Downtown change is necessary for Bristol to grow and prosper

Posted 5/2/18

I’m writing to you today regarding the much disputed construction of the Belvedere project on Thames Street  in Bristol. I moved to Bristol from Worcester, Mass., about 15 years ago, …

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.


Downtown change is necessary for Bristol to grow and prosper

Posted

I’m writing to you today regarding the much disputed construction of the Belvedere project on Thames Street in Bristol. I moved to Bristol from Worcester, Mass., about 15 years ago, so I am what I like to call “a transplant” in this town.

I’d worked on the small cruise ships in Warren for several years and spent the majority of that time away from home. During my off time, much of it was spent here. Eating, drinking, walking around, and developing friendships that would shape my life in the future.

When it came time to lay down some roots and stay in one place, I decided to do that here, in Bristol. I’ve made a good life and a good living for myself here, working as a bartender/server in many of our various establishments over the years. And as a bartender, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to meet so many people, whether it be locals, students, restaurant owners, and so many others just passing through.

I particularly enjoy meeting parents who are separating from their children for possibly the first time, as they drop them off at the university. There’s something to be said when you can genuinely reassure a nervous parent that their child is in good hands here in this town. It’s a point of pride for me to be able to speak on what a safe, caring, and inclusive community we are lucky enough to call ours.

With that said, on a different note, it’s impossible not to notice that over the course of the last several years, it seems that fewer and fewer people are going out. Business is not what it used to be, and we can chalk that up to restaurants not changing with the times, people having less money to spend, or that maybe there haven’t been any real changes in town in a little bit too long of a time.

Since talks of this building began, there are opinions, rumors, and points of view of all kinds being hurled about. I think as a community it’s important to at least become aware of the facts and examine every angle before we condemn the construction on Thames.

The property is owned by the developer, and the design has been altered and re-altered in an effort to accommodate the guidelines brought forward by the town, the state, and FEMA regulations as well. At this point it’s a underutilized parking garage and a vacant lot. I think construction on this property would breathe some much needed new life into our waterfront.

Change is not only necessary but often needed, in order for communities to grow and prosper. Bristol becoming another ‘Newport’ is an impossibility. Nothing is accomplished by remaining the same. It might be time to consider that we may need a bit of a boost in order to keep up with a forward moving economy. At the least, be open to new ideas that will inevitably improve our town.

As I mentioned, one of the things to love about Bristol is that it is an inclusive community. Having an open mind to the possibility of some new faces and new ideas may be exactly what we need in order to progress. It’s hard to believe a building in a vacant lot is going to change our history, but it may very well improve our future.

Ralph Nader once said, “When strangers start acting like neighbors, communities are reinvigorated.” I’ve found this to be true, and I think it’s important to encourage our residents to examine every angle before shooting down this project.

On my end, I’ve done the research and fully support the project. I plan on attending the meeting in support of it on May 10 and would encourage other residents to do the same, in an attempt to bridge the gaps and hopefully create some buzz regarding the positive aspects that the new addition could provide us moving forward. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Amanda Tsiokas

183 Wood St., Bristol

2024 by East Bay Media Group

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