equity Zone (HEZ) 02907 coalition
   - Residential Property Taxes & related tax impacts (home & rent affordability)
   - POSTPONED: Community Forum on the City of Providence's Budget focusing on Policing

The items in bold above are areasthat SPNA was already initiating and/or involved with before the impacts ofCOVID-19 & the racial strife of the last couple of months. This list belowis subject to change & is not encompassing of all SPNA activities. Pleasecontact us if you have any additional questions or would like to learn moreabout (or sign up to participate/lead on behalf of SPNA) these topics.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Please feel free tocontact us by phone at (401) 369-1334 or by email if you have any additionalquestions. You may also follow SPNA through our social media group on Facebook to get our latest updates! You may also invite and share this communication with otherneighbors interested in these activities and/or want to learn more about SPNA.

| 
| 
|  | 
Facebook Groups

SOUTH PROVIDENCE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (SPNA) has 280 members. SOUTH PROVIDENCE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION (SPNA)
 |

 |

 |

Best Regards,

Dwayne Keys

South ProvidenceNeighborhood Association (SPNA)

   - 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://sna.providence.ri.us/pipermail/summit_sna.providence.ri.us/attachments/20200928/0e6bab19/attachment.htm>