Council encourages engaging Carpionato over vacant Pawtucket Avenue parcel

Dormant land is important element of Kent Heights School activity

By Mike Rego
Posted 3/8/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — A loud purple sign in front of the former Benny’s Store location on Pawtucket Avenue proclaiming the property for sale could present the city with a conundrum as it pertains to …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Council encourages engaging Carpionato over vacant Pawtucket Avenue parcel

Dormant land is important element of Kent Heights School activity

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — A loud purple sign in front of the former Benny’s Store location on Pawtucket Avenue proclaiming the property for sale could present the city with a conundrum as it pertains to an adjacent parcel across the street at the Kent Heights Elementary School.

City Manager Tim Chapman told the council at its meeting Tuesday night, March 6, about recent discussions with the owner of both properties, Carpionato Group, in regard to the use by Kent Heights personnel and parents of the empty lot next to the school building at Howland Avenue.

The long dormant land, which for zoning purposes is included in the commercial use variance of the main building location on Pawtucket Avenue, has for years through a previous agreement with Benny’s been utilized by teachers and adults during arrival and dismissal times at Kent Heights School.

That arrangement was potentially put into jeopardy in the last few months when the historic retailer announced its plans to shutter and sell all of its properties in the state.

Carpionato Group, which is currently attempting to revitalize the moribund Narragansett Park Plaza on Newport Avenue at the East Providence-Pawtucket line and develop a housing tract off Wampanoag Trail as well, purchased all of the former Benny’s locations.

Mr. Chapman said he recently discussed the Howland Avenue parcel with Carpionato Group President and Chief Operating Officer Kelly Coates. The existing agreement will be in effect through the current 2017-18 school term, though the Carpionato COO hedged on any future use.

Mr. Chapman relayed Mr. Coates’ stance that at the moment he “did not believe a long-term arrangement was realistic,” adding the later said he “did not want to raise false hopes for next year and beyond.”

If a long-term deal can’t be struck, it could prove problematic for the school department, said Ward 3 Councilor Joe Botelho in whose district Kent Heights Elementary is situated.

“It’s going to be a big issue if we can’t use the parking lot, especially at drop off and pick up times,” Mr. Botelho said. “I’d like to see if we can actively engage Carpionato in working out a deal.”

At Mr. Botelho’s behest, Mr. Chapman was charged with engaging the city’s planning and law departments to attempt to negotiate a potential purchase of the vacant parcel if not come to some other kind of agreement for its use.

Mr. Botelho added, “If we need to adjust zoning to make everyone happy we’re in a position to do it.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.