Proposed outdoor venue operators in East Providence make their pitch

Give presentation to city council

By Mike Rego
Posted 11/16/16

EAST PROVIDENCE — The owners and operators of the proposed live outdoor music venue at Bold Point Park made their pitch to the city council at the body's meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 15.

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Proposed outdoor venue operators in East Providence make their pitch

Give presentation to city council

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The owners and operators of the proposed live outdoor music venue at Bold Point Park made their pitch to the city council at the body's meeting Tuesday night, Nov. 15.

Little new came from the presentation delivered by Waterfront Productions LLC founder and CEO Michele Maker Palmieri that hadn't already been stated previously during a similar public session held in late October in front of the Waterfront Commission, which unanimously signed off on the proposal.

Ms. Palmieri said Waterfront Productions emerged after a similar facility as the one proposed was closed with the sale of the Newport Yachting Center property in 2014. Since, the company has been looking for a suitable replacement. Ms. Palmieiri's firm secured the rights to all the intellectual property connecting with Yachting Center business, continuing events like The Great Chowder Cook-Off, and the Reggae Festival at other locations during the ensuing years. Besides concerts and festivals, the company also operates a seasonal skating rink in Newport.

Ms. Palmieri said the idea of using Bold Point came when the company put on a concert by Boston Rock legends The J. Geils Band at India Point Park just across Seekonk River in Providence. Bob Duteau. vice president for Booking at Live Nation the company used by Waterfront Productions to secure artists' services, was actually the first person to note the site as a desirable landing spot. Mr. Duteau, who books shows at similar venues in South Boston and Bangor, Maine, called Bold Point a "diamond in the rough."

Ms. Palmieri ran through her company's aims for the site, saying she would like to enter into a three-year lease with East Providence to operate a seasonal venue from May to October on the city-owned land located near the base of Warren Avenue. The stage and pavilion, approximately 130 feet by 180 feet, would be semipermanent, most of the structures erected in the spring and taken down in the fall.

"Operating an outdoor venue, that's our niche," Ms. Palmieri told the council. "We like to have the outdoor experience whether it's the summer or the winter."

The Waterfront Productions CEO added, among many things, her firm already is in the process of gaining necessary permits from state agencies such as the DEM. A traffic study, done in conjunction with local police and municipal administrators, has been conduction. Any noise concerns of neighbors will be "tweaked" and/or adjusted for the elements. Weekday events would conclude by 10 p.m., 11 p.m. on the weekends. She said no acts which draw a so-called "risky" crowed would be brought into the city. As many employees as possible would be hired from the local community. Waterfront Productions would be responsible for all expenses related to the operation. No money would come from the city's coffers.

"We bring everything in," Ms. Palmieri said. "There is no cost to the city."

When asked for their input, all of the city's department heads seemed amenable to the proposal.

East Providence Police Chief Chris Parella termed traffic control "doable" and "workable." He added, "There will be concerns that will need to be addressed on the fly."

East Providence Fire Chief Oscar Elmasian said Waterfront Productions representatives "have been very cooperative and accommodating to the needs of the city and the fire department."

City Planning Director Jeanne Boyle said in conversations with her peer from Bangor, the amphitheater booked by Live Nation there "has been an economic development engine," helping spur new businesses in the surrounding area.

Acting Waterfront Commission chairman Bill Fazioli, whose group gave its approval contingent upon about a dozen stipulations, said East Providence's shoreline has been "missing a catalyst, that cornerstone piece. And we think that this will be the piece for the city to transform itself. This (the waterfront) is the city's largest asset. And if we're not able to take advantage of it fully, then we're going to diminish the city's economic prospects for a generation."

All of the discussion was not supportive of the measure. George Nee, president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, and the president of Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council Michael Sabitoni, both voiced some opposition on behalf of their members. Their concerns stemmed from non-union workers being used by the operation and the potential loss of jobs due to competition with other entertainment venues around the state.

Those gentlemen were chided by a few residents of the city, including one who viewed their appearance at the meeting as an attempt by "union thugs" to influence and intimidate the council.

Roy Coulombe, of Local 37 Ironworkers as well as an East Providence Waterfront commissioner, said he voted in support of the project in part because he "took these people at their word, that they would deal with the local trades for each individual piece of the work there."

Mr. Coulombe, however, was dismayed by the comments directed towards his union colleagues, saying, "I take real offense at someone calling me a 'union thug.' I'm just a guy trying to protect workers and help people get by. My organization is right here in East Providence, like a lot of other unions are here in East Providence paying taxes…To be referred to like that is just wrong."

Outgoing Ward 3 representative and council president Tommy Rose was the lone member of the board to speak on the matter, expressing his support by saying "this is the start of the next area coming up in the State of Rhode Island and this going forward is going to be a huge asset for our city."

No action was taken by the council, however a vote on the proposal is expected to take place at a special session scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 29, at city hall.

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Mike Rego

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.